Expert: Candice Anderson - 6/24/2007

Question
A graphics created in WORD 2000, imported using drag and drop into a Indesign CS2, does not appear in the exported PDF (exported with pdf/X-1a, and other standards).  I have experimented and found that it appears if drop shadow, if feathering is applied, or if opacity (in transparency) is set to less than 100%.

I have fixed the problem temporarily by creating an empty frame with 99% opacity.  Is this a known problem? Is there any permanent fix to it?

Thank you.

Answer
hmmm.....

to be honest, I really don't know. Word and Indesign don't play quite right together and I commend you for actully getting to work in the way you did!

The only thing I can fathom is that it's the shadow you're putting on it. When ever I have a shadow on anything I always just give the printer the Indesign package, I've never had luck - usually it's off color. I've been told that it's a bug and I hope that's fixed in CS3!

if you can, print the Indesing file. If it works there, then that's it. If not...or either way, try bringing the file into photoshop first, put a drop shadow there, THEN bring it in.