Background image disappears when zoom level changed; reappears when changed again

Report · Mar 27, 2024

Hi all,
I have a very odd problem. I work with an extremely complex 200-page document. On many pages I have a base graphics over which I overlay dozens of small text boxes and other page elements. Occasionally, when I zoom in, the base graphic just disappears completely. If I change the zoom level (in or out) it comes back immediately, but this has been going on for years and I just can't figure out what could be wrong. All the InDesign-generated page elements are fine, but the underlying files are what go away.

I'm thinking this could be video card related but I'm just not sure. I'm using InDesign 19.3 on a Ryzen 7 PC running Windows 11, with 96 GB of RAM and everything on SSD drives, but my video card is not really all that modern. This kind of thing was happening even on my last PC with a similar video card. It's now becoming extremely annoying. Here are the details on the video card:

This is an example of what happens. Here's what it normally looks like:

This is what happens maybe once every 10 or 15 times I zoom in. Changing the zoon level fixes it, but it's annoying as all heck.

Any thoughts?

Report · Mar 28, 2024

It's likely the document is too complex. I have very basic situation not as complex as yours on a Mac with M3 processor and 32gb and contant crashes of a minorly complex document - and disappearing images.

I think as it's 200 pages - you're better off splitting the document into chunks - and compiling the file into a Book

Use InDeisgn File>New Book - and add your individual documents to the book file - and work on them in chunks of 10 or 20 pages at a time.

If it's pertinent to keep it all in 1 document then consider adjusting your viewing settings.

Do you really need to see the images in detail when zooming in?

For the complex documents I've worked on I've just had to switch to Fast Display - where the images are greyed out - and then only switch to High Quality when needed.

I'm not sure how others handle this - but I'm actually interested to find out other opinions on this one.

Report · Mar 28, 2024

In addition to what others already suggested: since you're on Windows, maybe you can indeed install some kind of a more powerful graphics card (although I have no idea if it'll make any difference for your issue).

Report · Mar 28, 2024

It's certainly a step worth taking, but I wanted to see if this was a common problem or there was a known issue, etc., before tearing the system apart unnecessarily. It's extremely stable or everything I use the computer for, except this issue.

Report · Mar 28, 2024

It's certainly a step worth taking, but I wanted to see if this was a common problem or there was a known issue, etc., before tearing the system apart unnecessarily. It's extremely stable or everything I use the computer for, except this issue.

By @PeterD-NJ

After you place those graphics - do you move them around?

If not - why not just cut it into pieces and place smaller parts?

Report · Mar 28, 2024

Once placed they stay put. I did something similar in the past (only with bitmapped images instead) but it did the same thing.

Report · Mar 28, 2024

@PeterD-NJ

So you are using VECTOR map as a backgroung - and just add some extras, right?

Why not switching to BITMAP version and replace with VECTOR just before printing/exporting - or even place BITMAP on another layer and switch on/off when needed?

Report · Mar 28, 2024

A few years ago this was all bitmap rather than vector; it took me close to a year to convert everything. And instead of one huge map it was a separate monochrome bitmap image for each page, sized just a bit bigger than the frame for each page and positioned as needed. Now I have one master file that is 96" x 192" that is placed on each page and moved around as needed, zoom level adjusted, etc. It makes for a far better workflow.

@Eugene Tyson I regularly have to zoom in to 1600% for ultra-fine detail placement of InDesign elements on top of the vector PDF file. Since I regularly have to mover between all pages of the book, splitting it up into multiple files would add far more complexity to my workflow, unfortunately.

This gives you an idea of how big the base graphic is. The yellow arrow is the page in question and the cyan frame is how big the file is.