Why convert AFPUB to INDD?
.indd is Adobe InDesign's closed native format that only InDesign writes, and Affinity has no export path to it, while InDesign cannot open .afpub at all. To reach .INDD you must go through the neutral IDML interchange format inside InDesign itself.
How to convert AFPUB to INDD
PDF to IDML via PDFMarkz, then InDesign EASIEST
Export PDF (for print) from Affinity, convert it to .idml with PDFMarkz, open the IDML in InDesign, and use File > Save As to write a native .indd.
Export IDML-compatible bridge
Any route that produces an .idml (for example via PDFMarkz) lets InDesign reopen the layout and then save it as its own .indd document.
Rebuild manually in InDesign
For pixel-perfect results, export assets from Affinity and rebuild the layout by hand in InDesign, then save as .indd.
About these formats
An .afpub file is a page-layout document created by Affinity Publisher, Serif's desktop publishing app (now owned by Canva). It stores an entire publication in one file: pages, master…
Open .AFPUB details →
.INDD
Adobe InDesign Document
An INDD file is the working document of Adobe InDesign, used for professional page layouts such as magazines, books, brochures, and flyers. It opens properly only in Adobe InDesign (paid…
Open .INDD details →Quality & what to watch
- No tool writes
.inddexcept Adobe InDesign, so you always need InDesign at the final step to save the native file. - The PDF-and-IDML bridge rebuilds the document, so threaded text, master pages and styles frequently need manual correction.
- Fonts and effects may shift during the bridge, so treat the result as a starting point, not an exact copy.
