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Participant
February 19, 2019
Answered

InDesign won't recognize PNG files, can't "Place"

  • February 19, 2019
  • 13 replies
  • 24548 views

I created a document about a month ago, a catalog, and placed PNG image files into image boxes for the layout. I opened the file back up today to do some edits and all the sudden InDesign tells me I have broken links. I investigate further to find that the images are located where they are supposed. I tried to "re-place" the png files into the boxes but InDesign doesn't recognize it and won't allow me to place it.

For reference, I also tried to open in PS but it doesn't recognize it either, so I'm sure it's a file issue.

Has anyone run across this and can you advise?

    Correct answer sckincaid

    This just happened to me for the first itme and I have been using InD and photoshop for decades. I corrupted the files moves folders and so had to start with orginal images and start allover. After that it works and now I can see and place BW pings and psd files. Wow. 

    13 replies

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 22, 2019

    Why did you choose PNG? If it comes from Photoshop, use PSD instead, if it comes from Illustrator, use AI or PDF instead. I don't see any advantage to use PNG and there are some other reasons I would avoid PNGs in InDesign.

    Participant
    May 18, 2021

    sometimes you're working on a hella large psb (because it's too big for psd) and you need to bring it into indesign. png's work great at providing a manageable file size that also supports transparency.

    rob day
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 18, 2021

    There shouldn’t be a problem linking large format .PSBs at least on OSX where you can drag and drop a .PSB and still get a link proxy. Here is an a 1.8GB .psb placed, and the ID file is only 2mb:

     

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 19, 2019

    Do all of the PNG files have the .png file suffix at the end of their names?

    Participant
    February 19, 2019

    Yes, I found a workaround but it's not ideal:

    1) Open the .jpeg file

    2) Make the adjustments and save as a .png file in folder location

    3) Save the file again as a copy .png file in that same folder location

    It will then recognize the copy version, but if I do it in any other order it doesn't work........

    Srishti Bali
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    February 21, 2019

    Hi Timothy,

    Sorry to hear about this issue. Is it happening with all the files or some specific PNGs? Would you mind sharing a sample file, so that we can test it at our end?

    Regards,

    Srishti

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 19, 2019

    Sounds like those files are corrupt. Without a lot more info, it’s impossible to tell.

    What version of InDesign? What operating system and where are those PNG files stored?

    Participant
    February 19, 2019

    They are just placed in a folder on my desktop for now. Some images it picks up fine, others not. I'm on InDesign CC 14.0.1 on MacOS.

    I just created new images in that same folder, it's immediately doing the same thing with some of those images but some are fine. A lot of these images I get need to be cropped or other adjustments, so I'll make those adjustments in PS and then resave the files, then place them in InDesign. It works fine the first time but when you reopen InDesign it says there is a broken link.....