Indesign export as rasterized PDF

This script allows you to export an Indesign file to a PDF with every page a rasterized JPEG. This is useful for example when you have a file that will not compress to make a PDF small enough to email. This can happen with complex vector data or duotone images.

There is an updated dialog box which allows you to specify the color mode, resolution and JPEG quality of the final images that will be combined into the PDF.

One stage process

You have the choice of creating the rasterised PDF either directly from Indesign, or Indesign via Photoshop. In the first method, Indesign exports temporary JPEGs to your target folder and the script converts these into a PDF.

… or two stage process

If you check the “Convert color through Photoshop” checkbox, the process will go via Photoshop. Indesign first exports a temporary PDF and opens it one page at a time in Photoshop in the desired color mode. Photoshop saves a JPEG of each page and these get combined into the final PDF.

Letting Photoshop convert the color can give better results when there is a variety of color modes being used in the Indesign document, for example PMS, CMYK and/or RGB. With this method you choose the desired PDF preset and this allows the options of trim marks and bleed. It is recommended that you use a preset that does not do any color conversion, like [PDF/X-4:2008]. The aim is to let Photoshop do the job of converting the colors to get better results. Photoshop will convert the color using its default profile.

Other features

• Every open document can be exported in one step.
• If you check the “Leave PDF open” check box, the script will open the PDF open in your default PDF viewing program at the end.

This is an AppleScript that works for Adobe Indesign on an Apple Mac.

Download for $9.99.

Update history

• September 2018 – added ability to process files with custom page names.