Designing a beautiful layout in Adobe InDesign is only half the job—exporting your file correctly for print is what ensures your design looks perfect on paper. If you’ve ever had a brochure come back with missing fonts, fuzzy images, or wrong colors, you know how critical these settings are.
This article breaks down the exact steps and options you need to export high-quality, print-ready PDFs from InDesign.
Why Export Settings Matter
Printers require specific standards for:
- Resolution (usually 300 DPI)
- Color mode (CMYK vs RGB)
- Bleeds (extra margin for edge-to-edge printing)
- Fonts and image embedding
Skipping a single setting can result in poor output—or even rejections from print shops.
Step-by-Step: Exporting a Print-Ready PDF
- Go to File > Export
Choose format: Adobe PDF (Print). Click Save. - Choose Preset: [High Quality Print] or [Press Quality]
These presets are optimized for professional printing, but you may need to adjust further. - Pages vs. Spreads
- Choose “Pages” for individual pages (used in most print workflows).
- Choose “Spreads” if your layout spans across a two-page spread.
- Compression Settings
In the Compression tab:- Downsample images above 300 ppi to 300 ppi
- Use “Automatic (JPEG)” or “ZIP” for best results
- Marks and Bleeds
- Check Crop Marks
- Check Use Document Bleed Settings (make sure you’ve set a bleed in File > Document Setup, usually 3mm or 0.125 in)
- Output Settings
- Under Color Conversion, select Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers)
- Destination: Choose a CMYK color profile (e.g., U.S. Web Coated SWOP v2 or ISO Coated v2)
- Fonts
Fonts are embedded automatically, but avoid using unlicensed or protected fonts that don’t allow embedding.
Preflight Checklist Before Export
- All links updated and images embedded
- Text styles consistent
- No overset text
- All fonts are properly loaded
- Bleeds and margins respected
- Black set to Rich Black for large fills (e.g., C60 M40 Y40 K100) and 100% K for small text
Bonus: Use PDF/X-1a Format for Print Shops
Many printers prefer PDF/X-1a:2001 format. It flattens transparency, converts all color to CMYK, and embeds all fonts—making it a reliable industry standard.
Choose it from the Adobe PDF Preset dropdown when exporting.
Final Thoughts
Exporting your print-ready PDF correctly ensures your layout shines exactly as you intended—without costly surprises at the printer. Once you understand the export settings, producing professional print files becomes second nature.
