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JernejQ
Known Participant
April 6, 2018
Question

Use images as assets

  • April 6, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 678 views

I have been using on and off InDesign for years now, but recently something occurred to me. If you know that you are making a project and you have a set of images you would like to use, but are still not set on the final edit, wouldn't it make sense to have them imported in InDesign and access them through the program itself? Instead of having an overview of them in folders?

Or is it that I am missing something out and something like that already exists?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    amaarora
    amaarora
    Inspiring
    April 6, 2018

    Hi,

    The only other thing that comes to my mind is using Digital asset management software | Download free Adobe Bridge CC trial

    -Aman

    J
    JernejQAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 6, 2018

    Bridge or using Lightroom for some of this project it the closest to something like what I am searching for, unfortunately is far from ideal and streamlined.

    I am surprised this feature missing. Aman, can you at least point me to a link where I can leave some feedback for features missing?

    John Mensinger
    Community Expert
    John MensingerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 6, 2018

    JernejCG  wrote

    Bridge or . . . Lightroom . . . unfortunately is far from ideal and streamlined.

    Not sure what that means, but Bridge is designed and positioned to integrate with InDesign workflows. In what way(s) do you find it "far from ideal"?

    I am surprised this feature missing.

    Well, if it was part of the application, those who would say InDesign is already cumbersome and showing the effects of bloat would only be all the more justified in their complaints. That's why Bridge exists as a separate app. Furthermore, other workflows in which such features aren't needed have to be considered. Deeply integrated assent management would surely constitute obtrusive feature bloat for someone who primarily typesets novels, for instance.

    can you at least point me to a link where I can leave some feedback for features missing?

    Adobe InDesign Feedback

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 6, 2018

    Hi JernejCG:

    Aman's suggestion of using CC Libraries is definitely the way to go here. You can create a library with your project name, load all the assets and then drag and drop the assets onto the page as you work through the layout.

    They are so much more that that though—in addition to adding graphics, you can add colors swatches, color groups, paragraph and character styles to the library, and you can access the same library from InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, along with other apps. In a collaborative workflow you can share libraries with others at your office. You can also create multiple CC Libraries—one for each project for example, or one with variations of your company logo.

    One more note—there are two libraries in InDesign. The original Library feature that was based on PageMaker libraries from long ago that would do just what you asked for, and the much newer CC Library which does the same thing, but adds so much more functionality, as described above. At this point, be sure to focus on learning CC Libraries in InDesign. The CC was added to the name in InDesign to help us distinguish between the two. If you also work in Photoshop or Illustrator, they are just called Library, and accessed via the Window menu in all three apps.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      J
      JernejQAuthor
      Known Participant
      April 6, 2018

      Thank you both for the prompt answer, but this is not what I am looking for. I have seen this option for the CC library and that is why I thought I missing something. I have now tried to use this and I cannot seem to import any images (jpg) to the library and then use them as assets. It only allows to add them to the library panel once the image is already in the project, this completely defeats the purpose for me. If I am creating a photo book I am not looking into reusing the images, but rather keep an eye on what has been put in the document and what not. As well have an overview of the possible images I would like to use.

      As I can see the usefulness of this library it misses entirely when someone needs to create a book, brochure etc. from in-house assets. If I want to create a catalogue of products I have no use for stock imagery.

      Knowing now how this library work I am quite surprise it is so hard to have your own assets/images at hand.


      Anyways thank you. And if I am wrong at understanding this. Than please let me know how can I add images straight to the library.

      amaarora
      amaarora
      Inspiring
      April 6, 2018

      Hi,

      Maybe this can help you: Use Creative Cloud Libraries in InDesign to share and organize design assets |

      -Aman

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