InDesign 2026: Drop Shadows graphical glitch

[Trancilian]

After the most recent update I had to create a document using assets from older indesign files that previously never gave any issues. Now the dropshadows from multiple (different objects) move all over the place (away from the object as if theres a fixed lightsource) when I move these objects. When I turn off the dropshadow of the object, move the object and then turn the shadow back on it will have the shadow in it's correct position. When I move the object around multiple times it will start glitching the entire page until I move my cursor over it again. When I change the path of the object the displaced shadow will snap back into it's correct position, making me think this is a graphical display issue. 

In the example below you can see how the dropshadows moved. (left one moved up when moving the object down and to the left. Right one stayed closer to it's original position but offset, middle is the original position before copying and moving). 

i'm working on a Macbook Pro m2MAx Sequoia Version 15.6.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Trancilian,

Thanks for sharing the details and the screenshot. Could you please try switching from GPU Preview to CPU Preview under the View menu and check if the shadows display correctly there? This will help confirm if the issue is related to GPU rendering. It would also be really helpful if you could share a short screen recording of the behavior along with an affected sample file, so I can test it on my end and have it reviewed by the team.

Looking forward to hearing back.

Abhishek

[Trancilian]

Hi @Abhishek Rao 

Thank you for the quick reply! I've included an indesign file with the object and a screenrecording below in which I show/tried the following:

1. The visual consists of 2 groups within another main group (not made by me, but my client). So 2 separate shadow layers as well. First I move them around to show the glitch.

2. I turn the shadows on and off to show how they reset to the correct position.

3. I turn on CPU preview (this causes InDesign to stutter)

4. Show my preferences gpu settings

5. Show the dropshadow settings

Also good to know: When I export the file everything looks fine.

[Melodic_Flutter0D45]

Yep, me too. changing the GPU does not fix it

[jas0ntho]

I am getting the same glitch. Moving anything grouped that has a drop shadow makes the drop shadow move around independently.

[Noel5E47]

Same issue. Tried turnong off GPU. Never had this issue til the update,

[A Nova]

I'm also having this issue.  Doesn't just apply to grouped images either, for me it's happening to anything with a drop shadow applied.  Hope there is a fix soon.

[Noel5E47]

Same. Any drop shadow. Also feel like this update is running slower and not able to handle large files as well.

[Parksite Karl]

Same for me - super helpful Adobe.  Doesnt matter if it is a group or a single object.  

[Fotofant]

I'm working on Windows 10 Pro and I have the same problem since my update to InDesign 2026 (v21.0). I never had this issue before. Turning GPU Preview on or off doesn't help here. However, it seems to me that the problem only occurs when the object is rotated. Obejcts without any rotation (i.e. 0°) behave like they should. But any degree of rotation leads to the problem.

[Trancilian]

@Fotofant Well spotted! Can confirm that rotation breaks the shadow, doesn't matter if it's grouped or not

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for sharing all your observations and examples. I've noted the details from each of your reports, and I'm currently checking this behavior with the product team. I'll update this thread as soon as I have more information or next steps from them.

Appreciate your patience in the meantime.

Abhishek

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for all the details, screenshots, and files you've shared regarding this behavior. I wanted to let you know that a bug has been logged for this issue, and the product team is actively working on a fix.

I'll share an update here as soon as more information becomes available or the fix is implemented.

Appreciate your patience and collaboration while the team works on resolving this.

Abhishek

[edith_8827]

In the meantime, what do you recommend as a workaround? 

[edith_8827]

Actually, turning the Drop Shadow off and then back on works. 

[kriss26029]

Once you move the grouped image into place, if you scale the image up (by any percentage) and then back to 100% the drop shadow realigns itself.

[Trancilian]

This visual glitch also appears when using an object without rotation, when the document is using View->Rotate Spread.

[HealthyHaaff]

I find it's only an issue for objects with a drop shadow made before the update. Any new object with a drop shadow seems to be fine for me.

[Riannon368885617n15]

Since updating to the 2026 inDesign (V 21.0.2) I am having issues with the way Indesign renders drop shadows. 

The initial presentation is correct, but if you move the objhect to a different position the drop shadow offsets from the frame not showing an acurate presentation of the drop shadow.

If I rotate the shape any angle then return to correct angle, it refreshes the drop shadow and then renders correctly. But this is adding extra clicks and steps to my design process. 

It exports correctly - it's just the on-screen representation of the effect that is going askew.

I have attached examples below. The first is the correct shadow and the other 2 show the drop shadow render changing position as I move the frame from the original position. It is worse for grouped objects.