How to package images in a specific format like jpg?

[johnb28485168]

Hello, is there a way to package all images in a specific format? I have created a layout for a presentation: All the images I use are in different formats. Some in tiff format with layers, some in png etc. I would like to package the presentation with all the images as jpg and of course export the it as a pdf. The originals I would like to keep in another place so I can edit them and save and package another presentation with the updated jpgs in the future, and so on..

Thank you for your help in advance.

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[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

The Package command only gives you the options of packaging Linked Images:

[Steve Werner]

You could write your own script to do that, or you could have a script post-process the files saved in the Package folder.

[Derek Cross]

Ensure all your images are linked to the InDesign document. You can export your InDesign document, which can include images in various formats,  as a PDF and as a JPG. You can keep your assets in a separate folder and edit them in Photoshop (you can round trip between InDesign and Photoshop).

[johnb28485168]

Thank you for your quick responses. I am aware of editing and resaving images in photoshop/bridge etc.
So it seems that it is not possible to package convert the images to a specific format?

[Steve Werner]

>So it seems that it is not possible to package convert the images to a specific format?

Not using the Package command. It wasn't designed to do that, and wouldn't be a common need, I'd say. 

[Scott Falkner]

Zevrix has a program that can do a lot of post processing of images and package your file with the processed images. This can include resampling so the packaged image is not too high a resolution, cropping, flattening, and resaving in another format.

https://zevrix.com/outputfactory/

[rob day]

Hi @johnb28485168 , What is the purpose of the Package, are you delivering it to a printer for output? If it is for print output why do you need to change formats, the printer shouldn’t care.

Also, when you Export a PDF, the original format of the placed images is lost, you can choose to have the images recompressed via the Export>Compression tab, but if you place a layered TIFF or PSD and inspect the image in AcrobatPro, there is no reference to the original format. Here I’ve placed a layered PSD and have my Compression tab set to JPEG and AcrobatPro inspects the image as flattened with JPEG compression:

[johnb28485168]

What you describe doesn't really apply to my use case. The purpose is to deliver and archive packages - mostly in a digital professional and educational context. Sometimes it gets printed, but that's not the main goal. In concrete terms, that means that I work with a "mother file", for example, and I also update it constantly (I update the psd and tiff files etc.), and I always make new packages from time to time. Quasi evolutions. Many colleagues in the scientific field do it this way, because it allows comparability-so there is a need. If I have to save the mother files all the time that sometimes are GBs is just cumbersum. 
It would be great if it was possible to convert all files to one format when packaging. E.g. PNG: so that all layer formats are automatically flat and small and sometimes lossless. (All formats have their advantages and disadvantages as we know that is why we need options) So the packages are much smaller when archiving. Processes become much faster this way, especially when you need to share data. And especially for presentations of 250 pages for a lecture this can be very helpful. If you need the layers, you can always exchange the mother files later.

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

It might be scriptable but nothing like this is possible natively.

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

As I said at the top of the thread: "You could write your own script to do that, or you could have a script post-process the files saved in the Package folder."

[Derek Cross]

InDesign packaged files are specifically designed for use by other professional graphic users, such as commercial printers. I don't think you're looking for that.

You seem to want a format that you can be produce from InDesign and can be easily shared and opened, viewed, displayed and printed by others. The PDF format offers those facilities.

When you use the term "mother" do you mean an "original" version that's then saved as later incrementally changed with a file naming convention such e.g. filename1a, filename1b, filename2c and so on?

[johnb28485168]

Thank you for taking the time to write a response. I do appreciate the effort you put in. However, I'm afraid you've completely missed the point of my question.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

On rereading, I have to agree with Derek here. You haven't said why you need to send InDesign packages; all of your needs would seem to be served by various optimizations of PDF.

[johnb28485168]

I do understand the convenience that exporting a PDF can offer in some cases. However, I must respectfully disagree. I wrote: "It would be great if it was possible to convert all files to one format when packaging." In my opinion, having a folder with individual images allows for more flexibility and control. These images can then be used by others in a more direct way and accessed more easily with different devices.

I believe that discussing individual needs while working with software is somewhat nonsensical. Instead, it makes more sense to focus on finding the most efficient and flexible methods for packaging and converting files.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Okay, well, you're insisting you have the proper solution when that solution doesn't exist within the app.

You haven't really been clear about what the purpose of all this customized packaging is for, on the user end; generally, ID packaging is "pro to pro" for advanced reuse and editing of the material, not as a document delivery system. You make it sound more as if end users are, well, end users who might be more used to getting Word docs they can munge to suit themselves.

In any case, there is no InDesign packaging feature that will do anything much like what you're asking; you will have to prepare and organize the different file sets and then deliver them — as ID packages or whatever — more or less manually.

If you can clarify what your actual purpose and goals are, there's a lot of expertise here that could help you choose a more efficient solution and even use script automation to streamline your workflow.

But maybe that's an "individual need." 😄

[johnb28485168]

You may be right that the system was not intended to be used as a delivery system, but it seems that many people are using it in that way regardless. I apologize if you feel unhappy about this. I understand if it does not make sense for many to add this as a feature, but I wanted to mention it as it could potentially be useful to many. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I'm neither happy nor unhappy about any aspect of this. We're all just users here, putting our experience and knowledge on the table for anyone who can use it.

Packaging was not really designed as a document delivery method, not as such; the closest anything comes is that most document templates of more than slight complexity usually come as packages, so that pro users have all the pieces they need to develop new documents from the template. If the designer and packager feels that consistent image types and easily replaceable content was useful to users of that template, it's easy enough to make it conform to those parameters. There's not much need to have the complexity of auto-converting everything to a designated format; few designers produce templates so rapidly and with such need for modularity that the images can't simply be optimized before building the package.

So in (1) using packaging as a doc delivery system and (2) wanting a range of automated options with how the images are processed and could be updated, you're a bit off the grid here. (Or at least would seem to be, as you still haven't outlined exactly what you're trying to accomplish, and for whom.) I guess you are on your own in making the best of what the app does for the purposes packaging is intended.

Good luck.

[Scott Falkner]

I don’t see how flexibility and control are served by dumbing down layered PSD or TIFF files to JPEG.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I'd guess... $$$ vs $. 🙂

[johnb28485168]

I apologize if my previous comments caused any frustration for you, James. It was not my intention to do so. 

As for this specific use case, consider a scenario where there are 120 architecture students working on their own projects. They are required to create presentations and submit them along with various types of files, including photographs, plans, 3D visualizations, text, diagrams, and photogrammetry assets. Some of the students link the large files directly into the layout of their presentations/books, while others are more efficient and convert the files beforehand. The IT person in charge of managing the group's submissions has a limited amount of storage space to distribute to the groups. You get the idea.

In this case, it could be helpful to have a feature that allows users to convert their files as they package them for submission without unlinking them. Unfortunately, it seems that this is not currently possible. However, it may be worth suggesting this as a potential feature for future updates. That would definitely save resources. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

There is no frustration or unhappiness here; you've just been focusing on a fairly significant development demand with other users who can't really assess the "why" of it nor see any similar need. (Nor have any more control or input to development than you do.) But you've cleared things up a bit here.

So do architecture students, as a rule, have InDesign — both available as a tool, and at least moderate skills to use such a packaged document? It seems a bit like expecting, oh, legal students (even ones who might be focusing on ACE) to be up on AutoCAD or RevIt. But I'll assume you know your audience/market.

And yes, while such a one-pass feature would be useful to you and the workflow to produce these template documents, I'd still suggest that the onus is on you to convert the images to whatever format sets are needed and package from there. Try as I might, I can't think of a more mainstream use or need for such a feature, since (as noted) anyone who packages a document for another pro can assume the other pro has all the same tools and ability to work with multiple formats, or, if they are packaging a template, has the foresight to optimize all the images as part of the development process.

You are free to put in a feature request with Adobe; the feed is open to anyone and they do often address suggestions if they can see the value in them. Here: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

[Abambo]

I believe that discussing individual needs while working with software is somewhat nonsensical.

By @johnb28485168

It is important that the people answering your quest, know what you want to achieve so that they can post the best solution to your problem.

Your solution would, as a side note, destroy much of my documents because I use several features quite intensively:

• I link other InDesign files (the script could discriminate for this). Anyhow, I've never tried a package with those.
• I link vector files, not only pixel graphics (the script could discriminate for this)
• I use features that work only on monochrome TIFF files (never tried that with recent InDesign and JPEG or PSD)
• I use layer switching with my linked assets. E.g. a Photoshop or Illustrator file, showing differently, depending if layers are switched on or off.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

It might be too long and complex a process, but exporting a doc to EPUB, setting the image export characteristics to JPEG (plus all other desired settings of resolution etc.), then extracting the images from the EPUB file and using those in the package... could work.

But honestly, using Photoshop to batch-process all images in a document folder to JPEG might be a simpler approach, with higher-quality results.

Or modify your workflow so that conversion to suitable JPEG is the first step with all new images.

[johnb28485168]

Would it be possible for InDesign to correctly and automatically link the processed images? That seems to be the most efficient option so far, even if it does require a couple of additional steps. This process does seem to be a bit prone to errors that is why I was wondering about a native way.

Additionally, I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for creating a flexible script that could be added as an option in the packaging menu. I think this could be a great feature to have available. Thank you in advance for any insights you may have!