Low-Resolution Images in PDF Exported from InDesign

I prepared a catalog in InDesign and exported the PDF for the printer. The print service provider tells me that some images are low-resolution, but they look perfect in my file. How can I understand which images actually have a problem?

By Cristiano Zappacosta — Senior Graphic Production Consultant

The Problem

Cause and Analysis

Images may have been compressed during PDF export if quality settings were not explicit, reducing the effective resolution in the final file while maintaining acceptable visual appearance on screen.

Image resolution in InDesign and that in the exported PDF can differ if the export profile does not preserve the original resolution; images may be perfect in the document but degraded in the delivered PDF.

Solution Proposed by GPX

A possible cause is that PDF export applied JPEG compression or automatic resampling to the images, which is common when using a default profile or medium quality setting.

Limitations of This Analysis

This analysis is generated with the support of Artificial Intelligence: always verify its accuracy and applicability before using it. The reliability level of this analysis is 'Medium', not the highest possible.

Checks Before Proceeding

Open the original InDesign file and access the 'Links' panel. For each image, select it and observe in the properties or info panel the resolution value (expressed in dpi). If you see values below 300 dpi, that is a probable cause of the printer's problem; if instead all images declare ≥300 dpi, the cause is more likely in the compression applied during PDF export.