Export PDFs for printing

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to export documents as print-ready PDF files with appropriate settings in Adobe InDesign.

Exporting to Adobe PDF for print supports both presets and custom settings. Presets like High Quality Print offer reliable output, while custom settings control file size and quality. Settings are retained and can be reused for future exports.

InDesign supports exporting a document, a book, or selected documents within a book as a single PDF file. Content can also be copied to the clipboard and converted into a PDF for use in other applications.

Select File > Export.

Select a File name and location to save the document.

Select Adobe PDF (Print) for the Save As Type (Windows) or Format (macOS).

Select Save to open the Export Adobe PDF dialog box.

Do one of the following:

To use a predefined set of job options, select a preset from the Adobe PDF Preset menu.
To create a PDF/X file, either select a PDF/X preset from the Adobe PDF Preset menu or select a predefined PDF/X format from the Standard menu.
To customize options, select a category from the list on the left and then set the options.

For Compatibility, select the lowest PDF version necessary to open the files you create.

Select and modify the Accessibility Options under the Advanced tab, if necessary.

Select Export (Windows) or Save (macOS).

Tip

Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and select Reset in the Export Adobe PDF dialog (the Cancel option changes to Reset) to restore default settings.

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Export documents as separate InCopy files

Manage PDF presets

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