Bug with Separations Preview/ Ink limit

[-Dain-]

Hey guys,

I wanted to report a bug and maybe hear from you for a way to fix it properly. Maybe via a possible "empty cache thing". Is there such a thing that emptying a cache in ID?

Basically, the issue is about the fact that ID seems to not update a picture properly after applying modification with PS on total ink coverage

Quick example: 

- I've got a CMYK picture that shows too much ink

- ID shows me in red where it's not right (via  separations preview panel)

- From there, most of the time, if I modify the picture with PS/save it, ID will update the pic and everything is fine.

But sometimes, it doesn't (and I don't know why it happens)
Sometimes, I can do whatever I want on the damn picture, ID not only keeps the red in place but can also export a PDF with the not updated picture. Weird.
I found a way to "solve" the issue by chance, by miscliking on the picture with ALT down. It dragged/copied the picture and I found the picture nice and clean. I reproduced the thing many times after and it always solved the issue. The copied picture is somehow the updated version of it and shows the modifications done on PS. So from there, anytime I've got a picture that doesn't seem to change when I applya modification on PS, I Alt+drag it and get a new fresh picture.

I put 2 pictures with this message that should show the two versions of the same picture. The original (red) and the Alt+dragged/copied one, nice and with no Red.

[Peter Spier]

Yes, you can clear the InDesign user cache files. See Reset InDesign Preferences and Other Troubleshooting and scroll down to the section on resetting the prefs more deeply.

[-Dain-]

Thanks for the quick answer,
I think you just showed me more than a couple of ways to fix the issue. Thank you 😉

[Willi Adelberger]

That is why it is recommended to place/import RGB images with color profile and not to convert images before PDF export.

[-Dain-]

I understand your point, but from experience, it is impossible to rely on color profiles for converting rgb to CMYK. There are just too many occasions where it becomes a mess, color-wise.

On the 90% where it is very effective, the last 10% makes it annoying, at best.

Depending on the complexity of the colors, it becomes necessary to fine tune the conversion into CMYK and manage the TIC without losing too much information/ balance

[Eugene Tyson]

I wonder if it's because InDesign generates a Proxy of the image, which it uses for layout purpose only. 

And when you update the image the Proxy is being kept as per the previous? 

Seems evident from the Alt Drag to make a copy it's force refreshing the image. 

You could try relink the image

Or maybe toggling View>Display Performance settings would work 

This script might force the refresh hard to know without a test file

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var links = doc.links;

for (var i = 0; i < links.length; i++) {
    try {
        links[i].update();
    } catch (e) {
        $.writeln("Error updating link: " + links[i].name);
    }
}

alert("All links have been refreshed.");

[Peter Spier]

I wonder if it's because InDesign generates a Proxy of the image, which it uses for layout purpose only. 

And when you update the image the Proxy is being kept as per the previous? 

By Eugene Tyson

That hasn't been my experience in previous versions...

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@-Dain-

What you're talking about is a perfectly normal behavior - Alt+click creates a duplicate / copy of the original item - any item - be it a TextFrame or a Rectangle with image inside.

But, can you confirm platform, OS and InDesign versions? 

[-Dain-]

Thanks for all the comments guys,

Obviously, alt+Click does create a copy of the frame. The funny thing here is that by doing so, the new frame/picture shows something different from the original file.

Linking the file again does also fix the problem of the non-update. When I'm dealing with 100+ picture, it would be quite annoying to have to link the files again

I'm on Mac M3 / OSX 15.3.2 / ID 20.1 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@-Dain-

Yes, you get a "better" preview - because InDesign is creating one from scratch.

Can you check on an older version of InDesign? 

Or maybe something is wrong with your images? 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/importing-jpeg-has-grey-lines-across-half-of-the...

It can always be scripted - complete relink or duplication -  not just an update. 

[Eugene Tyson]

Would like to know if the script I posted worked for you - or if you need something more robust.

[-Dain-]

I'll let you know as soon as I've got the issue seen again

As a "bug" it's hardly repeatable on demand. I'll have to wait until it shows up again

[Eugene Tyson]

Thanks @-Dain- I know it's not great InDesign preview of images aren't great anyway - what really matters is final output. But I get the idea of you needing to see a result on screen too. 

It's a tricky one.