InDesign removes items from a PDF (Canva)

[AuroraPenticton]

When placing PDF's into a document and printing them, InDesign seems to randomly cause some items to be removed from the layout. It seems to be mostly Canva PDF's that are affected.

Screenshot 1 - my client's Canva PDF is dropped into our printer (Fiery Command Workstation). Everything is correct in the preview.

Screenshot 2 - I need the document 2-up on a sheet so I lay that out with InDesign and print to the Fiery. Now there is a bunch of text missing in the tan colored box. I can even make a PDF of this 2-up layout and it removes the items from the PDF.

This problem started with InDesign 2023. I still have 2022 installed for this very purpose because these files print fine from 2022. I've been burnt by this problem several times now and keep hoping a new version will fix it. 2023, 2024 and 2025 do not fix it.

[AuroraPenticton]

I know, the answer really is "Canva sucks" and I agree. But tons of our customers use it, it's completely random when it happens, and it doesn't happen in InDesign 2022.

[Willi Adelberger]

Canva PDFs are not unproblematic. Open them in Acrobat Pro in Pint Production run a Preflight to check and repair for print readiness like meeting standards. Then place them in InDesign. 

[AuroraPenticton]

Thanks I tried the Digital Publishing preset and one of the press presets and the problem remains. I also had a coworker in another office try printing the file and he gets the same thing.

[Willi Adelberger]

If the problem remains, the file was created wrongly. Not an InDesign issue 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Can you post the original PDF and the resulting one after placing in InDesign?
I have a theory but I would need the files to see for sure. (PrePress guy here). You can DM me if you don't want to post publicly.

I had a client send me a 48-page annual report they did in Canva and there was no end of issues. I spent more chargeable time fixing it than what it would have cost me to do the document properly!

[AuroraPenticton]

Thanks! PM sent.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

I was able to reproduce the behaviour.

Not sure why the text in particular vanished, but the original PDF was version v1.6 and you saved your imposed file out backwards at v1.3, and I think there must be a backwards compatibility problem. Is there a reason why you are using such an old format? I would only flatten files when if there's a troubleshooting issue. In any case, if you save out at any version higher than v1.3, it works fine. I personally recommend at least v1.5

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

By the way, my theory was about the format of the embedded fonts. Canva likes to convert some fonts to Type 3 format (noone knows why), and that is exactly the case with JUST that one text block in your client's PDF. The rest of the text is properly embedded fonts in OT/TT format. Type 3 have been problematic with some prepress workflows, and it appears that might be part of the issue with you saving backwards to v1.3. 

[AuroraPenticton]

Thank you! Yeah if I up the PDF format to the latest version then the text remains. But it's still gone if I print directly from InDesign. It's set to print PS level 3 and all fonts.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Oh yes, same here. But if I submit the imposed v1.5 PDF directly, it's fine. ooookkkaaay

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

I found another person having similar issues in a prepress situation, and their routine is to run a preflight action to convert Type 3 fonts to outline.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

I have created a preflight for Acrobat to convert Type 3 fonts to outline. It works here. I will PM you a fixed file. let me know if it works

[AuroraPenticton]

Sure I can give that preflight a try. The job is already complete - I printed it from ID2022 - but I can use it for future files. Thanks!