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Participant
August 21, 2021
Answered

Copy from indesign and paste to photoshop

  • August 21, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 4261 views

So far I copied indesign documents (with layers) and pasted to photoshop (as a combined image). Since the last version I can't do that, when I paste in photoshop, just some of the layers are pasted. I can't see the pattern to identify the problem with the layers. Taking as an example a design with an image as a background and text over the image, if I copy and paste in photoshop, I just paste the image. Then I come back to indesign, hide the image, copy and paste in photoshop, and I paste the rest of the elements. In the past versions, I copied and pasted all the elements in one step.

Correct answer rob day

Have you tried resetting your preferences?

3 replies

Participant
February 26, 2024

I've encountered this issue with Photoshop recently, possibly since version 25.5 on macOS. Whenever I attempt to copy content from InDesign and paste it into Photoshop, the layer order gets reversed unexpectedly. This hasn't happened to me before. 

 

Here's a brief overview of the problem:

Issue: Upon pasting from InDesign to Photoshop, the layer order flips, causing the text to be hidden behind the background image.

 

Example: In the InDesign file (left), I have a background image in layer two and text in layer one. However, when pasted into Photoshop (image on the right), the layer order reverses, making only the image visible while the text remains hidden behind it.

 

I've tried troubleshooting this problem but haven't found a solution yet. Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 26, 2024

I am intrigued by a workflow that goes from InDesign to Photoshop rather than the other way around.

However, the issue you raise has come up before with the suggestion to export a temp PDF and import that to Photoshop.
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/copy-from-indesign-and-paste-to-photoshop/m-p/12331725

 

Dave

 

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 22, 2021

Have you tried resetting your preferences?

Participant
August 22, 2021

I find out something. It seems that the layers are pasted in the invert order for some reason, so if in indesign there is an image as a background an there are elements over it, the image "covers" the elements once you paste in photoshop (there are no layers in photoshop cause the file is exported in the clipboard as a pdf, but the effect is that the image "covers" the rest of the elements). I say so because if in indesign the image in the background is placed below another element, when I paste them I see both the image and the element in photoshop. I don't understand why and how to change this.

Lukas Engqvist
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 21, 2021

Would it not be better to export the InDesign file as a PDF, PNG or JPG if you are wanting it in Photoshop? I have seen on CreativePro some script to save an InDesign as a Photoshop (https://creativepro.com/save-indesign-files-layered-photoshop-files/)
Check your clipboard handling in your preferences.


Scott Falkner
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 21, 2021

I agree it would be better to export as a PDF then import into Photoshop.

 

If this is something you do frequently you can make a PDF preset in InDesign. I suggest using no colour conversion, embed profiles, export images as TIF with no downsampling.

Participant
August 22, 2021

Hi Scott, thank you for your answer, but for my workflow I would prefer to copy paste. It's not a matter of exportation, I just need to use some designs as a backgroud to modify elements in photoshop.