Photoshop vs Indesign Resolution differences

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
October 8, 2021
5 replies
1359 views

To the Adobe Forum / experts

My agency have found a discrepancy that we can't understand or explain, where the resolution / dimenstions for certain images in Photoshop differ to Indesign. Our understanding is that they should match.

Further info - we were provided with this image by the client who received it from a photographer. We have compared this to other images and have found this discrepancy to be present in some, but not the majority.

This has raised questions and we would like to understand why there is a difference if anyone can please explain it would be much appreciated!!

Dimensions provided below. For client confidentiality we cannot share the image in question.

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer rob day

Why is there a difference in the pixels in Indesign for this image?

Hi @user2022, InDesign has a Pixel Ruler unit that measures as a static 1/72" and has nothing to do with image resolution—an InDesign page is a vector object and has no resolution.

The Pixel Ruler unit is only useful when you are designing for screens and need to easily export a page or selecton to an image format at a specified pixel dimension. For example a document page setup as 1024px x 768px (14.2222 in x 10.6667 in) can be easily exported as a matching 1024 x 768 pixel JPEG image by setting the JPEG Export Resolution to 72ppi.

In your example the selected frame is measuring 1288.56 x 1717.92 px because you have your ruler units set to Pixels—if you set them to Inches the selection would measure as 17.8967 in x 23.86 in. An image contained in that frame can have any print output resolution, which is listed as the Effective Res in the Links panel.

rob day

Correct answer

Community Expert

Why is there a difference in the pixels in Indesign for this image?

Hi @user2022, InDesign has a Pixel Ruler unit that measures as a static 1/72" and has nothing to do with image resolution—an InDesign page is a vector object and has no resolution.

The Pixel Ruler unit is only useful when you are designing for screens and need to easily export a page or selecton to an image format at a specified pixel dimension. For example a document page setup as 1024px x 768px (14.2222 in x 10.6667 in) can be easily exported as a matching 1024 x 768 pixel JPEG image by setting the JPEG Export Resolution to 72ppi.

In your example the selected frame is measuring 1288.56 x 1717.92 px because you have your ruler units set to Pixels—if you set them to Inches the selection would measure as 17.8967 in x 23.86 in. An image contained in that frame can have any print output resolution, which is listed as the Effective Res in the Links panel.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

To emphasise, everything looks exactly right and correct. The only error is using the width/height measuring tool - the one you highlighted in red - since it doesn't actually give you an image size in pixels. Yes, this is very confusing, and I would like to see it removed, but no doubt people would complain! But the correct size is given in the image dimensions (without any unit, just 5369 x 7158).

user2022Author

Participating Frequently

Thank you, this is very helpful!

jane-e

Community Expert

@user2022 wrote:

My agency have found a discrepancy that we can't understand or explain,

It appears you have the Frame selected and not the image. Click the "doughnut" or double-click the image to select the image and not the frame. What do you see here now?