PDF Exported out of InDesign Dropping Images When Opened in Chrome or Opened Using a QR Code

[rhondar80810534]

A PDF I've exported out of InDesign seems to be dropping random images when viewing the preview in Chrome or when I use a QR Code to access the PDF online.

• These images are on]master pages, however it doesn't do it on all of the master pages or even images on the same master page.
• Some of these PDFs have been in use for more than three years with no issues until recently.
• It appears to be quite random as the files dropping are TIFs or even objects drawn in the InDesign document.
• It only happens in the preview pane. When the PDFs are viewed as full pages or when they are downloaded they are fine.
• As the QR code is opening the file as a preview it too is dropping these images.
• It doesn't happen when using other platforms or opening the PDF from other sources.
• It doesn't happen on all documents. It has happened on documents two pages in length up to 60 pages.

These are files viewed by thousands of customers globally so a plug in to view or using another browser unfortunately isn't a solution in this case. Also, due to the size of these documents exporting to JPEGs is not a workable solution.

The only solution I've come up with is to export PDFs in Acrobat 4 format, but am looking for a more long-term solution so any help would be great. Thanks in advance!

[BobLevine]

If it works in Acrobat, then the problem is with the way the other PDF readers are interpreting the file. 

[Laubender]

"The only solution I've come up with is to export PDFs in Acrobat 4 format, but am looking for a more long-term solution so any help would be great."

That's nearly all you can do. A minimum standard all PDF viewer applications, also the ones in browsers, can deal with. The settings I do use for this are this:

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Both of the above. When creating PDFs intended for web viewing, "KISS" — Keep It Simple, Sherlock.

Use web-compatible graphics (JPG, PNG) and not TIF. Export to RGB. Flatten layers. Avoid complex (large-file) fonts. The export standard shouldn't matter that much but staying with Acrobat 5 (4 for greater safety) is a good idea. And then reduce file size after export.

I believe that most of the hate out there for PDF is not based on Adobe/Acrobat produced and viewed ones, but the lousy "Print to PDF" alternatives and integrated viewers. We do have to work around them, though, for most web purposes.