Converting to PDF from Adobe InDesign (Windows)

Owned by
James W Yan
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024 by
Cole Marchant
3 min read

In Adobe InDesign, you can export your document as a PDF. This process essentially "flattens" the document into a single, editable PDF file. Here's how you can export a flattened PDF in InDesign:

InDesign will include all the necessary information from your document in the PDF file. If you've merged layers or taken other steps to simplify your layout, those changes will be reflected in the exported PDF.

Always keep a backup of your original InDesign document before making significant changes or exporting to a different format. If you need to maintain the ability to edit the content in the future, make sure to keep a copy of the original InDesign (.indd) file.

You must have your EID at the beginning of every file you submit. We will not release any incorrectly named plots. EX: EID_filename

Step-by-step guide

  1. Open the InDesign file that you want to export to a flattened PDF.
  2. Check your layers in the Layers panel. If there are layers you want to flatten, you may consider merging them by selecting the layers and choosing "Merge Layers" from the panel menu.
  3.  Go to the "File" menu, choose "Export," and then select "Adobe PDF" as the format.
  4. In the Export Adobe PDF window, you can choose various settings for your PDF. Depending on your needs, you might want to select a PDF preset or customize settings. 
    1. Adobe PDF Preset: Choose a preset that matches your needs. For print, "High Quality Print" or "Press Quality" is often suitable.
    2. Compatibility: Choose the highest version compatible with your needs.
    3. Resolution: Set the resolution to 300 dpi. You can find this setting under the "Compression" tab. Make sure "Do Not Downsample" is selected, and set the compression options as needed.
    4. Marks and Bleeds: Under this tab, you can set up printer's marks and bleed if required.
    5. Output: You can customize color conversion and other output settings based on your needs.
    6. Pages: Choose to export all pages or a range of pages.

  5. Under the "General" tab, you can choose the paper size from the "Pages" dropdown menu. If your desired paper size is not available, you can customize it by selecting "Custom" and entering the dimensions. Choose the correct orientation (Portrait or Landscape) based on your design and the paper you plan to print on.

  6. Once you've configured your settings, click the "Export" button to save your PDF.