Print as Bitmap (print dialog/advanced tab) always checked - how do I turn this off!?

[RocketJack]

Using Indesign 2025 v20 on OSX 15.01

I print hundreds of docs from Indesign and have for last 7 years - to a fine art printer (Epson SCp900)

I have to use Indesign rather than Acrobat for a number of reasons. Switching to acrobat is not an option 

I've always had preset documents for various paper sizes which all have 'print as bitmap' unchecked. Up until now my files have honoured that selection and remain unchecked - however Ive just realised that since (I think) v20 everytime I go to print the bitmap box is checked again. 

Ive tried creating new presets, saving new documents even reprinting the same document without closing brings it back on again. 

Printing as bitmap produces jagged edges (600dpi)

I just uploaded my printer driver, no difference.

How do I fix this?

Thanks if anyone can help

[Willi Adelberger]

Why is using Acrobat not an option for you? This is the normal and recommended workflow for print. 

[RocketJack]

Switching from Indesign to Acrobat slows down my workflow - I have printed this way for years with no problem - except now for this pesky 'print as bitmap' constantly being selected. I can just switch it off each time I print but doing so 40 times a day becomes somewhat tedious!

I do understand why using Acrobat makes sense, Ive been printing with Adobe products since before Photoshop used layers - but, I just want to use Indesign as I have for so long as it makes my work streamlined.

[leo.r]

Yes, I can reproduce the problem. In both InDesign 2025 and 2024. The problem also affects printer presets (that is, when you uncheck "Print as bitmap", it's not saved in the preset; it's always checked).

Looks like a bug to me, you can submit it here:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs

P.S. I know my opinion might not be popular, but I strongly disagree with the notion that printing from InDesign via Acrobat is an acceptable and recommended workflow. Printing in FOUR STEPS instead of ONE step is an unfortunate workaround that should be avoided at all costs, when possible. It's not progress, it's shameful regress.

It results in the waste of one of our most precious assets - TIME (second only to our health). Unjustified waste of time should be neither accepted nor tolerated. Yes, I have strong views on this (especialy as a former prepress operator of many years)!

[RocketJack]

Thanks Leo

Ill submit a bug 

And yes, yes, yes. Why involve Acrobat in the workflow when Indesign can and does do the job perfectly well. If I was to export out all of my multitude of prints daily and import to acrobat it would double my working time. Using Indesign means I don't have to actually save anything, I use it to layout a variety of different sizes to maximise paper usage, then I just update my preset docs with the next design/s and repeat.

Agreed. Time is precious! 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Did you just recently upgrade to Sequoia? There are many reports online about problems with Sequoia and P900 compatibility. In fact, I just checked and there are NO Sequoia drivers available on their American/Canadian site, although there is one under Sequoia (v13.26) on the EU site.

I also found a reference to the need to allow certain Epson components access via Security & Privacy. See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255768781?sortBy=rank

[leo.r]

Did you just recently upgrade to Sequoia?

By Brad @ Roaring Mouse

I can reproduce the same issue on Ventura (albeit with totally different printers). That's all I know, I don't know if it also varies between printers.

[leo.r]

Also, I tried to change the bitmap printing flag via a script - and it failed, too.

tell application "Adobe InDesign 2025"
	tell document 1
		tell print preferences
			set bitmap printing to false
		end tell
	end tell
end tell

This script always returns this error:

The property's value is locked and cannot be changed.

While the option can be changed manually in the UI.

This suggests that there's indeed a major bug with this option. 

[RocketJack]

Yes I did recently upgrade. Thanks for the heads up Ill keep my eye on that.

Does it seem like a print driver issue rather than an Indesign bug though?

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Sooo.. I did a deeper dive on this and have found that it's probably an OS issue. Apple, as of Sonoma, apparently removed the mechanism that converts Postscript to PDF in the CUPS printing architecture.

On the Mac, for non-Postscript printers, InDesign and Illustrator (or any Postscript-based program) would still send print data to the CUPS printing system as PS, which would convert that to PDF and then send that to the printer in its native language (PCL or whatever the driver needs) for best quality.

Since Sonoma removed this function, I'm guessing that's why the Print to Bitmap is no longer optional?

[leo.r]

Sooo.. I did a deeper dive on this and have found that it's probably an OS issue. Apple, as of Sonoma, apparently removed the mechanism that converts Postscript to PDF in the CUPS printing architecture.

Since Sonoma removed this function, I'm guessing that's why the Print to Bitmap is no longer optional?

By Brad @ Roaring Mouse

I just want to add what I reproduced and reported earlier was on Ventura.

Plus I'm not sure that the "Print as Bitmap" checkbox is actually aware of what's available on the system level. As far as I understand, its availability is controlled by the PPD (that is, with some PPDs the checkbox is simply disabled).

In all other cases, however, the checkbox is available and can be unchecked manually. So it's not like InDesign disallows to uncheck this option.

Plus, when @RocketJack unchecks this option, he does get the desired results.

From what I see and what is reported, it looks to me like a bug with this particular checkbox. This can be due to a mixup with a flag for the checkbox somewhere in InDesign code, because of which the unchecked state of the checkbox isn't remembered (and which can also explain the inability to control this setting via scripts). That's my guess.

In the end, no matter what causes it, this behavior is an InDesign bug. Because if the user can uncheck the checkbox, then its state must be saved.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Yes. I now tend to agree. 

With a P900 driver loaded (didn't matter which non-PS printer it was actually), I did some tests with CC2020 thru CC2025, on a Monterey and Big Sur system, and CC2023, CC2024 and CC2025 will not "stick" the Print As Bitmap button. but CC2020 thru CC2022 will. I exported a saved Print preset from a CC2020 and imported it to a CC2025 install and the setting was still ignored.   and also noticed that there was no longer the option to set Transaprency Flattener settings that would appear in previous versions when the PaB button was unchecked.

Whether this was an intentional change "for reasons", it would be nice if an Adobe tech would speak to it for the reason behind it.