Missing images on PDF export

[Sambader2]

Images are linked files created with Affinity Photo.

Document is a book. 62 pages in spreads.

PDF export works fine when exporting in spreads.

When I attempt to export in pages some images are missing. Either partially or totally missing (different on different pages). This is the case with the PDF Press setting and with PDF High Quality setting. Images are all there when exporting as spreads but not there when exporting as pages.

Only option I could get to work is by flattening everything.

[Hangman]

Hi @Sambader2 and welcome to the forums,

Are the images on the pages where they don't appear in the exported PDF, either PSD or Affinity Photo files, and are they always missing on odd pages only apart from page one?

[Sambader2]

Not at my computer at the mo but I think you may be correct in that. Pretty sure the images were present in the bleed for the corresponding page on the spread but yes missing from the odd page.

Wasn't the case for all pages though and in a couple of cases the image was there but parts had been chopped off.

[Sambader2]

I meant yes missing from the odd number pages! (But not on every odd numbered page)

[Sambader2]

They are Affinity photo files - yes

[Hangman]

1 minute ago, Sambader2 said:

Wasn't the case for all pages though and in a couple of cases the image was there but parts had been chopped off.

As far as I can tell, this only affects PSD and Affinity Photo files, so if any of the images on the odd pages are PNG, JPEG or TIFF files, they will be okay. If they're all Affinity Photo files and some are exporting correctly on odd pages, then that is a little odd (well, of course, they should be exporting, but a little odd based on the bug)...

Are you able to upload a stripped-down version of the file with just a handful of pages where you're seeing the issue and include the relevant Affinity Photo files for those pages as part of the upload? 

Ideally, if you create a stripped-back version and then use Save as Package, Save to a new empty folder and then zip the contents of the folder and upload the zip file, that would be helpful... We won't need the fonts...

[Sambader2]

I've checked the file now and yes it's the case on every odd numbered page. 

I guess I'll have to export all Affinity Photo images to TIFF files.

[Hangman]

1 hour ago, Sambader2 said:

I've checked the file now and yes it's the case on every odd numbered page. 

I guess I'll have to export all Affinity Photo images to TIFF files.

If you change the document from facing to non-facing and then export it as All Pages, it should work. You can then revert back to facing after you've exported the file...

I do appreciate that this is only a workaround until the bug is fixed...

[Meliora spero]

It’s absolutely staggering that this scenario - involving the manufacturer’s own file format and PSD files - could make it through release testing in a DTP application. That said, it is undeniably a critical bug; unmistakably an alarm bell bug - one far too urgent to be left waiting for 2.7.0.

[Sambader2]

9 hours ago, Meliora spero said:

It’s absolutely staggering that this scenario - involving the manufacturer’s own file format and PSD files - could make it through release testing in a DTP application. That said, it is undeniably a critical bug; unmistakably an alarm bell bug - one far too urgent to be left waiting for 2.7.0.

I'm glad I caught it before it went to print! All the proofs were fine and then this at the very last stage - not at all ideal and very frustrating as this was the first project for which I'd ditched inDesign to go completely with Affinity. Doesn't give me complete confidence.

 

 

15 hours ago, Hangman said:

If you change the document from facing to non-facing and then export it as All Pages, it should work. You can then revert back to facing after you've exported the file...

I do appreciate that this is only a workaround until the bug is fixed...

 

Thanks for your help. In the end I flattened all the images to TIFFs as I didn't feel I could trust what was or wasn't going on with the Affinity files. 

[Meliora spero]

5 hours ago, Sambader2 said:

I'm glad I caught it before it went to print! All the proofs were fine and then this at the very last stage - not at all ideal and very frustrating as this was the first project for which I'd ditched inDesign to go completely with Affinity. Doesn't give me complete confidence.

Thanks for your help. In the end I flattened all the images to TIFFs as I didn't feel I could trust what was or wasn't going on with the Affinity files. 

You're probably far from done with last-minute surprises before the deadline. I'm currently migrating a(nother) project away from Affinity and into InDesign, which is heavy work since Affinity doesn't allow exporting to IDML. That’s likely a deliberate move - closing off the escape route from Affinity and not prioritizing it; IDML export is the farewell Affinity ticket and the ferry out. But I need to move towards delivery reliability. My billed hourly rate is well worth the expense. Easily.

[V_rob]

Hello I have the exact same issue.

On Publisher files with 5 or 6 pages, Pages number 3 and 5 does'nt appear on my pdf export file.

If I export separately the pages 3 and 5, it works...

 

[Hangman]

Hi @V_rob,

Are the placed files Affinity Photo, PSD or some other file format?

[V_rob]

Hi @Hangman, these are different afpub files into one afpub file

[Hangman]

Hi @V_rob, thanks for confirming...

Hopefully, we'll see a quick fix for this one, as it's quite major. As mentioned above, changing the document from facing to non-facing before exporting using All Pages is the current workaround until the bug is fixed, though I appreciate that isn't going to work in all instances, e.g., when you have content that extends to both pages of a spread...

[NathanC]

I can confirm this issue is currently logged internally with the developers.

[V_rob]

Thank you @Hangman, indeed changing to non facing pages is solving this issue Sorry I missed the info !

[Hangman]

Hi @V_rob,

That's good to hear, I'm glad that worked for you, and at least there is a workaround while we await a fix...

[LoCapgros]

On 4/10/2025 at 2:14 PM, NathanC said:

I can confirm this issue is currently logged internally with the developers.

Will the fix be available in 2.6.4? 🙏

[Komatös]

1 hour ago, LoCapgros said:

Will the fix be available in 2.6.4? 🙏

Serif only provides information about patches and updates when beta versions are announced or new retail versions are released.

[LoCapgros]

4 minutes ago, Komatös said:

Serif only provides information about patches and updates when beta versions are announced or new retail versions are released.

Oh, alright!

I really hope this bug is fixed soon.

Thanks for your reply! 🫡

[Oufti]

1 hour ago, LoCapgros said:

I really hope this bug is fixed soon.

Since this topic is tagged by Affinity (namely [AF-6599]), Affinity Info Bot will post here when the bug will be fixed. If you follow this topic (button at the top of this window), you will then be notified. 

[LoCapgros]

16 hours ago, Oufti said:

Since this topic is tagged by Affinity (namely [AF-6599]), Affinity Info Bot will post here when the bug will be fixed. If you follow this topic (button at the top of this window), you will then be notified. 

Good to know, thanks!

[Guest]

Reverting to 2.6 on Mac allows exports to function properly. Thank God I did not buy it on the Mac AppStore, in which case reverting is not an option..

[LoCapgros]

1 hour ago, ianstudio said:

Reverting to 2.6 on Mac allows exports to function properly. Thank God I did not buy it on the Mac AppStore, in which case reverting is not an option..

I was just about to post this temporary solution.

Exactly, going back to version 2.6 fixes the problem.

In the case of Publisher, this is the link I used (Previous releases):

Affinity Publisher 2 Updates (Windows)

Affinity Publisher 2 Updates (macOS)

Thanks for your input! 💪

Edited June 20 by LoCapgros