Incorrect Transparency with Pixel Image

[henry_8649]

Hello Community,

I stumpled upon a problem with a pixel image I placed to Indesign. The Logo has a transperncy which is dispalyed incorrect. It happens when I import as psd and png. When I open the Logo in Photoshop it looks fine. Attached you find screenshots.  _01 is in InDesing and _02 in Photoshop.

What can I do?

[Eugene Tyson]

Indesign preview is notoriously not the best - it's only  showing a proxy of the image not the image itself. 

You might be enable to enhance the preview by going to View>Display Performance and choosing High Quality.

But the preview might be too complex, hence you're seeing a 'dumbed down' version for preview and placement.

The most important thing is how it exports to whatever medium you need, is it for print or for other purpose?

Try saving it as Photoshop PDF from the original file (not the PNG) and choose PDFX4a 

See if that's any better for you.

Without knowing all the info it's hard to direct so please share any information which might be relevant.

[Flo_8580]

I'm guessing the transparent part is set to multiply blend mode in Photoshop, correct? That setting won't get transferred to placed images.

To get the same effect, you'll need to place two instances of the image right on top of each other in InDesign.

1) The top one just containing the text (use layer options to disable the reflection in InDesign)

2) The lower one just containing the reflection (again, use layer options), this one set to multiply in InDesigns Effects panel.

3) Group both objects to move/resize them in the future.

Use the Overprint View in Indesign to confirm if it works.

[Eugene Tyson]

If the image in Photoshop has a black background and the foreground elements are set to Multiply, the effect should work correctly in Photoshop because the black background is solid and doesn't interact further with the layers.

When placing the image in InDesign, the Multiply blend mode from Photoshop won't carry over. However, since the black background is solid, it shouldn't require additional blending in InDesign unless the foreground needs to interact with other elements or backgrounds.

Could you confirm if the black background is a true solid black? Also, does the issue persist when you export from InDesign?

To address the issue, I recommend checking the transparency settings in the Effects panel in InDesign.

If the black background is necessary, you could consider turning off the black background layer in Photoshop and only keeping the required elements.

When placing the image in InDesign, you can add the black background by filling the frame with black. Then, use the Content Grabber to select the placed image and set it to Multiply. This method ensures only the image multiplies with the black fill.

You can also adjust the black fill to match your existing black background. If the design stands against a lighter colour, I recommend using a rich black (e.g., 50% Cyan and 100% Black) for a solid printed background.

If the design is for digital use and not for print, you won’t need to worry about using rich black.

[Flo_8580]

If the image in Photoshop has a black background and the foreground elements are set to Multiply, the effect should work correctly in Photoshop because the black background is solid and doesn't interact further with the layers.

By @Eugene Tyson

That's true. But as the question was about transparency, i'm imagining the black background was placed seperately, both in Photoshop and InDesign.

[Eugene Tyson]

If the image in Photoshop has a black background and the foreground elements are set to Multiply, the effect should work correctly in Photoshop because the black background is solid and doesn't interact further with the layers.

By @Eugene Tyson

That's true. But as the question was about transparency, i'm imagining the black background was placed seperately, both in Photoshop and InDesign.

By @Flo_8580

Sure no problem and excellent points about blend modes not 'transferring' to InDesign.

We need more info from the OP so let's wait. 

[Willi Adelberger]

PNG supports only the limitted alpha transparency and therefore I cannot recommend its use in InDesign.

Blending modes from PSDs are. not transfered to InDesign. 

What I do in such cases: I esparate all different blending modes into different first level layers (no nested or folder layers).

I open the PSD now in Illustrator and save it as AI and PDF/X-4. Both file types transfer from Illustrator only transparency and blending modes to InDesign.

[Eugene Tyson]

PNG supports only the limitted alpha transparency and therefore I cannot recommend its use in InDesign.

Blending modes from PSDs are. not transfered to InDesign. 

What I do in such cases: I esparate all different blending modes into different first level layers (no nested or folder layers).

I open the PSD now in Illustrator and save it as AI and PDF/X-4. Both file types transfer from Illustrator only transparency and blending modes to InDesign.

By @Willi Adelberger

Hi Willi

Do you think the extra step of using Illustrator isn’t necessary here? Photoshop can save directly as PDF/X4, which fully supports transparency and blending modes while being optimised for professional output.

By exporting the PSD directly to PDF/X-4, you can avoid the complexity of splitting layers or moving between programs. This ensures a clean workflow and reduces the chances of errors or inconsistencies.

Would love to hear your thoughts on why Illustrator might be preferred in this case, but for most scenarios, Photoshop’s PDF/X-4 should handle it.

[Willi Adelberger]

In my experience, transparency ws not full supported from PS. But I have not tried  it for  a while.

[henry_8649]

Hello 

thanks for your support and sorry for not getting back earlier. The Job got cancelled and I was on vacation. But your replies were helpful to solve this issue for the future. 

@Eugene Tyson I needed the file for Web Application so PDF wasn't an option. Yes call me crazy but I use InDesign also for Non Print Layouting. 

Also using a black Background in the Logo Box wasn't an option as the Logo had to be above another element.

@Flo_8580 I only have the Logo as a PNG and not with seperate layers ;(

What seemed to work reliable now is setting the Color of the Black Background in the Layout to: C91 M79 Y62 K97.

Im not deep enough into color systems to understand why but it worked somehow. 

Maybe one of you has an explenation?

regards.

[Flo_8580]

Web Application means you need the output to be in RGB, correct? Did you set InDesigns Blend Space for the document to RGB via Edit > Transparency Blend Space?