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how to export indesign layers to photoshop layers (same structure)

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
July 2, 2009
10 replies
252377 views

how can I export all individual layers in indesign to a photoshop file with the same layer structure?

is there a script you can use?

thanks

How to

Correct answer rob day

If you are on a Mac this Applescript will do it:

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV3.zip

The script exports PDFs of the ID layers and reassembles them in PS. In order to get the layers to register you need to include registration marks in the PDF preset you choose—the zip archive includes the preset I use. After running the script you can use canvas size to eliminate the crop marks.

rob day

Community Expert

I’ve translated the AppleScript version into JS. If anyone is interested the first version can be downloaded here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/indesign-layers-to-photoshop-js-version/td-p/11484245?page=1

emily_gasper

Participant

First time running scripts here... can anyone help?

So I'm trying to run the script on my IDD file, but I'm not sure that it's working. When it opens the PSD, it still says "Layer 1" and that's it. I thought I'd see multiple layers. All up-to-date versions of ID and PS on my Mac.

Thanks.

rob day

Community Expert

The script only replicates InDesign's item Layers and not the page items that are associated with the layer. So this would export the Text and Background layers but not <rectangle> or <Some Text>, which aren't really layers—they are page items.

The script seems to work fine with 2018, but I haven't done much testing.

dhanr64449972

Participant

Export your indesign file to PDF and open in Illustrator again Export as Psd..enjoy

BobLevine

Community Expert

That is a horrible suggestion. Illustrator is not a PDF editor!

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

InDesign to Photoshop Layers

File>Export>PDF> Acrobat 6 or above and Create Layers

Open PDF in Illustrator

File>Export>PSD and select write layers

Tried it on a fairly complex page with text, blending modes, etc. all layers came thorough fine, with clipping masks and all in tact.

rob day

Community Expert

Eugene, Are you getting your ID named layers into AI?

I get one layer (Layer 1) in AI with all of the ID objects as layer objects, which might be good depending on what your looking for. In my test file a column of text is cut up into lines with each on its own layer—the script would export the two user defined layers. The AI approach is definitely better if you want every object on its own layer.

ID

AI

R

RJensenArtDirector

Participating Frequently

These are the two scripts that I used to convert a layered InDesign document to a layered Photoshop document. One gives you crop marks and bleed, the other crops it to the document size.

R

RBA2000

Participant

Funny how things go in this world.

I work for a prepress company in the Netherlands (so forgive my bad english!).

A collega comes to me with the question if its possible to export an InDesign document with layers to a Photoshop document with layers.

I am not sure about this and start looking on the world wide web.

And.. find a solution or not...

Because the link to PageToPSLayersCS5v2.zip or ...v3.zip or all dead.

It redirect back to this Adobe Forums site.

So my question is now: does it work and where can I find it.

(working with Photoshop 12.04 x64, InDesign 7.0.1 and Mac OS X 10.6.8)

Maybe it's a stuppid question but better ask it than keep looking for mayby nothing.

In all cases thanks anyway.

Ray

rob day

Community Expert

I just checked this link and it works

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV3.zip

R

RBA2000

Participant

Dear Rob,

Thank you for your reply.

It works like a dream (ok, maybe my dreams are not so big!).

But, it does the job.

Ray

A

anardinelli

Participating Frequently

I recieved the same error message as sosoclumsy. I tried re-importing thee script, to no avail. Rob, if you are able to come up with a fix, that'd be great. Thanks for your help!

rob day

Community Expert

That error isn't for a missing PDF preset it's for something else. At what point do you get the error? Do you get past the two dialogs for folder selection and color mode/res and into Photoshop?

A

anardinelli

Participating Frequently

Sorry Rob, I got this error, which isn't the same as above. I do, however, get past the first two dialogs.

M

mm81bg

Participant

Hi, Rob,

just want to say that what you are doing guys by sharing all those files and info is just outstanding.

Now to business...I downloaded the script and with a little troubleshooting it finnally worked great...there's just one more little favor to ask you guys with my case.The text layers came rasterized and I actually need them to be recognized as text layers since I would need to key off the info in them...is this possible with some extra preset modification or I'm just asking for too much already

Thanks for your time in advance, Martin

rob day

Community Expert

The text layers came rasterized and I actually need them to be recognized as text layers since I would need to key off the info in them...is this possible with some extra preset modification or I'm just asking for too much already

Sorry the script is saving out PDFs of the layers and the text has to be rasterized when the PDF is opened into PS.

rob day

Correct answer

Community Expert

If you are on a Mac this Applescript will do it:

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV3.zip

The script exports PDFs of the ID layers and reassembles them in PS. In order to get the layers to register you need to include registration marks in the PDF preset you choose—the zip archive includes the preset I use. After running the script you can use canvas size to eliminate the crop marks.

A

Arjan_Scholten_Muntz-MCGAuthor

Participating Frequently

YES

great

thanks Rob

I was looking for this AppleScript!!

it works great

rob day

Community Expert

You're welcome. I realized as I posted that there's no reason the canvas resizing can't happen in the script, so I've just updated it to include the canvas resize. Same address.

Peter Spier

Community Expert

What are you doing with the layered Photoshop files?

I think the more typical path from InDesign to Web would be to export for Dreamweaver in ID.

A

Arjan_Scholten_Muntz-MCGAuthor

Participating Frequently

in CS-3?

or in CS4?

we use the photoshop files to make a design, ready for a webbuilder/

programmer

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Arjan Scholten

Peter Spier

Community Expert

You can do it in either version. In CS3 it's under Cross-Media Export in the File Menu. In CS4 it's more obvious with a direct listing in the menu.

This is outside my normal workflow, but I can tell you that using this technique you get a folder full of images, the text, and a blank CSS style sheet, ready to manipulate in an authoring program -- you don't get a finished page. The key to success with this method is the religious use of styles for everything, including object styles which as I understand things generate div tags. I'm sure there's a lot more online and in the help.

Peter

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

You would need to have one layer on at a time in InDesign.

Then copy and paste the objects into photoshop.

They will be grouped as Smart Objects. As these can be resized in photoshop to virtually any size without distortion, Smart Objects will become raster on output, at the resolution you set the file to. So if you make a new document that's 72 dpi, then the smart objects will output at that res.

If you have text, you will need to to highlight the text in InDesign and copy and paste it into a text layer in Photoshop. It will lose formatting like bold, italics etc.

But you can copy and paste it into Photoshop - including text, but it becomes rasterised on output. So set the resolution high if you want text to be good.

You can export the File from InDesign to jpg or EPS too. Or Acrobat with layers in Compatibility 6 or above.

Why are wanting it in Photoshop? If we understood what you were doing we might have a better solution for you?

A

Arjan_Scholten_Muntz-MCGAuthor

Participating Frequently

well

some colleagues made their website designs in indesign

while it is easyer to make concepts fast in indesign, faster than in

photoshop

I found a script that makes a photoshop.eps of selected layers,

but that is not so easy,

or

is it possible to make a layered pdf and then open it with the same layer-

structure in photoshop?

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Arjan Scholten

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

I have not been able to find a way to open a layered PDF in photoshop with layers in tact.

If you open an EPS in photoshop it rasterises everything, including type.

If it's just for wireframing a site, then you can use InDesign.

Here's a good read

http://indesignsecrets.com/indesign-for-interactive-design-wireframing.php

and some interesting links from the comments

A 1.5 hour video

http://vimeo.com/4068294

Some Templates

http://unify.eightshapes.com/wireframes/wireframes-preview/

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV3.zip

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV3.zip

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