Getting ready to package ... Photo conversion issue

[George DeLuca]

Using InDesign 2025 on a MacBook Pro. Using Photoshop to process photos.

I've created a coffee table book (print) and an Ebook. The layout is complete and looks great. But the RGB photos I used are too small for conversion for the final CMYK print version. It could still work as a digital version though.

As I see it, I have two options: 1. Reprocess and replace the RGB photos already in the layout with larger ones to accommodate conversion to CMYK in export, or, 2. Reprocess and convert the photos to CMYK in Photoshop then place them in the InDesign layout. I'd probably have an easier time with Packaging this way.

I haven't decided on a printer yet. I'm thinking ahead and wracking my brain as to what's the best workflow going forward that will save me the most time and have the best possible result.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

George D.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

What is the Effective PPI of the images - when you click on an image in the Links Panel in the InDesign? 

[George DeLuca]

Robert,

There are over 100 images taken with a digital camera. They've all been processed as RGB for a digital presentation. I downsized them (poor planning on my part), so those images are too small for CMYK. The layouts will work for print, so I'm beginning to convert the raw images to CMYK at full size. The original ppi is 72. I should be able to get 300 on most after converting. I may batch convert using Photoshop and go from there.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@George DeLuca

This doesn't answer the question - it doesn't matter what is the SOURCE PPI - but what InDesign shows you as an EFFECTIVE PPI on the Links panel - when you select image.

[George DeLuca]

Ok, for the first image, the effective ppi is 178.

[BobLevine]

What does "too small" mean and why are you converting to CMYK?

[George DeLuca]

Bob,

See my reply to Robert (above). I'm not sure if I could have done anything differently. It's just a lot of busy work at this point. I've been away from InDesign for awhile. And I haven't worked on a project of this size before. I'm a writer and photographer and this will be my first book published.

[Derek Cross]

Which format is the eBook to be?

[George DeLuca]

Derek, 

I haven't delved into the eBook part yet. I'm assuming I'll need to follow Amazon's Kindle standards. I'm kind of muddling through the publishing aspects of the project now. I'm pretty handy at digital media, so I need the practice. I have a couple more books planned after this one. So, I need to get my process down with the current one.

[George DeLuca]

the ebook part should be relatively easy at this point, because the images are already processed and the layout looks great using InDesign "Publish Online." Hopefully, I'm on the right track with the e-pub. I'm assuming "Publish Online" is PDF or like that.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

. 

[George DeLuca]

Sorry ... for me eBook = digital version, i.e, Amazon Kindle version. 

[Willi Adelberger]

Leave all images in RGB. If the printer requires CMYK images, convert them with the PDF export. 
To small? Image size has nothing to do with the color mode. 

[George DeLuca]

Thanks, that makes sense. By too small, I mean I reduced the size of the images from 6000 px wide to 2200 px. Thats how I usually send photos to the newspaper for publishing. They use them full width of the paper. Like I said, poor planning as it doesn't work in this application. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks, that makes sense. By too small, I mean I reduced the size of the images from 6000 px wide to 2200 px. Thats how I usually send photos to the newspaper for publishing. They use them full width of the paper. Like I said, poor planning as it doesn't work in this application. 

By @George DeLuca

It's still good enough for 9-10 inches when printed. 

More than enough for smaller sizes. 

[George DeLuca]

Thank you, Robert,

That's helpful ... and encouraging. 😉

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thank you, Robert,

That's helpful ... and encouraging. 😉

By @George DeLuca

You're welcome. 

So your images WILL BE smaller than 9 inches - when printed? 

[George DeLuca]

Most photos are placed at 10 1/2" as it stands. But I can reduce them a half inch or so and just use more white space. It's a coffee table book after all. Margins are currently 1 inch inside and 3/4" top, bottom and outside. I can get 3000 px (10 inches) for most of the photos and make adjustments as needed. 

[George DeLuca]

So, to recap: If I use the same layout and just reprocess each raw photo to replace the downsized ones, I may just have to do a "relink" and be able to use one InDesign file for both print and digital versions. That would be the ideal if it can be done that way. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

So, to recap: If I use the same layout and just reprocess each raw photo to replace the downsized ones, I may just have to do a "relink" and be able to use one InDesign file for both print and digital versions. That would be the ideal if it can be done that way. 

By @George DeLuca

Yes, that would be the only right way - relink 😉 

But how do you plan on re-processing each photo? And what exactly do you mean by re-processing? Do you have originals?

[George DeLuca]

By reprocessing I mean, cropping, then tone and contrast adjustments. That's it. A couple I have to rotate (very) slightly. Once processed, I save them into my project folder which, in effect, replaces the downsized photos. Then I can relink and be done. The only mistake I made was to downsize the photos in the first place. But if this method works, it's a lot less time and effort than I anticipated.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@George DeLuca

Yeah, that's correct - almost 😉 

You should ONLY make photos straight - and correct colors - do not resample / resize / crop in Photoshop. 

Place them in InDesign - resize and crop using "container" - Rectangle / Oval or any other shape. 

[George DeLuca]

That's good advice, Robert. Thank you.

[George DeLuca]

Yes, I have the originals. And all the project photos are number coded to match the originals. 

[George DeLuca]

Hey Robert, I tried out your workflow recommendation on a couple of images and I'm having a lightbulb moment. Yes, "effective ppi," that's the ticket. I also have more control over placement with precision. And, of course, I can proceed now with only one file instead of two. Thank you! You rock, sir!