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A
Anonymous
September 3, 2013
Answered

Importing transparent images into Indesign

  • September 3, 2013
  • 6 replies
  • 167319 views

Hi guys,

Just started using Indesign cs6 and for the life of me can not work out how to import transparent pngs. All transparent images I import have their background changed to a white background. The image import options has an option to use transparency information, with either use white back ground (which is selected) or use file defined background colour.

I assume i should be using file defined background colour but its greyed out. Why is this option greyed out and how can I retain a transparent bg in my image? The image i'm importing is fireworks png file.

Cheers,

Ps. First post, so go easy on me

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Steve Werner

Open the PNG in Photoshop and make sure that it's a full 24-bit PNG (full transparency). Here's an example of a transparent PNG on a yellow background in InDesign:

As you can see above, you can tell in the Links panel whether it's really transparent. Use Photoshop to save as transparent TIFF or PSD (usually a better format for print, if that's what you're using it for).

6 replies

R
ROI Squared LLC
Participant
January 1, 2019

I searched and no one had the answer that actually worked. So through trial and error, I discovered the solution. The answer is to export > save for web (legacy) > and choose  .png 24 not .png 8

This means if you have a .png file you will need to reopen it in photoshop or illustrator and save this way.

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2019

Yes but I gave that answer in the third reply (look above). 24-bit. Open in Photoshop and save.

A
Anonymous
September 4, 2013

Thanks guys for the quick response! Oddly, its no longer happening and the images are importing absolutely fine now.

Drag and dropping open png's from photoshop to inDesign still seems to cause it however. Anyway to get round this as i find it a lot more convenient importing images this way?

Sandee Cohen
Sandee Cohen
Legend
September 4, 2013

Dragging and dropping open png's from Photoshop to InDesign is EXACTLY the problem.

You're dragging only an 8-bit preview image that has no actual transparency.

PLACE! PLACE! PLACE! Cmd/Ctrl-D.

    linusr31378619
    linusr31378619
    Known Participant
    December 8, 2016

    Having this problem with TIFFs exported from the image processor of Photoshop CC, transparency recognized in photoshop and not in Indesign CC wheter i place or drag and drop (why would you make those different things anyway Adobe? why?)

    Have a feeling the image processor is the problem..?

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 3, 2013

    Are you sure the frame isn't filled with white? I've used PNG files a lot with DPS and haven't had any issue at all with them whether from FW or PS.

      T
      Tayler5FEC
      Participant
      February 1, 2021

      It's definetly a Monday.... I spent like an hour trying to figure out why my placed transparent PSD wasn't working. I had a white fill on it... *faceplam*

       

      Thanks!

      Sandee Cohen
      Sandee Cohen
      Legend
      September 3, 2013

      It's been a long time since I wrote and taught Fireworks, but the Fireworks png format is a special one, just for Fireworks use.

      Try saving the optimized version of the file as a regular png with transparency. That's the same as Steve's suggestion to opening in Photoshop. (Us Fireworks users never open Photoshop!)

      If it still doesn't work, I'll download Fireworks and run some tests.

      Steve Werner
      Community Expert
      Steve WernerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      September 3, 2013

      Open the PNG in Photoshop and make sure that it's a full 24-bit PNG (full transparency). Here's an example of a transparent PNG on a yellow background in InDesign:

      As you can see above, you can tell in the Links panel whether it's really transparent. Use Photoshop to save as transparent TIFF or PSD (usually a better format for print, if that's what you're using it for).

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 3, 2013

        Yeh good point Steve - I always forget to mention the 24 Bit PNG piece.

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 3, 2013

        I don't have Fireworks and I haven't made any Fireworks PNG files.

        I'm not sure how they work. But I believe that Fireworks PNGs can contain editable layers for Fireworks use only.

        This may be part of the issue of the transparent background - but as I say I have very limited knowledge of Fireworks.

        What I will say with some degree of comfort is that PNG is primarily a web format - and it's not a print format. Adobe InDesign is a page layout tool intended for Print on mechanical presses - and it's only recently it's been geared towards Web, ePub and  Flash creation.

        Perhaps the Fireworks PNG simply does not work with InDesign.

        Can you save that Fireworks PNG from Fireworks to say a TIF of PSD? Which may be better for importing to InDesign.

        The only other solution I can think of is to open that PNG file in Photoshop and save it as a Transparent PNG from there using File>Save for Web

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 3, 2013

        Eugene Tyson wrote:


        The only other solution I can think of is to open that PNG file in Photoshop and save it as a Transparent PNG from there using File>Save for Web

        Or save it from Photoshop as a TIF or PSD with transparency enabled would probably be best if the intent of the file is printing at a professional printers

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