michaelraiwet Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Hello, I am working on a poster for a school project using Affinity Designer. I am trying to export it to PDF but I keep getting the following error message: An error occurred while exporting to: /Users/Michael/Desktop/GEOL429_poster-II copy.pdf I've searched the forum for similar issues but I couldn't find any (or I'm terrible at searching). It's probably the largest file I've worked with (dimension-wise) at 1.5 m x 0.9 m, which is probably why it's not exporting. But I made one back in December at 0.9 x 0.6 m that was almost certainly a larger file due to using more graphical content. I was wondering if anybody had run into this problem before or had any possible solutions? I have trouble believing that Affinity Designer is not capable of this task (since it rocks at everything else). Thanks for any ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uuiop Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Hi, and welcome, Michael. Apart from technical export issues which others are much better qualified to comment on, perhaps you should first find out whether it is just pure size (quantity of data) or complexity of data which could be the issue. You could check size by literally making it smaller, but as it's an AD project (vectors) that may not tell you everything. However AD files can contain rasterised areas, so there may still be a clue there. As to complexity, you might de-select some of any more complex layers and then try to export again (which isn't going to tell you much if your poster is made up of relatively simple vector constructs). Then there is the ugly prospect of corruption somewhere: do you have a succession of earlier versions which you can try to export until you find the version which fails? If so, you may be able to reduce the tedious elimination of particular vector layers and groups. There might be a bug in there and we would all be delighted if the amazing Affinity team could trace and fix it, but they would need to examine your file :unsure: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelraiwet Posted March 29, 2016 Author Share Posted March 29, 2016 So I started with a new file, and slowly added assets and mixed and matched assets while exporting to see where it would no longer export. I got to the point where I had all of my graphics, title, authors, and background image, but as soon as I added my bulleted text I get these errors again. The progress bar for exporting will go to about 50% before it gets that error. I can export it to .psd and open it in Pixelmator and export it to PDF, but at that point, the text isn't selectable and the graphics have been rasterized which is what I was hoping to avoid. The file size prior to adding the text is about 25 Mb, so I don't think I should be running out of memory? Will there be a significant reduction in quality by printing from a PNG over a PDF? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelraiwet Posted March 29, 2016 Author Share Posted March 29, 2016 Okay, so I can export to SVG and then open it in Designer and export it to PDF, all the text is selectable, very little rasterization. It's too bad about the extra step, but it's an infinite times better than me having to download a different program that I don't know my way around. I could upload the file but it is over 200 Mb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted March 29, 2016 Staff Share Posted March 29, 2016 Hi michael_raiwet, Welcome to Affinity Forums :) If you could upload the file somewhere it would be helpful. Alternatively you can use this link to upload it directly to my Dropbox account. Thanks. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software | Affinity Quick Reference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelraiwet Posted March 29, 2016 Author Share Posted March 29, 2016 Okay, here is a link! Thanks everybody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uuiop Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Hi michael-raiwet. It may be that your use of the San Francisco font is the problem. That particular font is restricted to Developers (iOS and OS X) for a better OS look and feel. It isn't intended for the rest of us to use in our publications and doesn't work properly there. From the SFr usage Ts & Cs: “Important note: the Apple San Francisco font is to be used solely for creating mock-ups of user interfaces to be used in software products running on Apple’s iOS or OS X operating systems, as applicable.” Swap San Francisco for another font and try again. So far as I know Open Sans is not restricted in this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yasir Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I noticed the file name has space in it, did you accidentally added that while you were typing this post? If it was that font (San francisco) I learned just yesterday there is an option when you export to curve all text.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uuiop Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Hi Yasir, re: curve conversion -- it should be an option, but the downside would likely be a much larger file size (it's pretty big already), and potentially fuzzy text edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamin Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 I'm having the same errors, and my file is quite small by indesign standards. Kark_Haffner_Poster_with_new_fonts_v3.afdesign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrox Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I also have this problem. Affinity Designer 1.5.3.69 Uploaded file to dropbox as terrox_pdf_export_error.afdesign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
叶睿超 Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I also can't save PDF. The prompt message "an error occurred while executing" The version is affinity designer 1.5.3.69. The Windows version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted September 20, 2017 Staff Share Posted September 20, 2017 Hello terrox, 叶睿超, Welcome to Affinity Forums Please create a new thread in the Bugs in Affinity Designer & Affinity Photo, attach the problematic afdesign or afphoto file and tell us what export settings (or preset) you are using so we can follow each issue in its own thread. Thanks. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software | Affinity Quick Reference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted September 20, 2017 Staff Share Posted September 20, 2017 @Jamin Which export settings/preset are you using? And what Designer version are you running? Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software | Affinity Quick Reference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
叶睿超 Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 @MEB I reloaded the computer system, and now I've solved this problem, But why do I have this problem and I don't understand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokudamerlin Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 have the same problem .. thats not cool .. cant export have 3tb freespace and 32gb ram and i7, win 10 pro ... what is the problem from the program ? i want export pdf (for print) standart options .. pls help is important Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FdelS Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 On 12/4/2017 at 5:42 PM, rokudamerlin said: have the same problem .. thats not cool .. cant export have 3tb freespace and 32gb ram and i7, win 10 pro ... what is the problem from the program ? i want export pdf (for print) standart options .. pls help is important I have exactly the same problem with the last version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuth1n Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 I just experienced this problem for the first time. I tested it out in Affinity Designer and Publisher and both could not export it. I incrementally deleted each object until it would export, the suspect object was a standard square shape with a color fill. The strange thing is that Affinity Designer thought the box was a text layer. Would you like me to upload the file somewhere or have enough files been submitted to review this big/issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted July 9, 2019 Staff Share Posted July 9, 2019 Hi Izzy, Regarding the text layer it's possible the square was converted to a text frame. This happen when you click with the Text Frame Tool in a regular shape. It would be nice if you could attach the original file from which you are exporting the PDF. I can provide you an upload link if you wish to keep the file private. The other replies on this thread are quite old. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software | Affinity Quick Reference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuth1n Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Possibly, I don't know why that didn't occur to me. Been ages since I struggled with that in photoshop so it feels like a distant memory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFS Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 I've just had this problem. FWIW, in the Export Dialog, going to 'More' and choosing to convert typefaces to Curves, solves the problem. Quote Grumpy, but faithful (watch out all you cats) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radim108 Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 I have exactly the same problem with any project since I upgraded to Mac OS Catalina ... very frustrating ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Demana Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 I had the same issue, but changed the export to Print (for print) instead of the Print (X-4) the tutorial video recommends. Exports fine that way...thanks god! I'd hate to throw away weeks of work on my 52-page booklet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrimaldi Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Same problem since I upgraded to Catalina (on an external SSD) The "export to Print (for print) instead of the Print (X-4)" tip from Mike Demana did not work for me, but the "convert typefaces to Curves" worked fine, thanks Radim108 (see screen capture of the dialog, in French 😉) Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDelp Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 I am trying to convert a newsletter with hyperlinks to a .pdf and I keep getting an error. It says, "An error occurred while exporting to: "file name". I have tried several of the items listed here, and although exporting to the .png and then to a .pdf did work - my hyperlinks will not work. I have done this several times in the past with no issues. Even larger file sizes (due to more photos in those files). I just cannot figure out what is going on? 2022 Newsletter Vol III, Issue I.afpub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.