InDesign Color 400 ppi Images Export Blurry so are Unfit for my Novel's Cover Design

[scout214pack]

I am self-taught with Indesign and Illustrator. Since April 1, 2021, I have been formatting my first novel with Indesign an Illustrator. I am pretty proud of the work I have done so far. I have completed the interiors and cover design. My next step is to export to Amazon KDPSelect.

My book dimensions are 6 X 9. I have created the cover/spine/back cover with color gradients and vector images, and when I export, they are all crisp just like I want. 

However, I have two (only two) high res photos that I downloaded from Unsplash. I used Photoshop save them as 400 ppi images. I would like one on the front cover and one on the back cover (At 2 inch high by 6 inch wide).

There are no preflight errors, but when I export, the photos are blurry! This is extremely disappointing. If I can't get them export at at least 300 ppi I will have to proceed without them.

Please help. 

I have attached the pdf back cover/spine/cover so you can see what I am talking about.

Thank you!

[Derek Cross]

It's not the resolution that the image is in Photoshop that will be in your placed image in InDesign but the size you place it, so if you enlarge it, for example, the resolution will be lower. You can check the Effective PPI (which is the actual InDesign image resolution) in the Links panel.

(Vector images such as those created in Adobe Illustrator have no resolution.)

Also, ensure you're viewing the InDesign document at the best screen reproduction:

View > Display Performance > High Quality Display.

[scout214pack]

I think I got it. Thank you.

Effective PPI--that is a new one!

I checked thru links like you said, and my cover pic actual: 400 and effective 447

back cover pic 400 and effetive 350. 

And my display is HQ. All good.

After doing this, I exported again, but saw I could change settings in export area of ID. That seems to work.

Very helpful and quick response. 

[Eugene Tyson]

To add to what Derek has mentioned

You cannot just upscale images to 400ppi - it doesn't work like that.

Your image needs to be originally 400ppi at the dimensions you require.

You would probably need to start with a higher resolution image. 

Can you share a link to the image on Unsplash that you got?

===============

Typically 400ppi is quite large and not needed for print and you can usually be anywhere from 225 to 300ppi depending on the output machines for the book. Typically people aim for 300ppi.

I wrote an article here that might interest you to shed some light why images look blurry.

https://creativepro.com/high-res-image-look-low-res/#:~:text=By%20default%2C%20InDesign%20is%20set,a....

[scout214pack]

Thank you for answering my post and sending the link to your article. Really good articles you wrote. Very helpful.

[scout214pack]

Here is the link...

https://unsplash.com/photos/-hWwL0n3_As

[rob day]

The images in your PDF are 72ppi—458 x 152 pixels:

[scout214pack]

Yes. I see that now. Nice. Thank you

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

What are your Export settings when you created the PDF?

[scout214pack]

I never noticed the export window information before!

Export to interactive PDF

I changed settings to this.

Compression: Jpeg Lossy

Jpeg quality: Maximun

res: 300

It works now! Thank you.

[Derek Cross]

Why are you exporting to Interactive PDF when you seem to be producing artwork for a book to be printed?

Check with your printer but normally you'd choose PDF/X-4 from the InDesign Adobe PDF Presets and choose Single Pages (not spreads) and tick "Crop Marks" and  "Use Document Bleed Settings".

[scout214pack]

I don't know why.

Good points. I know nothing about that. I am (right now) starting KDPJumpstart to see what I have to do to get it published/printed.

Here's my progress...

I finished my manuscript.

I finished the front matter

I finished the back matter

I created the interiors/layout/pagination/typesetting using Indesign and Illustrator 6 inches by 9 inches dimensions

I created the cover using Indesign and Illustrator 6 inches by 9 inches.

Now what?

I'm figuring that out... 🙂

I want to self-publish via KDPSelect—most important

I want a paperback version and an e-book version

[Derek Cross]

You need to get the production specs from KDP Select for the print edition – eBook is a generic term for a number of formats for digital publications, you need to decide which format(s) you want.

[Test Screen Name]

You probably really need to be making a print PDF. But printers are not generic - you must find out their needs and meet them.