Automating Catalogue pages

[ClaireB-Desgn]

Apologies in advance for the long post....
I have to create multiple product catalogues for different companies, each features the same set of approx 70 products but each catalogue is coloured to the companys branding, the product colours will also change to match and feature the companies logo so they can see what each product will look like with their logo on. All of which of course takes time! 

We've set up smart layers on all the product images in photoshop to make adding the logos to the products quicker but im wondering if theres a way we can automate the adding of the logos in photoshop and saving....

and then, automate adding them to the right slot in the indesign file as the text will be the same each time.

[SJRiegel]

You could set up Parent Pages with just the header bar - one parent page for each company. That way you can change the company info by applying the correct Parent Page to the document pages.

[nicosh]

Hi @ClaireB-Desgn 

I think you don't need a script to automate the process of adding the image file to indesign file.

Assuming that every image file for the same product for every company have the same dimensions: Product 1 Company 1 dimensions = Product 1 Company 2 dimensions = Product 1 Company 3 dimensions...

Let's go:

1.- Create a Master folder with your master indesign files and master image files.

2.- You have another folder with the images of Company 1 products.

3. Duplicate Master Folder and rename to your desired name, let's say Company 1.

4. Rename indesign file to your desired name.

If you open the new file (in my case, "Company 1 Products.indd") you will see that the image files are linked to your Company 1 folder not to Master Page folder

So...

5. In this case, close Company 1 indesign file.

6. Drag & drop the files from "Company links" folder to "Company 1 > links" folder. Replace the files because they have to have the same name.

7. Open the Company 1 indesign file. You will see a warning asking for update the modified links, update. Voilá!

Now replace the color for the branding color of each company.

[ClaireB-Desgn]

Thanks so much for your response. Thats exactly how I thought would be easiest to do it as, as long as theyre named the same, theyd easily update with minimal effort. and if I used master pages and paragraph/charachter styles etc then colours can easily be changed to match each companies brand colours too. 

I just wasnt sure if there was an easier way but I'm glad to see what I had in mind should work! I just need to find a way of perhaps automating the inputting of the logos onto the products in photoshop as thats still a pretty lengthy process with 70 products to do for each company!

[nicosh]

You're welcome.

You don't need to change the color on master pages and text styles. Delete the color of your master indesign file and replace with the new color. Indesign automatically changes the color everywhere (master spreads, text styles, object styles, etc...)

I can't help you with photoshop... try the photoshop forum.