Updating text with a drop shadow in the Library?

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
March 27, 2018
1 reply
1628 views

Dear Friends,

I am a newbie in InDesign. I am creating the text with a drop shadow in Indesign. If I drag it to the library as text . I can update it by editing the library item, but it doesn't have the drop shadow. If I drag it to the library as a graphic it retains the drop shadow ,but it will not update if I edit it. Is there any way to do this so I can edit and update the "shadowed" text. It works if I create the text in PS drag it to the library. Then it updates it and is editable as well. Can I do completely within Indesign?

Thanks for your help!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Steve Werner

Here's why you can't do it in InDesign.

(a) If you drag the type to CC Library from InDesign as Type, it will be editable and can be opened directly in Illustrator CC 2018. But Type cannot include effects.

(b) If you drag the type with an effect like a Drop Shadow to CC Library from InDesign and hold down Cmd/Ctrl so you can save it as a graphic, you're creating an object that contains two formats: It saves an IDML so it be have all of its attributes which can re-used in another InDesign file. It also saves a PDF file which can be used as a graphic in Illustrator or Photoshop. That's why when you're dragging the object FROM CC Library the only option is Place Copy. (Otherwise you could choose Place Linked.) The IDML will totally re-create the original InDesign object but can't be edited from the Library. [You'd have to talk to an InDesign engineer to get a more precise reason. I'm not an engineer.]

So the short answer is no, you can't.

Steve Werner

Correct answer

Community Expert

Here's why you can't do it in InDesign.

(a) If you drag the type to CC Library from InDesign as Type, it will be editable and can be opened directly in Illustrator CC 2018. But Type cannot include effects.

(b) If you drag the type with an effect like a Drop Shadow to CC Library from InDesign and hold down Cmd/Ctrl so you can save it as a graphic, you're creating an object that contains two formats: It saves an IDML so it be have all of its attributes which can re-used in another InDesign file. It also saves a PDF file which can be used as a graphic in Illustrator or Photoshop. That's why when you're dragging the object FROM CC Library the only option is Place Copy. (Otherwise you could choose Place Linked.) The IDML will totally re-create the original InDesign object but can't be edited from the Library. [You'd have to talk to an InDesign engineer to get a more precise reason. I'm not an engineer.]

So the short answer is no, you can't.

W

waltl2Author

Known Participant

Dear Steve,

Thanks so much.

If I create the text in Photoshop and put it in the Library it seems to be editable, it updates and retains the drop shadow. It is cumbersome, but seems to work. Is there any downside to doing this? Will this effect the print quality?

Steve Werner

Community Expert

So you're creating the type with drop shadow in Photoshop and dragging to the Library. Then in InDesign you're choosing Place Linked and placing the drop shadow in InDesign.

Yes, you can edit the Photoshop type with drop shadow object (e.g., to change the type color), and it will update in InDesign.

Here's the downside: The type is rasterized at the resolution of the Photoshop file. I set mine to 300 ppi. With the drop shadow on the InDesign file, the type will stay sharp as a vector object.

I've zoomed in so you can see the difference (I'm not sure if the web image will properly show it however):

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