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NightRed_
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When I export a PDF (PDF1A) from Indesign CS6, the first page of the document is blank.  Why?

Dec 10, 2012 12:04 PM

Tags: #pdf #export #indesign #blank

When I export a PDF (PDF1A) from Indesign CS6, the first page of the document is blank.  Why?

Doesnt the PDF 1A fixup errors?

 

Below is my screen shot of indesign and acrobat.  The first page is blank, the second page is not.  Why only the first page?

 

Any help is much appreciated!  Thanks in advanced!

 

Screen shot 2012-12-10 at 11.42.29 AM.png

731 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: NightRed_, Dec 11, 2012 9:11 AM
 
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  • Peter Spier
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    1. Peter Spier,
    Dec 10, 2012 12:17 PM   in reply to NightRed_
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    Saw this happen about a week ago in another post here. It turned out to be caused by a inner glow applied to the background image.

     

    PDF/X-1a converst all colors to CMYK and flattens transparency, but it doesn't "fix" errors. To track downthe problem the easiest thing is to turn off objects in the layers panel and export until you locate the offender, then look at that object closely and see what there is about it that could be a problem.

     
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  • NightRed_
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    2. NightRed_,
    Dec 10, 2012 12:47 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Thanks for your reply.  The background image is only a JPEG image.  Created in Illustrator and exported as low res JPEG (for a smaller save file).  So the background is completely FLAT.

     

    I took off all outer glows on the front page.  I re-exported as PDF1A and still no first page.

    Although I did save as a PRESS READY PDF and unchecked the FAST WEB VIEWING option and the PDF printed perfectly.  Still a mystery on why PDF1A is missing the first page though.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    3. Peter Spier,
    Dec 10, 2012 1:04 PM   in reply to NightRed_
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    As I said, you need to isolate the problem by turning off things in the Layers panel. It will be faster if you do it by hiding half of the objects at a time. If the export fails, hide half or what's left. If it succeeds, put back half or what you hid. It will take only a few minutes this way.

     
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  • NightRed_
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    4. NightRed_,
    Dec 10, 2012 3:55 PM   in reply to NightRed_
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    Found the problem, the lettering under the SERVCO was causing problems.  Not sure why.  The fonts were outlined.

    When I deleted the fonts, the PDF 1A was good.  I thought outlining fonts was safe!??!

     

    Anyone else have this problem??

     

    Adobe why did the PDF 1A not work, and the PRESS READY PDF option did work?

    Anyone have an answer?

    Screen shot 2012-12-10 at 3.43.26 PM.png

     
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  • Bob Levine
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    5. Bob Levine,
    Dec 10, 2012 4:05 PM   in reply to NightRed_
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    PDF X/1-a is an archaic "standard." Why are you using it?

     

    Bob

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    6. Peter Spier,
    Dec 10, 2012 4:12 PM   in reply to NightRed_
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    NightRed_ wrote:

    Adobe why did the PDF 1A not work, and the PRESS READY PDF option did work?

    One possibility is the differnce in treatment of transparency. PDF/X-1a flattens transparency. The press quality preset leaves it live to be flattened by the printer.

     
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  • NightRed_
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    7. NightRed_,
    Dec 10, 2012 4:20 PM   in reply to Bob Levine
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    Bob Levine,

     

    I work at a print shop.  I thought PDF 1A was the standard for magazine printing?

    Bob, do you recommend something else?

     
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  • NightRed_
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    8. NightRed_,
    Dec 10, 2012 4:20 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Peter Spier,

     

    But now were talking about outlined fonts.  There was no effects or special treatment of theses fonts.  Just plain old outlined fonts.  Nothing special.  Why did the PDF still fail?

     
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  • Dov Isaacs
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    9. Dov Isaacs,
    Dec 10, 2012 9:33 PM   in reply to NightRed_
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    Adobe most strongly recommends use of PDF/X-4 which preserves live transparency and color managment all the way to the RIP.

     

    PDF/X-1a is indeed archaic for any content that uses anything other than CMYK+spot color and/or transparency.

     

    All modern day PDF workflow software supports PDF/X-4. If you still are printing to a PostScript RIP, Acrobat Pro (versions X and XI) can print PDF/X-4 to such RIPs (or printers) quite well.

     

              - Dov

     
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  • NightRed_
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    10. NightRed_,
    Dec 11, 2012 9:11 AM   in reply to Dov Isaacs
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    Thank you Dov.

     

    PDF/X-4 FTW

     
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