Inspiring

Answered

Font is bitmapped when set in Photoshop

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
September 17, 2022
6 replies
1916 views

I've recently noticed that if some text is set in Photoshop and then imported into InDesign, the font is bitmapped/jagged. If I set the type in InDesign, it looks perfect so I know it's not a problem with the font.

Does anyone know why this is happening and if there is a way to avoid it happening? These PS files are sent to me by my client, so I would rather not have to go in and replace the text in InDesign every time.

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Conrad_C

For the example where the Goodrich text is jagged:

In InDesign, what is the ppi resolution required for the final output?
In Photoshop, what is the ppi resolution of the document (in Image > Image Size)?
In InDesign, what is the Effective PPI (shown in the Info and Links panels) of the imported Photoshop document?
At what magnification was that screen shot taken?
In InDesign, what viewing mode are you using for imported graphics on the View > Display Performance menu?

The reason for first three questions is that you can get sharp type out of Photoshop, but only if the Effective PPI of the Photoshop document meets or beats the ppi resolution requirement of the destination output device. (Effective PPI is the image resolution after adjusting for its scaling percentage on the InDesign layout.)

So, going through the first three questions:

If your InDesign job will be printed at 2400 ppi for a press…

…and the Photoshop document’s Effective PPI in InDesign meets or exceeds the 2400 dpi output device resolution…

…then the type should be as sharp as type in InDesign.

However, most users set a print-oriented Photoshop document for 300 ppi because they heard that 300 ppi is print resolution…but that is for images which are screened, not for text and line art which must be printed at device resolution. Type that is set at 300 ppi in Photoshop for use on a press will look no smoother than type from a 35-year-old desktop laser printer, because it’s gonna print at only 300 ppi on a 2400 dpi digital plate maker. (Some plate makers now go beyond 5000 dpi.)

The reason for that difference is that InDesign, Illustrator, and other vector-based applications always render at device resolution, but a Photoshop document (pixel-based) can never be rendered at a resolution any higher than the Photoshop document resolution. So you put a 300 ppi Photoshop document into a vector-based InDesign document, and on a 5080 dpi plate maker, the InDesign vector type and graphics will print at 5080 dpi, but the Photoshop document must print at its own Image Size setting of 300 dpi. (Unless it’s scaled down on the layout far enough that its Effective PPI matches the output device resolution.)

That’s the long way around to explaining why everyone is saying that if you want type to be as sharp as in InDesign, you should set it in InDesign — the vector-based InDesign type and objects print at whatever the device resolution is, while a Photoshop document is limited by the resolution of its pixel grid. Of course, another approach is to increase the ppi of the Photoshop document, but then you get massive Photoshop files that match only one device resolution.

As for the last two questions, those are because a perfectly good image can appear jaggy in InDesign if viewed at higher-than-real-world magnification, or if View > Display Performance is set to Typical Display for faster rendering. For full resolution rendering of imported images, choose View > Display Performance > High Quality Display.

L

Lumigraphics

Legend

Is your client using Type 1 font files? If so, stop. You need to use OpenType or TrueType fonts.

Conrad_C

Correct answer

Community Expert

For the example where the Goodrich text is jagged:

In InDesign, what is the ppi resolution required for the final output?
In Photoshop, what is the ppi resolution of the document (in Image > Image Size)?
In InDesign, what is the Effective PPI (shown in the Info and Links panels) of the imported Photoshop document?
At what magnification was that screen shot taken?
In InDesign, what viewing mode are you using for imported graphics on the View > Display Performance menu?

The reason for first three questions is that you can get sharp type out of Photoshop, but only if the Effective PPI of the Photoshop document meets or beats the ppi resolution requirement of the destination output device. (Effective PPI is the image resolution after adjusting for its scaling percentage on the InDesign layout.)

So, going through the first three questions:

If your InDesign job will be printed at 2400 ppi for a press…

…and the Photoshop document’s Effective PPI in InDesign meets or exceeds the 2400 dpi output device resolution…

…then the type should be as sharp as type in InDesign.

However, most users set a print-oriented Photoshop document for 300 ppi because they heard that 300 ppi is print resolution…but that is for images which are screened, not for text and line art which must be printed at device resolution. Type that is set at 300 ppi in Photoshop for use on a press will look no smoother than type from a 35-year-old desktop laser printer, because it’s gonna print at only 300 ppi on a 2400 dpi digital plate maker. (Some plate makers now go beyond 5000 dpi.)

The reason for that difference is that InDesign, Illustrator, and other vector-based applications always render at device resolution, but a Photoshop document (pixel-based) can never be rendered at a resolution any higher than the Photoshop document resolution. So you put a 300 ppi Photoshop document into a vector-based InDesign document, and on a 5080 dpi plate maker, the InDesign vector type and graphics will print at 5080 dpi, but the Photoshop document must print at its own Image Size setting of 300 dpi. (Unless it’s scaled down on the layout far enough that its Effective PPI matches the output device resolution.)

That’s the long way around to explaining why everyone is saying that if you want type to be as sharp as in InDesign, you should set it in InDesign — the vector-based InDesign type and objects print at whatever the device resolution is, while a Photoshop document is limited by the resolution of its pixel grid. Of course, another approach is to increase the ppi of the Photoshop document, but then you get massive Photoshop files that match only one device resolution.

As for the last two questions, those are because a perfectly good image can appear jaggy in InDesign if viewed at higher-than-real-world magnification, or if View > Display Performance is set to Typical Display for faster rendering. For full resolution rendering of imported images, choose View > Display Performance > High Quality Display.

Serene_observer5E99Author

Inspiring

This is probably the most helpful answer so far, so thank you. The only mystery really left is why I had not run into this problem until recently...

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Your claim that this was different previously seems dubious.

Which file format are you placing in Indesign?

What is the Anti-aliasing setting of the Type Layer/s in Photoshop?

NB, colourmanagement

Community Expert

This is pretty basic, you need a vector application (InDesign and Illustrator are examples) to handle text if it must be resized. Photoshop is a raster application. It has SOME vector capabilities but opening an Indesign file and preserving vetor text isn't one of them

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer:: co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

jane-e

Community Expert

@Serene_observer5E99 wrote:

...and then imported into InDesign...

How are you importing the text into InDesign? Are you saving the image as PSD or TIFF from Photoshop, then Placing an image file into InDesign or doing something else?

Try this to see if it helps:

View menu > Display Performance > Select High Quality

Jane

Serene_observer5E99Author

Inspiring

It's not that I am importing text into InDesign. I have an image file that contains one or two words. I never had a problem of the letters looking jagged in the past. It is only recently that this is happening.

jane-e

Community Expert

@Serene_observer5E99 wrote:

...and then imported into InDesign...

I thought you must be Placing an image and not importing the text itself. My first thought was Display Performance because that can be set through the menus, which is temporary, or through Preferences, which works for files when they are opened. If the Preferences got reset, that would be an easy explanation.

The other place to look is the Links panel. Select the image and tell us:

the Actual PPI
the Effective PPI
the percentage of the scaling

Personally, I would use InDesign for the type, and then group the text with the image to keep them together. But you say that this worked for you before.

Jane

D Fosse

Community Expert

Does anyone know why this is happening and if there is a way to avoid it happening?

By @Serene_observer5E99

Yes, don't use Photoshop for text. As c.p. explains, Photoshop is the worst possible tool for text. Do it in vector applications like InDesign or Illustrator.

Serene_observer5E99Author

Inspiring

What I don't understand is that I used to be able to set text (not a lot, but titles, etc.) in Photoshop and it would output just fine. This bitmapping is a recent development. Sometimes using text in Photoshop is unavoidable. But is there any way to avoid the bitmapping? Is it to do with the latest "upgrade?" Did they change something?

davescm

Community Expert

Nothing changed. Photoshop is a pixel editor. Text in Photoshop is vector but always displayed using pixels at the pixel dimensions of the main Photoshop document. Use Photoshop to create pixel designs then add text in InDesign.

Dave

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Photoshop is pixel oriented image editing software with limited vector capabilities.

So naturally Type Layers are represented as pixels.

Vector output from Photoshop is possible only with specific formats, pdf and eps come to mind.

Edit: Not sure if svg is still an option.

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