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Participant
May 17, 2024
Question

Viewing web graphics at 72dpi in Indesign

  • May 17, 2024
  • 4 replies
  • 811 views

Is there a way to preview web graphics at 72dpi within Indesign so you can see the pixelated mess you are going to get without having to save it as a 72dpi JPG and then opening it up in Photoshop to see what it looks like?

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4 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
May 17, 2024
quote

Is there a way to preview web graphics at 72dpi within Indesign so you can see the pixelated mess you are going to get without having to save it as a 72dpi JPG and then opening it up in Photoshop to see what it looks like?


By @davidr68366894

 

Export pages as JPEG - there is an option to set resolutuin. It should be quick enough and non destructive to your source material. Of course text will also be rasterised.

 

Or you can export as PDF - with 72ppi threshold for bitmaps. 

 

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2024

But for the web, ppi is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is pixel count. AFAIC, using InDesign for web graphics is an exercise in futility. It's like using a wrench to drive nails into a board.

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
May 17, 2024
quote

But for the web, ppi is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is pixel count. AFAIC, using InDesign for web graphics is an exercise in futility. It's like using a wrench to drive nails into a board.


By @BobLevine

 

PPI is used in the options. 

 

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
May 17, 2024

Other than the bolted-on Publish Online, InDesign isn't and never has been a web/content app. It has generally very poor tools and features associated with pixel-level design and export.

rob day
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2024

Hi @davidr68366894 , Are you referring to the difference in Photoshop and InDesign’s view when the zoom magnification is set at 100%?

 

At 100% InDesign displays the page as it will print at 100%, while the Photosop display is a 1:1 monitor to image ratio. The two views can be considerably different depending on your main monitor resolution. InDesign started using the 100% print view with CS6. The view can be changed to a 1:1 view via scripting—I can post a script if that’s the problem you are trying to work around.

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
May 17, 2024

@rob day

 

I'm pretty sure OP wants to see a "pixel preview" of how the images will look like when exported for Web. 

 

Like when you turn on Overprint Preview. 

 

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2024

Right...which they're not going to get in InDesign. I don't particularly trust that in any application. Too many variables.

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2024

The web uses pixel dimensions, not resolution. A 300px x 300px image at 72 ppi will appear exactly the same as a 300px x 300px image at 300 ppi so the answer to your question is no.