Skip to main content
kp65128755
kp65128755
Known Participant
October 25, 2017
Question

Exporting a book cover design from Photoshop to Indesign

  • October 25, 2017
  • 8 replies
  • 4831 views

I'm designing a book cover in Photoshop (with illustration layers + text + images) and then planning to export to Indesign.

I tried to do it and for some reason the text looks kind of blurry. Should I just export the images and then do the text separately in Indesign? Or is there a way to make it look high res? The artboard was created (600 ppi) as double the size of the Indesign artboard so it should be okay, I am not sure why it's blurry.

This topic has been closed for replies.

8 replies

kp65128755
kp65128755Author
Known Participant
October 27, 2017

Yes! Mat Laminated. It'd be cool to have the characters (it's a children's picture book) pop out a little bit but I feel like that would be complicated.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2017

Embossed.

N
nicolas7
Known Participant
October 27, 2017

Nah, for children's book do silk-screen glitter varnish!

* getting off topic! *

kp65128755
kp65128755Author
Known Participant
October 27, 2017

Ah, got it! Thanks so much Derek!!

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2017

By the way, have you considered whether you want your cover to be varnished, or laminated, either gloss or mat lamination?

    kp65128755
    kp65128755Author
    Known Participant
    October 27, 2017

    Thanks again Derek! Should I always be exporting from photoshop to Indesign as a pdf then?

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 27, 2017

    Place your Photoshop images in InDesign as native PSD files.

      JonathanArias
      JonathanArias
      Legend
      October 25, 2017

      I like to do all of my text in indesign. but that is my preference. I place the photoshop file on the layout.

      N
      nicolas7
      Known Participant
      October 25, 2017

      I'm designing a book cover in Photoshop (with illustration layers + text + images) and then planning to export to Indesign.

      That's a strange order to work in? Why voluntarily set type in Photoshop? That's just painful... and slow...

      Anyway, you can't really 'export' from PS to Indy any more than water can turn into wine; they're different paradigms. You can place something from PS into Indy, but that's not the same thing.

      Like Derek said, if you're doing fancy effects on the title text, do that in its own file, and place the PSD doc in Indy.

      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 25, 2017

      No! If you’re doing text in Photoshop save it as a PDF and place that in InDesign.

      PSD will rasterize everything while the PDF will retain vector quality in the text.

      Jongware
      Community Expert
      JongwareCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 25, 2017

      "for some reason" = this FAQ reason?

        Derek Cross
        Community Expert
        Derek CrossCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 25, 2017

        You can do it in Photoshop but I'd recommend creating the image/s in Photoshop (which might include artistic lettering for the title), Placing it/them in InDesign and their adding the rest of the text, bar code, and logo etc  there. This will give you good quality design and the flexibility to easily make final adjustments such as changing the width of the spine, adding last-minute quotes and so on.

        Confirm what kind of binding it'll be - paperback, jacket for a hardback with flaps and so on.

        Don't forget to allow bleed.

        Work in RGB color mode throughout the process and supply the printer (unless told by the printer otherwise) a PDF/X-4.

          kp65128755
          kp65128755Author
          Known Participant
          October 27, 2017

          Thanks Derek and everyone! Okay I am going to do all of the text in InDesign.

          For the image (I am doing an illustration in Photoshop that cover the entire book cover),

          1) what size should they be if they need to cover the full width of the page in InDesign? The indesign file is 270mm X 178mm. So then, should I make the Photoshop design the same size? Or maybe should I increase the dimensions by (for example double it) to improve the quality?

          2) I should export this as PDF?

          3) ah the bleed! I forgot the bleed. Standard bleed around 3mm? 6mm?

          4) Re: RGB mode--not CMYK for print?

          Derek Cross
          Community Expert
          Derek CrossCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 27, 2017

          The book cover consists of a front and back and - crucially - a spine. The width of the spine will depend on the number of pages and substance of the stock (paper). You need to establish this dirmention with your printer. If possi get you printer to make you up a dummy book.

          PDF/X-4 will convert your RGB document correctly to CMYK. But discuss this with your printer to ger their spec.

          Bleed is normally 3mm and 300ppi would be fine for the resolution (at 100%).

          M
          Migintosh
          Legend
          October 25, 2017

          If you save from Photoshop as PDF, your type will remain live, and since live type is created as vectors, it won't have the blurry look of raster (bitmap) art.

            Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
            Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices