When exporting InDesign document to PDF you can see text box and frame lines

[alextreid]

I'm exporting a document as PDF/X-1a:2001 and there is a page where I have used the drop shadow effect on text and you can see the text frame around this. There is also a smaller image on this page which you can also see the frame on when exporting. The lines around the text and image are clear and look fine before exporting.

[BobLevine]

Those are stitching artifacts and are a result of flattening transparency. Why are you using X/1-a?

It is an archaic file format.

[alextreid]

The printers I am using have specified that I export it as X/1-a, is there any way of getting rid of these lines and exporting it this way? Thanks

[BobLevine]

They shouldn’t print and no, there’s no way to avoid it when flattening.

If you can, I would certainly be looking for a new printer that will accept a modern format such as X/4

[alextreid]

So just to clarify, if I was to export as X/4 then I wouldn't have problems with the text frame lines?

[BobLevine]

Correct. That format does not flatten transparency or convert RGB to CMYK.

[alextreid]

Great, thanks for your help Bob!