The exported PDF from InDesign is pixelated. Solved

Question

Hello,  Everything is in the title. I am creating a downloadable document in InDesign. While the print outputs are great, the PDF display is just awful. I’ve tested different compression modes, I’ve exported a 300 dpi PDF without compression, and it still looks pixelated. And really pixelated. The logos are almost unreadable. The curves are jagged. I absolutely cannot send this to the clients.  So, I'm throwing a message in a bottle. Please, help me!!!

sarahmoon · Accepted Answer

Hello,  Dropdown menu Acrobat ----->Preferences----->Display.  Rendering:  Text smoothing: for the monitor. Check Stroke and Images.  -- A greasy spoon is not a German train station.

contrariness · Answer

Do you create your PDF by exporting from InDesign or through the print window and Acrobat Distiller?

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

In InDesign Files>Export>Export as PDF I tested with "PDF (Print)" and "Adobe PDF (Interactive)", varying the settings. It looks bad every time. I am working with CS6 Design Standard. This suite does not include Distiller.  Thank you for your interest in my problem, contrariness. I had searched forums and came across this topic (https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-24084881-indesign-vers-pdf-images-hd-pixellisee from 2012 where you were already involved. But even with a PDF output at 300 dpi, it really looks bad.

contrariness · Answer

Yes, yes... the Design Standard suite includes Acrobat Distiller (it installs as a standalone program alongside Acrobat "Pro")  I suppose you don't have Pitstop?  What type of image are you using (TIF or JPEG or other)? I assume you have checked your links? Are you getting an error when you request document verification? (menu "file/Assembly")

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

Exactly! I just found Distiller Pro. But since I've never used it...  I try to work only with .eps or .ai as much as possible, there are a few .jpgs, they are 300dpi and they hardly pixelate compared to the others.  I think I must have missed a document setting since even the rectangles created with InDesign have a jagged edge.  I don't have any errors for assembling it.

contrariness · Answer

Remove all compression from images and line drawings to see what it looks like...

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

It's the same... pixels pixels pixels...

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

I tested the method with PostScript and Distiller ... And even there ... I don't know what to do anymore.

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

Same. It doesn't change anything. It's still pixelated. It's incomprehensible. It's not the quality of the document that's the issue, and it's impossible to find what the faulty setting is.

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2013/10/10/page-1/  On this link, the stairs no longer appear, there are still some blurry logos. And these are vector images. I'm sure of that.

contrariness · Answer

Vector images... I doubt it because there is nothing in the PDF export from InDesign that can pixelate them... unless the link is missing and you're embedding the preview... (but you would receive an error message when creating the PDF).  Check if it's indeed vector with Illustrator... with the white arrow the objects will be selected independently.

Aaarrrggghhhh · Answer

I finally found the solution! Sarahmoon was on the right track, it was a setting issue in Acrobat. InDesign had nothing to do with it! I'm super relieved, I can finally send my documents to clients.  Outline and Images were checked but grayed out. By unchecking Use 2D graphic acceleration, these two options were activated. And everything fell back into place.  As for my logos, I have to defend them! When they read that someone dared to insinuate that they weren't vectorized, they reacted violently! Brandishing their Adobe Illustrator format as a banner! I had a revolution in the Link file when I wanted to relink them one by one.  Thank you all!

The exported PDF from InDesign is pixelated.

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