Export InDesign Files to PSD

[_Karl_Rouwhorst_]

Is there a way to export an InDesign layout to a PSD layered format. I'm aware of the idea of exporting a PDF and opening in PhotoShop. But I'm looking for a cleaner way of doing that.

[BobLevine]

No.

Bob

[_Sacha_Heck_]

Hi Karl,

I know of no way to export to layered PSD directly but
perhaps the following could work for you:

Click your first InDesign-layer to be visible and deselect
the others so that they're invisible. Now export a PDF
with your settings you need (is it for the web or print?)
Open the PDF in Photoshop. The PDF becomes pixelized
but should keep transparency. Now click your 2nd layer
in InDesign to be visible and export this also with the same
PDF-setting. Open it in Photoshop excactly the same way
(important: box-settings like bleedbox, trimbox etc.) as
the first. Now drag and drop this layer into the file already
containg the 1st exported layer and go on like this.
I know it's not automated but only an idea ...

Regards,
Sacha Heck

[_rob_day_]

Try this script:

http://www.zenodesign.com/scripts/PagestoPSLayers.zip

The script exports the layers as PDFs then opens them in PS. It asks you to choose a PDF preset and a target folder for saving the PDFs. The PDF preset enclosed in the .zip archive works well with the script.

[Mike Witherell]

You can copy objects in InDesign and paste a Smart Object into a layer in a PSD file in Photoshop.

Probably not what you want, tho, yet interesting.

Mike Witherell in Alexandria, VA

[_mark_napier_]

Mike, could you elaborate on why a copy from InDesign and paste Smart Object in PSD is not a good idea.

In other words, is this a good or bad idea to do, and Why?

Thanks!
Mark

[Mike Witherell]

I didn't say it was a good idea versus bad idea. I only stated that based on the OP's brief comment, it probably wasn't what the OP wanted to do.

Mike

[_SilverDollar_]

Rob - Love your script, as usual without one of these gems, my ass would be grass.
BUT - Can you beef this up a bit to export a RANGE, or ALL of the pages in the InD file?

Thanks Rob, looking forward to hearing from you-
Lance Jacobs

[_stephani_Parker_]

If you export as eps you can open in pshop with a transparent background.

[_rob_day_]

Lance, it could be done, but unfortunately it wouldn't be trivial. If I ever get around to it I'll let you know.

Stephani, the issue is getting a multi layered ID file into PS with the layers intact.

[_stephani_Parker_]

Export each layer as an eps and make one eps of the whole job to trace from. Takes a few minutes usually.

[_rob_day_]

A script turns a few minutes into a few seconds.

[_SilverDollar_]

Hi Rob. Ok, I'll muddle through. Good to hear from you.

Lance

[JasonNeub]

Rob, is there a new script for CS5 that will export such as how you describe??

[besler_mindutopia]

Does anyone have an updated link to that script? Doesn't seem to be on their server anymore...

[Shadoufang]

Direct link to it here:

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV6.zip

Found the new link here! =')

https://indesignsecrets.com/save-indesign-files-layered-photoshop-files.php

Thank you to the scripter!
Now, to try it!

[rob day]

This is the latest version—works with CC 2018

http://www.zenodesign.com/forum/PageToPSLayersV7.zip