Affinity Publisher PDFX4 export issue (with placed PDF)

[Marcocampo]

I tried to export a smalll brochure with 16 pages to PDFX4 with my approved custom settings (which worked fine with every printing purpose export). But not this one. Every PDF export other than PDFX4 worked fine during layout and refinements.

I tried a different document and was able to export PDFX4 as well as my custom X4. The culprit was found quickly, an old CMYK PDF of 2012, placed in the publisher document. I have to say: it worked all the time flawlessly with version 1, last version of the brochure produced in 2019.

This time I worked on a copy of this, opened in 2.2.0. All good, but no X4 export possible (errormessage) with this particular PDF file placed. I was able to reproduce this in a new onepager with nothing but this PDF, which fails as well on X4 export.

best, Marcus

23_10_05_test-PDFX4 with placed 4C-PDF.afpub

[Marcocampo]

Addendum: this happend with the »PDF-TRANSFER« setting. (layer/resources/pdf-transfer) On the other hand the available »PDF-INTERPRETATION« works, with no color shifting. I am not sure if that can be called a bug, but this option is new in V2, and the errormessage gives no hint how this could be solved. Maybe the given error information should mention those PDF-Options and suggest to check them first in case of problems. In particular when all other PDF exports work (even X3). Kind of hidden trap.

best, Marcus

[Hangman]

Hi @Marcocampo,

What is the actual error message you get when attempting to export your file using the PDF/X-4 preset and your own variation of that preset?

I had no issues exporting your file using the standard PDF/X-4 preset, though there is a known issue in v2.2 relating to ICC Profiles detailed in the Known issues in the FAQ Forum which may or may not be related...

One consequence of this new bug is that it impacts the ECI Coated v2 300% (ECI) profile (used in your file) which shows Output Intent incorrectly with the addition of a ÿ prefix to the Profile name...

 

23_10_05_test-PDFX4 with placed 4C-PDF.pdf

[Marcocampo]

Thanks @Hangman for pointing that out. But it is all I have on this, and trying to export PDFX4 displays only this message …

[Hangman]

Hi @Marcocampo,

A Beta Patch, v2.2.1.2052 was released on Friday which may potentially fix this issue (assuming it is actually caused by the same bug) so if you are part of the Beta program you could install this patch and give it a try to see if it resolves your issue. The Beta software can be installed alongside the retail version and both can run together side by side.

If you're not yet enrolled in the Beta program and would like to join you can do so by clicking the link in @Ash's post here...

The obvious caveat here being that your particular issue may turn out not to be related to this specific bug so may not fix the issue but I think it is wirth trying since I didn't experience the bug in the first place and likewise had no issues exporting your file.

[Marcocampo]

Thanks @Hangman !