Transparent PDF Imports with White Background in InDesign 2025

[Poonam3159546894bs]

Transparent pdf files imported have a white background. In order to resolve this it was necessary to revert back to previous InDesign 2024.

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Poonam3159546894bs,

Thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds like a frustrating issue, but let's see if we can get to the bottom of it.

1. Could you let us know which operating system (and version) you’re using? Sometimes OS compatibility can affect how transparent PDFs are handled.

2. If possible, could you share a screenshot of the transparent PDF as it appears outside of InDesign, as well as how it looks after being imported into InDesign? This will help us see exactly where the white background is being introduced.

3. If you're able, a short screen recording demonstrating the import process could also be very helpful for understanding the issue in more detail.

Hopefully, with this information, we can identify a solution.

Thanks!

Abhishek Rao

[Old Charles]

Same issue for me too. Same file, updated PDF saved from Illustrator (300dpi raster settings, transparency enabled too).

We can find a workaround by importing PDF into Photoshop and converting it to a raster TIF, but that's inconvenient and a loss of time.

Windows 10 Pro

[jmlevy]

When you import the file, tick the “Show options” checkbox. Then you will be able to get a transparent background.

[Old Charles]

As you can see, even with checked transparency, it imports a sort of huge "transparency dither".

[Willi Adelberger]

What PDF version is your file? Howe was it generated?

[Willi Adelberger]

When you place a file, turn on the import options. There is an option to import with white background. Turn it off. 

[Old Charles]

Already did it, I know this option, doesn't make any change.

But I think I found the issue. The problem isn't InDesign but Illustrator.
If an effect such as Drop Shadow is applied, the exported PDF creates a glitch/issue and creates this kind of white dither around the object.
Save as - Creates the glitch
Export - Creates the glitch
Print as PDF - Creates the glith
Print as Postscript - Creates the glitch
Export as TIF - Creates the glitch
Save artboard - Save as PDS - Works

So there must be something glitching there.

I've been working with AI / InDesign / PS since 2005, I think I can recognize when there is an actual glitch.

[BobLevine]

If you'd care to post the file, we can take a look.

[BobLevine]

Are you absolutely sure there's no background in the PDF? I've seen this before and had to open the file in Acrobat or Illustrator and remove it manually.

[Old Charles]

Absolutely sure, otherwise the bacground would have been the size of the whole canvas and wouldn't have had the jagged shape I've shown in the pictures. Let me attach you two more screenshots.

Apparently I'm not allowed to attach .ai files here. Here the wetransfer link: https://we.tl/t-qgwDdmbSlA

[jmlevy]

I have opened your AI file with Illustrator 2024, saved it as PDF and imported the PDF in an 2025 InDesign file. No problem.

[Scott Falkner]

Even if the graphic imported without the white bars you would have a problem. Drop shadows usually use the Multiply opacity mode, which will always add ink (or subtract light) from the background image. But Illustrator PDFs only have one opacity mode. The drop shadow will import using Normal opacity, jsut like everything else.

The solution is to either produce the drop shadow in InDesign or put the drop shadow on its own layer and use Layer Options in InDesign to place two versions of the graphic then set the drop shadow version to Multiply.

[Old Charles]

I understand that but then why did it work until now? I've been using transparency drop shadow in PDF since always and now, all of a sudden, it doesn't work properly.
I can't reproduce the drop shadow in indesign because, as you can see, some of the elements of the graphics have overlayed shadows on different levels. 

The thing is I made a postscrit file with it and went to print a month ago. All perfect, no issues.
I open the same file now with 2025 AI/ID for a second printing and now it gives me that glitch.
Isn't it a bit weird?

[BobLevine]

I placed that artboard directly into InDesign and it's fine. Whatever is happening to you, I'm not seeing it.

[Old Charles]

I confirm, linking directly the artbord from AI works for me too.
Still there is the issue saving it as PDF file and then importing it into Indesign.
Did you try this way?

[Willi Adelberger]

If you import PDFs into InDesign, I recommend to use PDF/X-4. Other standards I would avoid.

[jmlevy]

@Old Charles Did you read my answer (22 november)?  

I have opened your AI file with Illustrator 2024, saved it as PDF and imported the PDF in an 2025 InDesign file. No problem.