InDesign Crashes When Exporting PDFs with Imported Separate .PSD Layers

[Leonidasss]

For a while my Indesign crashes/freezes 8 out of 10 times while exporting PDFs of magazine pages where in layered HiRes .psd files are imported as "seperated" PSD Layers. PSD layers are placed via import options whith checking and unchecking layer. After about 9% or 19% the PDF stops redering and freezes Indesign. Stopping the PDF export does not help. (PC latest windows version and automatic updates for Indesign on)

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[Robert at ID-Tasker]

For a while my Indesign crashes/freezes 8 out of 10 times while exporting PDFs of magazine pages [...] 

By @Leonidasss

Do you remember when it started? 

Can you rollback few minor versions? 

Or maybe even go back to InDesign 2023? 

[Leonidasss]

Nope tha the hole team has to do that. 

[rob day]

By the way: This is an old Indesign bug, I had this one on and of for several years

If it's been happening for years it's unlikely a version problem. What are the file sizes and hardware specs? Are the PSDs 8-bit (not 16)?

[Leonidasss]

Normal 8 bit psd files.

[Leonidasss]

on and of last 10 years? haha
It is mostly when I combine cut out psd files with Indesign effects like overprint, transparantcies, blur together. Maybe these calculations are to sometimes difficult for indesign. (?) But why put them in the app when you cannot use them?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

on and of last 10 years? haha
It is mostly when I combine cut out psd files with Indesign effects like overprint, transparantcies, blur together. Maybe these calculations are to sometimes difficult for indesign. (?) But why put them in the app when you cannot use them?

By @Leonidasss

Can you try "divide and conquer" approach? 

Start removing elements - linked PSDs - untill you can get working export - then examine closely affected PSD files. 

[Leonidasss]

I flattened a few indesign effects and than it worked. I had to mimic the effect in photoshop.
But that are "work arrounds" and cost extra time. And you cannot see reel time what you do. Why doesn't it work consistant. anoying!

[Leonidasss]

When I have to make a magazine of 164 pages that is not a productive solution.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Leonidasss

Can you share your INDD file + a few links for investigation? Can be on priv if you prefer.

[Leonidasss]

How do I send it on priv, the zip folder is 73 mb?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

How do I send it on priv, the zip folder is 73 mb?

By @Leonidasss

Upload this ZIP somewhere - WeTransfer or something - then either post link here or click nickname of the person you want to share it with - and send it in the private message. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

How do I send it on priv, the zip folder is 73 mb?

By @Leonidasss

Will you share your package? 

[Leonidasss]

 https://wetransfer.com/downloads/7d8bb3ca0e90669ff1028ad80bd3916920241021065721/d141f5f790e5824e488...

[rob day]

Hi @Leonidasss , I didn’t have any problem exporting to the default PDF/X-4 preset—took about 10secs..

One thing to check is the font usage. Your doc is using 14 Adobe Type fonts and when I first tried the export,  your fonts were not activated on my system and there was a long lag as the Adobe Type fonts were downloaded and installed on my system. Before you try an Export check Find/Replace Font and make sure none of the Adobe fonts are missing and need to be activated:

Make sure your Export Background Task does not include font activation:

[rob day]

Also, If this is a font issue, I’ve found that allowing Auto Activation with Adobe Fonts can cause problems—I always manually active from fonts.adobe.com. There is still a lag for the install depending on the internet connection, but it seems to be faster and more reliable:

[rob day]

Hi @Leonidasss , What are the typical file sizes of the .PSDs and the ID file, and what are the Output/Compression settings of your Export preset?

[Leonidasss]

60 mb up to a few 100 mb for spreads, but no more than one image for a spread, some times I used in combination with transparent indesign vector shapes, with blur and multiply effects to darken surtain part of the image to place readable "white" text columns and or headings.

[rob day]

What is the size for the InDesign .indd file? There is a known Photoshop metadata bug that can inflate ID files. Can you package and share an example that hangs?

Edit: I missed the 5-8mb post.

[Leonidasss]

The zip file is to large to send (73mb) via this medium. How can I send it?

[Leonidasss]

PDF Low res RGB spreads for customers (Copatibility: Acrobat 6 PDF1.5) or

single page HiRes CMYK 300DPI with bleed FROGRA 39 (Standard: PDF/X4:2010) (Copatibility: Acrobat 7 PDF1.6)

[Willi Adelberger]

When you import psd files with different layer visibilities or settings you have to save for each visibility and setting a layer composition. When you import this file select for each import a different layer composition. 

[rob day]

When you import psd files with different layer visibilities or settings

Hi @Willi Adelberger , The .PSD file in @Leonidasss ’s sample only has 1 layer, so I don’t think whatever is going on relates to Layer Option settings.