Indesign - Placing PSD file with Spot Channel with shadow

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
July 2, 2020
4 replies
1477 views

I'm placing into Indesign a transparent PSD file with a Spot channel (left image). However, the drop shadow below the watch (not part of the Spot channel) displays incorrectly – a light grey. The right image is the same file without the Spot channel and displays the shadow as it should.

It's fine when importing into Ai, but seems Indesign cannot handle PSD files with transparency. Any thoughts?!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer rob day

I think this has come up before–seems like a bug with PSDs. Try saving as a TIFF with Transparency checked:

Scott Falkner

Community Expert

A placed PSD can only have one opacity mode. If your shadow layer is set to Multiply in Photoshop it won’t appear as Multiply in InDesign. Use Layer Options to hide the shadow one one copy of the PSD. Duplicte the watch then hide all but the shadow layer and set its opacity to Multiply and move it below the other watch PSD.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi Scott, that was my first thought, but the addition of a spot channel affects normal transparency in a PSD—only 100% transparent pixels are transparent in InDesign. It’s not a problem with a TIFF.

rob day

Correct answer

Community Expert

I think this has come up before–seems like a bug with PSDs. Try saving as a TIFF with Transparency checked:

L

liquidvisual6061Author

Participating Frequently

Rob, you're a gentlemam and a scholar. Well done. That is the winning ticket! Thank you!

Michael Bullo

Community Expert

Have you reviewed the document within InDesign with the Overprint Preview option turned on that is found under the View menu?

L

liquidvisual6061Author

Participating Frequently

Yes and no change. When I fill the PSD with the same background flat colour as in the Indesign file, it's fine. So it seems Indesign has an issue dealing with transparent PSD files with a spot channel.