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August 17, 2009
Answered

Export to PNG in InDesign?

  • August 17, 2009
  • 3 replies
  • 107954 views

Hi all,

I have a simple question. Is it possible to export to PNG in InDesign? Right now, I've been doing a copy-paste into Illustrator, then saving it as PNG from there. Is there a better way to do this?

Trish

InDesign CS4 | PC

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Eugene Tyson

InDesign can now export to PNG from File>Export and pick the file format.

3 replies

Eugene TysonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
November 30, 2022

InDesign can now export to PNG from File>Export and pick the file format.

August 17, 2009

export the PDF and open and save in Photoshop.

Scott Falkner
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 17, 2009

No version of InDesign can export to PNG. But there is a much better way than copy/paste into Illustrator. Export a PDF then save that as PNG from Acrobat or rasterize in Photoshop and save as PNG from Photoshop.

Jongware
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 17, 2009

Oddly enough, that's not .. entirely .. true.

The CS4 scripting help lists "PNG Format" amongst its possible export formats. A  quick test

app.activeDocument.selection[0].exportFile(ExportFormat.PNG_FORMAT, File(new File("c:\\test.png")));

shows CS4 can export to PNG. However, there are no settings to change, which limits its usefulness.

rob day
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 24, 2011

Where's y'all imagination?

This is a Quick-and-So-Very-Dirty-Dirty-Dirty javascript with lots of traps and pitfalls; still, it works as a Proof Of Concept to do the dirty thang straight out of InDesign.

(In particular I cannot stress enough: Do Not Use On Your Live Document. Save a copy first, because this script messes up your document, and if good old trusty InDesign chooses to crash while running the script, this Messed Up Version will be saved as "current one"!!)

//DESCRIPTION:Export all pages to PNGs -- Do Not Use For Production Purposes

// A Move Along, Nothing to See Here Production

for (pg=0; pg<app.activeDocument.pages.length; pg++)

{

     page = app.activeDocument.pages[pg];

     for (mas=0; mas < page.appliedMaster.pageItems.length; mas++)

          try {

               page.appliedMaster.pageItems[mas].override(app.activeDocument.pages[pg]);

          } catch (bah) { }

     g = page.groups.add(page.pageItems);

     g.exportFile(ExportFormat.PNG_FORMAT, File(Folder.myDocuments.fsName+"/"+(page.name)+".png"));

}


This is a Quick-and-So-Very-Dirty-Dirty-Dirty javascript

I haven't try your code but does JavaScript give you access to a PNG export format that isn't available with the UI? I'm not seeing it in the AppleScript dictionary.