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Participating Frequently
September 18, 2022
Question

Why is my picture flattened?

  • September 18, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 362 views

I opened my previous work on Indesign and found that it is now flattened. So I cannot change anything. Why has that happened?

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

pixxxelschubser
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 13, 2022

I suspect the same thing. You probably created your elements on a Parent Page (formerly: Master Page) and after saving and reopening the content shows up on a document page.

 

For clarification we really need a screenshot with visible Page Panel or a sample document (without confidential data).

Community Expert
November 13, 2022

Content does not get "flatttened" in InDesign in the way you're describing. If  you see content on the page, it should be editable. Do you have content on a parent page and you're viewing your document pages? Are your layers locked?

If you could share screenshots of  your layout and layers panel, it would be helpful.

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2022

What is flattened?

  • Layers in InDesign?
  • Layers in linkes assetts?
  • Layers in embedded assets?
  • Exported PDF?
Participating Frequently
November 13, 2022

All the existing layers in InDesign. I cannot change anything, I can as if the document is new, but cannot change the existing design.

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
November 13, 2022

What do you see in Layers panel? Are they locked? 

 

Can you share few pages?

 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 18, 2022

Are you sure it's original file?

 

You can only "destroy" contents if you convert text into curves - but you can't "flatten" contents into raster graphics by accident - you would need to export into PDF - or each page into image file - in a particular way to "flatten" everything, then import it back.

 

Can you share few pages?

 

...... 

 

Or you are talking not about InDesign file itself but about linked graphic that been flattened in Photoshop?