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ParthoSwe
Inspiring
June 20, 2023
Question

Large PSD images doesn't display in high res. JPGs do.

  • June 20, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 678 views

In InDesign 18.3 on mac M1 large PSD images (4500 x 2531 px in my case, downscaled in InDesign to aprox A4) do not preview in high resoulution, even if the preview settings are set to high res, globally and for the specific image.

If the page is exported to a jpg, the resolution is high, but if exportet to a PNG the resolution is low, like the preview in InDesign.

 

Se attachment of exported PNG.

 

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    1 reply

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2023

    4500 x 2531 pixels is nothing - what's the resolution?

    If you're scaling to A4 - what's the scale percentage?

    In the Window>Info what does it say for the Effective PPI of the PSD?


    I wrote an article here
    https://creativepro.com/high-res-image-look-low-res/

     

    If it exports fine and looks good then don't worry about how InDesign previews images.

    P
    ParthoSweAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 20, 2023

    Nice article. But this has nothing to do with the preview settings or the imge having a to low res.

     

    The actual resolution is 373 dpi, quite normal and should look crisp in InDesign in high quality preview.

    The strange thing is that it's only some images images that will not preview high res, or be exported as high res PNGs. 

    But after some digging I think I've hit on something: The affected psd images are large files, not in dimensions, but in file size - 1GB+ (PSDs with lots of layers).

    Still a bug in my opinion.

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2023

    InDesign only shows a low-res proxy of the image - if it's a matter of resources it will generate a low-res proxy, so larger files might suffer, I've never tested it because I've never relied on InDesigns preview for anything. 

     

    I wouldn't say it's a bug - just a computer resource issue.

     

    You've said the actual resolution is 373 dpi (but that's dots per inch not PPI (pixels per inch)) 
    Is that before or after you have placed the file? 
    When it's placed - what is the Effective Resolution in the image?
    That's all that matters. 

     

    If you don't need 1gb image - you can always save it down. 
    Flatten it and save it as a compressed TIF or something - keeping the PSD as the original for edits, then resaving to flattened TIF for placing in InDesign.

     

    But I don't really see any reason for this workflow. 

    Concentrate on the output parameters, Effective Resolution and if it's fit for whatever purpose you want it for.

     

    Again, not a bug, I believe, as it could be fine on my computer with better specs that yours. 

     

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