Participating Frequently

Answered

Same image displays differently when copying from one file to another in InDesign

Forum|Forum|11 months ago
February 28, 2025
10 replies
3208 views

Hey all,

I have two InDesign files. The first file displays and exports to a PDF perfectly, and when i went to start a new file, the image i copied and pasted from the orginal file is displaying as washed out and faded. My tranparency blend space is set to RGB in both and the colour settings on both files appear to be identical. The output setting I use to export a PDF were also identical yet the colour discrepancy showed in the PDFs.

Are there settings somewhere else other than 'colour settings' and 'transparency blend space' that I am not aware of?

Please help me understand this.

Import and export

Correct answer Robert at ID-Tasker

In the "inccorect" file - [Black] is CMYK:

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

Hopefully - this will help:

(above is available in the free version)

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DocumentIntentOptions.html

Name	Description	Value
DocumentIntentOptions.MOBILE_INTENT	Intended purpose of document is for publishing to mobiles.	1768846445
DocumentIntentOptions.PRINT_INTENT	Intended purpose of document is for print output.	1768846448
DocumentIntentOptions.WEB_INTENT	Intended purpose of document is for web output.	1768846455

Robert at ID-TaskerCorrect answer

Legend

In the "inccorect" file - [Black] is CMYK:

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Very observant!

That will happen if one creates print document and changes the transparency space to RGB after the fact vs. creating an RGB from the beginning.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Is an Object Style getting involved (since you said copynpaste from one document to another)?

Generally, copynpasting an image frame should be OK to do. Makes me wonder if an Object Style is adding something.

Mike Witherell

G

generalinternetAuthor

Participating Frequently

I dont think so

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

The second grab looks very much like it has been converted to CMYK somewhere along the line.

Waht does the Link panel say about the pasted image in the second document (re: Color space, etc).

Does it do the same thing if you Place the image again (i.e. NOT copy and paste it?)

What are your Color Management Policies? re: Preserve/Convert, etc.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Exactly. Assuming the info the OP posted was accurate, it could have happened during export to PDF. (Which is why I asked for the PDF settings...)

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Peter Spier

Community Expert

But he says the output settings are the same and that the discrepancy shows up in the .indd as well, which makes it more likely the problem is in the document.

But all of this goes to the point that there are too many variables at play here to make an intelligent diagnosis without seeing all of the various settings for both files.

Scott Falkner

Community Expert

Do both files use the same Transparency Blend Space (Edit menu)? Is the image RGB or CMYK?

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

According to the original post, the space is the same:

"My tranparency blend space is set to RGB in both ..."

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Peter Spier

Community Expert

Are there settings somewhere else other than 'colour settings' and 'transparency blend space' that I am not aware of?

Please help me understand this.
By @generalinternet

The color profiles assigned to any particular doeument might be different from the ones listed in the color settings dialog. There are two dialogs that can affecrt this: Edit > Assign Profiles... which will leave your color numbers unchanged and interpret them as being in the assigned profile, and Edit> Convert to Profile... which will change the numbers to get the closest appearance match in the new profile.

G

generalinternetAuthor

Participating Frequently

Checked both of these in both files and they are also identical

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

What are your PDF export settings?

Also, is the original image linked before you copied it, or was it pasted into InDesign?

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

G

generalinternetAuthor

Participating Frequently

PDF export settings for proofs are usually PDF/X-4:2008, but the same thing was happening with 'High Quality Print"

The image is linked.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@generalinternet

Also, can you add a new, blank page - WITHOUT anything on it and with no parent page applied - does it happen?

Maybe, on the destination page - you have something with transparency effect - or you have in the source document - but you don't have in the destination document.

G

generalinternetAuthor

Participating Frequently

created a new blank page in the file that is messed up, with no parent and pasted the image into that page and it's still lfaded.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

It mostly likely is in your color settings and profile handling.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@generalinternet

What if you create your "new file" by copying the original, change number of pages if needed, and then copy your image?

If there will be no change - then your previous files are not identical.

Or, one of your initial files is corrupted - try IDMLing on both of them - export as IDML, open, save with a new name - do not overwrite your original file.