How to Save as PDF in InDesign: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adobe InDesign is a powerful tool for creating visually compelling print and digital publications. When it comes to sharing or distributing your InDesign work, one of the most popular and versatile formats is the Portable Document Format (PDF).

Saving your InDesign file as a PDF is a relatively simple process that allows you to maintain the integrity of your design elements while ensuring compatibility across multiple devices and platforms.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of saving an InDesign file as a PDF.

Export an InDesign file as a PDF

Step 1: Open your InDesign file

Start Adobe InDesign and open the file you want to save as a PDF. Make any final edits to your document before proceeding to ensure it is ready for export.

Step 2: Go to the Export menu

Click on “File” in the top menu bar and select “Export” from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + E” (Windows) or “Cmd + E” (Mac).

Step 3: Choose a destination and file name

In the “Export” dialog box, navigate to the folder where you want to save the PDF file. Enter a file name for your PDF and make sure “Adobe PDF (Print)” is selected in the “Save as type” (Windows) or “Format” (Mac) drop-down menu.

Step 4: Configure PDF output settings

Click the “Save” button to open the “Export Adobe PDF” dialog box. Here you can configure various settings for your PDF, such as:

Adobe PDF preset

Select a preset from the drop-down list, which determines...