InDesign PDF quality

[Melissa_D.@adobeforums.com]

Recently, I began using InDesign. Previously, I used PageMaker 6.5 but had problems in Windows XP. I have been opening 6.5 files with linked graphics in InDesign to turn them into PDF files. However, I have found that the quality of the graphics is poorer than from using 6.5's export to make postscript files and using Distiller to turn the postscript files into PDF files. This has been the case despite using the highest quality settings for color graphics in InDesign's export. Any advice?

[mikewitherell_at_jetsetcom_dot_net]

Assuming you really do have the linked graphics properly linked, the graphics that are going to PDF could be affected by not only the ppi, but after that the compression method used. Check and see if it is set to Automatic, which may be jpeg compressing the pixel-based stuff into a lossy sorry mess. Try zip or none for compression, and test and see if the output is sharper. I assume you are choosing "Press" at 300 ppi as a basis for your PDF recipe.

Mike Witherell in Washington DC

[Melissa_D.@adobeforums.com]

Actually, being relatively unfamiliar with InDesign's menu options, I did NOT have the Press option selected, rather Screen, which was the default. I had tried none for compression to improve the quality, but had found the file size increased 20-30 times. Now, when I used the Press option, the problem was solved. Keeping the Automatic option, the file size is small as well. Thanks, Mike.