How to create a editable PDF with Indesign, that is printable

[Sebastian_muc]

My client would like to edit and print his business cards on his own and asks for editable PDF that I should create in Indesign. The client only has the Acrobat Reader. Does anyone know if this is possible?

The only possibilty for a editable PDF with Acrobat Reader is with interactive Textboxes and an export as "interactive PDF". But is a "interactive PDF" printable? What happens to the colors? And the textboxes that are filled in Indesign are empty after the export. Does anyone has a solution or a tutorial?

Thank you!

[Randy Hagan · Accepted solution]

I would say technically, yes. But practically no.

You can create a so-called reader-enabled PDF that would let your client enter contact information into a card "form", which is essentially what this would become. But you wouldn't have any real font or relevant typographic control over it, suspect consistency and widely variable output results.

I'd suggest such a process would be fraught with peril.

Sorry I don't have a better answer for you,

Randy

[Laubender]

Hi Sebastian,

I once did a project like that. But it only worked because the client sent back the filled out PDFs to us where we had control over flatten the form fields in Acrobat, applying the right fonts and converting the colors to the expected ones. All in Acrobat Pro.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )