Select Window > Output > Flattener Preview.
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Advanced color techniques
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- Fix transparency flattener preview
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Define and manage color assets
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Export to EPUB
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Print
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Color output and separations
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Settings, interface, and feature issues
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Fix transparency flattener preview
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to refresh or adjust preview settings to accurately display transparency flattening effects in your Adobe InDesign document.
Use the Flattener Preview panel to identify areas affected by transparency flattening. This helps resolve issues before printing or exporting, especially in complex documents or when exporting to formats such as PDF 1.3 or EPS.
Refresh the preview display
Select Auto Refresh Highlight to update the preview automatically when changes occur. Complex artwork can take a few seconds to refresh.
To refresh manually, select Refresh.
Adjust preview settings to fix display issues
Select Window > Output > Flattener Preview.
From the Highlight drop-down menu, choose the areas to preview.
Select the panel menu icon, then select Transparency Flattener Presets.
Select a flattener preset from the Presets list, then select OK.
Select Refresh to update the preview.
Verify preview accuracy
Select Window > Output > Flattener Preview.
Compare the preview with the document to confirm the highlighted areas match expectations.
Test different Highlight modes to understand how elements interact with transparency.
If results are unexpected, review the flattener preset settings to ensure they match the output requirements.
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