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Question

How to export InDesign Book (indb) to PDF/A

Forum|Forum|10 months ago
March 15, 2025
2 replies
1007 views

Hello! So I am printing a book that I made in InDesign and the printers requested I send them the book in the PDF/A-1 (ISO 19005-1) standard. However when I try to go to Export Book to PDF, the only standards are the X standards. So I export to PDF/X-1a and open the exported file in Adobe Acrobat. I go to Use Print Production > Preflight > Standards > PDF/A. However I get two errors in my report

I don't know what either of these errors mean and I could not find more information online. I would like to know either if there is a way to export directly to PDF/A in InDesign or if not what these two errors mean and how I can fix them. Thanks!

Import and export

R

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

I have to agree with Dave that you probably don't need a PDF/A format file to create your press-ready PDF.

But if you'd like to create one, you can do so by first saving your PDF/X-1a file from InDesign. Then you can open it in Adobe Acrobat Pro and selecting the Menu button at the upper left of the Application bar and selecting the Save as other>Archivable PDF (PDF/A) menu command, as shown at right.

Follow the steps and you will have both a PDF/X and a PDF/A file you can provide your vendor and that should cover all your bases.

Hope this helps,

Randy

L

LogarithmicEagleAuthor

Participating Frequently

I tried that but got the following errors in the Preflight area. I couldn't find any information about them. Would you happen to know how to resolve these? I assume it's some missing information going from the PDF/X -> PDF/A. Thanks!

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I'm on my phone right now and I haven't read the PDF/A spec in a while. but I thought it required an RGB PDF among other things

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

PDF/A is an archival format. Either it was misread on your end, a typo on the printers end, or the printer has some very strange requirements (causing concern). I suspect it is supposed to be PDF/X-1a, but even that is outdated. Most modern printers would want a PDF/X-4.

https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000125.shtml

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

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LogarithmicEagleAuthor

Participating Frequently

This is the exact wording according to the formatting guide I was sent and what is currently on the printing website. It says to use ISO 19005-1 format. I can always send an email asking if they would accept the X format instead but I would still like to know if it possible to save in the A format. Thanks!

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

The screen captures are from Microsoft Word. If you are strictly printing it, there is absolutely no need for an archival PDF.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

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