Cannot place this file. Invalid PNG file

[janisg78762080]

I have just downloaded the latest Indesign V19.1 and am seeing a message 'Cannot place this file. Invalid PNG file'.  All my documents are corrupted no matter what I do. I can't migrate previous presets as this is a different computer. Any ideas please?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Especially if you updated ID, it's possible your app preferences are corrupted. Reset them. The process varies a little by platform and version, but this should get you there: Reset InDesign Preferences and Other Troubleshooting

[Bill Silbert]

If your different computer is a Mac running Mac OS Sonoma then that could be the problem. InDesign is still not fully compatible with Sonoma. If its possible to do so roll the computer back to Ventura version 13.6.

[rob day]

Hi @janisg78762080 , Where did the PNG come from? Try opening it into Photoshop and do a Save As.

[Amber22972884lfki]

Just checking if you found a solution? I am having the same problem with the version 19.4 of Indesign. I am running Sonoma 14.2

[leo.r]

I am running Sonoma 14.2

By @Amber22972884lfki

first update to the latest macOS 14.4.x - will it make a difference?

[Amber22972884lfki]

I've updated Sonoma and i'm still getting the same message "Cannot place this file. Invalid PNG file."

[rob day]

Where did the PNG you are trying to place come from? Will it place if you resave it from Photoshop?

[Amber22972884lfki]

The PNG was originally a PSD from photoshop, saved as a PNG file. All saved to an external hard drive. I have been a graphic designer for over 20 years and never had this problem with older versions of Indesign or mac operating systems. 

[rob day]

Why switch to PNG?

[Amber22972884lfki]

I am dealing with a psd in file size over 1Gb. PNG is a smaller, unlayered file size which means a smaller file size in Indesign which also means a smaller file size when I export a pdf. 

[leo.r]

...which also means a smaller file size when I export a pdf. 

By @Amber22972884lfki

without getting into some disadvantages of PNG, this shouldn't make any difference for the PDF size. the PDF size only depends on PDF export settings regardless of the kind and size of images in InDesign file. 

if you want a smaller image file size, then I'd recommend a flattened TIFF with LZW compression.

[Amber22972884lfki]

PNG files have always worked well as placed graphics in Indesign for a transparent-background option. My question is - is Indesign no longer accepting PNG files? Or is this a glitch in the new versions that needs to be fixed? 

[Eugene Tyson]

InDesign defintely does place PNG files. 

Have you tried resaving the PNG file? 
Have you got an example of a PNG file you an share with us?

Some troubleshooting for you to follow - pretty standard reply coming below in the order I would try

If a document is not behaving well then try 

File>Export 

Choose IDML

Open the IDML in InDesign
Save the file as a new InDesign file with a new name
See if the issue persists.

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Try resetting your preferences:

Windows: Start InDesign, and then press Shift+Ctrl+Alt. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
macOS: While pressing Shift+Option+Command+Control, start InDesign. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
A dialog will appear asking to delete the InDesign Preferences, select 'Yes' on this dialog.
Further info and instructions here if needed:
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/kb/indesign-preferences-support-file-locations.html

----

Reinstalling rarely fixes everything - you can do a complete reinstall using the
Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

[Amber22972884lfki]

Hi Eugene,

Thank you for confirming Indesign still accepts placed PNG files. I think it was a glitch with this particular file because resaving from Photoshop / save as / export as did not work but a "quick export as PNG" has solved it! Good to know there is a work-around. 

[Eugene Tyson]

Exactly - where there is a will there's a way 😛

Some files can behave strangely after an update - it's usually a good practive to save your file to IDML and open that.

And save your file regularly using different filenames where possible. 

[Amber22972884lfki]

Agreed! Thanks again.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Eugene Tyson

I think re-exporting of the PNG in Photoshop helped to solve the problem - not IDMLing of INDD file? 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I think it was a glitch with this particular file because resaving from Photoshop / save as / export as did not work but a "quick export as PNG" has solved it! Good to know there is a work-around. 

By @Amber22972884lfki

There was a lengthy discussion about a bug in InDesign when placing JPEG files produced as Save As in Photoshop and 1024 size multiplier - Export For Web worked but Save As didn't. 

Maybe you've discovered another bug? 

[rob day]

I am dealing with a psd in file size over 1Gb. PNG is a smaller, unlayered file size which means a smaller file size in Indesign which also means a smaller file size when I export a pdf.

I think you are making some assumptions about the way ID handles linked files—and Exports them—which are not quite right.

When you Place a file, whether it is flattened and compressed PNG, or a layered PSD file, a low res proxy is created for the ID preview. So this 11 layer PSD’s size is 1GB:

But, the containing InDesign file is only 1.9 MB because the PSD’s preview is a JPEG proxy. If I were to place a flattened PNG copy, the document file size would be the same:

On a PDF Export the layered Photoshop file is going to be flattened and compressed to my Export Compression setting. Here you can see on an Export to the default PDF/X-4 preset the original PSD is a flattened, 24-bit image. There is no indication of the original file format (or image layers)—a flattened PNG would produce the same result. The Exported PDF/X-4 is 5.8 MB: