Images Replaced by White Boxes in Email PDF Preview but Appear Normal When Downloaded

[FLTower]

Hi, 

I've exported my PDF from Indesign and sent it by email 

When i look at the preview in the email, some pictures and icons have been replaced by a white box or have been shown in a black backgroud

But when i download the PDF and open it, all the pictures/icons look normal. 

What's wrong with the preview please ? 

I saw that for the 3 that are problematic, they all have the brown box in Indesign but all the others don't...

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[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @FLTower,

I understand how confusing it can be when your images look perfect in the downloaded PDF but appear as white boxes or with black backgrounds in the email preview! Could you please share the version of InDesign you're using and the details of your operating system?

This issue is often related to how email clients handle embedded images. To resolve this, try exporting your PDF with the "Optimize for Fast Web View" option unchecked, and ensure that all your images are saved as "RGB" rather than CMYK. Sometimes, flattening the transparency in your problematic images can also help.

Let me know if this improves the preview, and feel free to share more details if needed!

Thank you,  
Abhishek Rao

[FLTower]

Thanks a lot @Abhishek Rao 

I'm sorry to ask so : where this option Optimize for Fast Web View is please ? My Indesign is in french, version 19.5
I've tried to find it out but still haven't... 
Again thank you

[BobLevine]

I'm afraid there is very little you can do about this. Most email applications won't even produce a preview of a PDF and those that do cannot be counted on to do it perfectly.

[FLTower]

I also understand this... thank you

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @FLTower,

No worries at all! I’m here to help.

In InDesign version 19.5, to find the "Optimize for Fast Web View" option, follow these steps:

1. Export the PDF:
   - Go to File > Export.
   - Choose Adobe PDF (Print) or Adobe PDF (Interactive), depending on your needs.

2. Adjust Export Settings:
   - In the Export Adobe PDF dialog, go to the "General" tab.
   - Look for the "Options" section and find the checkbox labeled "Optimize for Fast Web View".
   - Make sure this checkbox is "unchecked".

This setting helps ensure that the PDF is not optimized for quick viewing on the web, which can sometimes cause issues with how images are displayed in email previews.

If you need more assistance or if anything else comes up, just let me know!

Thank you,

Abhishek Rao

[FLTower]

Thank you. Yes all the option boxes are unchecked so .... I saw that on Gmail the preview is ok... Not on Yahoo... But I also saw that the pictures/icons which are not displayed are the same that are indicated as "missing link" just here :

Maybe there's a link (missing ^^) ?

 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @FLTower,

Thanks for the update! It sounds like the issue might be related to the missing links for those images. When images are indicated as "missing link" in InDesign, it means that InDesign can't find the image files, which can cause them to appear as white boxes or black backgrounds in different previews.

Few things you can check is: 

1. Check Missing Links and Relink:
   - Relink these images by selecting them and clicking the "Relink" button in the Links panel. Ensure that the file paths are correct.

2. Verify Image Paths:
   - Ensure that the images are correctly linked and not moved or deleted from their original locations.

3. Re-export the PDF:
   - After fixing the missing links, export your PDF again (File > Export).
   - Ensure the export settings are correct, and the images are included in the PDF.

4. Test on Different Clients:
   - Once you’ve re-exported the PDF, test the email preview in both Gmail and Yahoo to see if the issue persists.

Let me know if this resolves the issue or if you need further assistance! Leaving the discussion open for more insights by our esteemed community experts. 

Thank you,

Abhishek Rao