InDesign to PDF Issues.

Element_13 · 01-21-2008, 05:17 PM

Let me start by saying that I apologize in advance if anything I say is snarky or calloused in this post or any replies stemming from this post. This is a very frustrating issue to deal with on a Monday.

Here is the setup:

Windows XP, Indy CS3, Quad Core, 4 Gb of Ram.

I am trying to print a large banner (48" x 24", done at half scale) from InDesign to a low res PDF proof. I keep getting the following error "Failed to export the PDF file." The file consists of one large background image, a map, one small text box, a web address and 3 logos.

Now before it is assumed that I didn't do any research, here is what I have figured out so far. Nothing overlapping spreads, no transparencies, fonts are not corrupt, all images are CMYK, all images are linked eps's (nothing is corrupt) and the file prints when setup for Press ready standards. This file has been printed numerous times (both resolutions) with no issues until I formatted the page size and bleeds for this particular job. If the large background image is removed it prints fine to lower resolution.

I have heard that it may be RAM (not with the 4 Gb i Have though), boxes overlapping spreads, corrupt images, wrong color spaces, transparencies, fonts, everythign else under the sun. Nothing has fixed this issue for me though. I have also tried to export it to a inx file and still issues.

With all that being said, I am pretty sure it has been narrowed down to the large background image. I have tried renaming the file, recreating the .tif from the original PSD file, changing color space to RGB (just in case), removing the image and placing a new version in the file, moving the image to a separate layer, etc. I am stumped. Google has only suggested what I have already tried.

Anyone have any idea as to what else it may possibly be?

emucru · 01-21-2008, 05:31 PM

Have you tried printing to postscript or PRN file and distilling it?? Restarting/ trash prefs. etc.

TeeJay! · 01-21-2008, 05:35 PM

You might want to upgrade to Indesign 5.0.1 if you have not already done so. The 5.0.0 version, which is the one on the DVD, there are several known bugs when it comes to exporting PDFs. I have experienced several errors also after exporting to PDF, or at least the guy down at the printing office did.

I am afraid I have no other great solutions to pull out of the hat.

Good luck!

Danger_Mouse · 01-21-2008, 05:36 PM

When I was on PC I would run into the same issue with Illy. It WAS a RAM issue, even though I had plenty. I had to reboot, then close all software so that only Illy was open, THEN it would work.

**garricks** · 01-21-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Element_13

...recreating the .tif from the original PSD file,...

What happens if you place the PSD file directly into Indy instead of saving out as a .tif? That's the only other thing I can think of for you to try.

Element_13 · 01-21-2008, 06:04 PM

Well. I was finally able to print the file in low res. I did have to reboot to get it to work. For some reason, it will only allow me to print it once when I reboot and then I need to reboot to print it again. So strange. As for the other suggestions, I am running 5.0.1 and importing the psd file instead of the tif does not work. I did not try to print to PS or PRN but I did notice that it would print to PDF but not export to pdf as per the settings mentioned before. In the end, I am still baffled but I am considering it to be some sort of RAM issue. Who knows. Thanks for the help.

Broacher · 01-21-2008, 06:50 PM

You might try:

temporarily disconnecting the link to the high rez graphics (rename the folder, or something similar). Ignore the lost links, don't embed, and recreate the PDF using ID's self-generated previews (ignore the warnings about missing links). This will be a LOT easier to digest for the exporter, especially if it's just low-rez proofing.

emucru · 01-21-2008, 06:51 PM

It sounds like its memory related as a reboot would clear it out. Do you have everything on one drive? Or partition? Or separate hard disks?

Element_13 · 01-21-2008, 07:16 PM

Everything is on one drive that is partitioned. It is a 300 Gb drive partitioned into 2 disks at 80 Gb for the OS and 220 Gb for storage. There is about 40 Gb free on the OS partition and 200 Gb on the Storage part. I am starting to have issues with printing the hi res print versions now. It figures as today is a Monday that everything would go wrong on one file. Hopefully it is not the machine as it is less than 6 months old.

**budafist** · 01-21-2008, 07:51 PM

This happens from time to time when I place a client supplied pdf (logo or image) into an Indy file.

Usually when I save that file as something else or make a new document it works ok. Seems like you have tried those already though.