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Question

InDesign Missing Link Preview Quality

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
February 15, 2024
3 replies
2170 views

Hello. My question is the following:
I know it is not the right process, but I need to know if some configuration can be done.

We have an InDesign file with a high quality image placed, which comes from the design area, but due to a flow issue, in our process (review) we do not have the image file (link).

With the missing link error, InDesign shows us a preview in very low quality and if we generate a PDF the image is shown in that low quality, which is normal, we will know it, but the quality is too low.

From the tests we did, the image in the PDF is 36ppi, depending on the file, but it does not go above 40ppi.

Is there a way to change some settings so that at least InDesign keeps that missing link preview at 72dpi?

Thanks

This topic has been closed for replies.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @bunnika , It would take some planning, but you can manipulate the resolution of missing link proxies via scaling—the lower the scale value the higher the proxy resolution will be when the links are missing.

For example, here I’ve duplicated and placed the same file with identical pixel dimensions, but different Actual Resolutions, then trashed the originals. On the page I have scaled them to the same dimensions, so their Effective Resolutions—the final output resolution— match at 383PPI. The bottom image was scaled to 10%, so its proxy resolution is much higher than the top version, which is scaled to 91%:

When I Export to the default PDF/X-4 preset the top image inspects at 78ppi, and the bottom image that has been scaled to 10% inspects at 191ppi. If the links were not missing, both images would inspect at 383ppi

B

bunnikaAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi, yes, I did that test too, when you scale the image the result changes in the PDF with the missing link. but still when zooming in it looks bad, in addition, steps are added to the workflow, and that is something we wanted to avoid.

If we still need to add steps to the workflow, I think the best option is to generate a smaller image in JPG to use for the review area.

Thanks.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

[...]

If we still need to add steps to the workflow, I think the best option is to generate a smaller image in JPG to use for the review area.

Thanks.

By @bunnika

But you have to receive initial preview of the file, right?

So why can't you receive flattened and low resolution version - that you'll keep on your local machine - and then update with the finall version?

There are no "additional steps" - just a correct initial step.

And don't do it as JPEG - if you get PSD, you can then just update the link - without the need to relink.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

I believe it would be impossible to upsample the image preview if the image is missing.

Why can't the proper image be acquired and replaced?

B

bunnikaAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hello, thanks for your answer.
Yes, I understand that it is complicated.

The original image exists, the problem is that it is too heavy to obtain just for a review. It is a catalog of jewelry and beauty products, with several products by Spreed, and each original spreed PSD has a size between 700MB to 1.3GB. and we use 120 PSD per catalog, we manage 5 catalogs. And sending all those files is complicated.

We know that the correct thing to do is to make a low version of those PSDs, (JPG for example) something that is 1MB in size on average, but unfortunately that workflow (missing link) was already there when I arrived at this job.

Previously they were using QuarkXpress with this same workflow and the PDF generated without the linked image is displayed at a better resolution in the PDF (72ppi). With this workflow they saved the step of creating a smaller image for review .Now with InDesign the image in the PDF looks very bad.

But hey, thanks for the answers, I just wanted to know if something could be done. There is no choice but to modify the workflow to create a smaller image for the review and link it to make the PDF.

Thanks

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

Hi.

The size is because several layers, effects and other things are worked on in those PSDs.

The direct link in InDesign to that PSD is made in the Design area, they have the original images, but for the review area it is impractical to use those PSDs with that size.

That is why the workflow they always used using QuarkXpress was that the Design area sent only the QuarkXpress files, the review area opened those files with the link error, and generated the PDF so they had a reference of the image to an acceptable quality even though there was no link. In QuarrkXpress it worked for them.

If the design area sends us those PSDs, imagine how long it would take to download the 120 PSDs per catalog.

That's why I just wanted to know if it was possible, although I already imagined it wasn't.

Thanks.

Yeah, layers and effects will add to the size of the PSD file.

But generating flattened JPEG preview - or better yet, flattened and low res PSD file - so you can just update instead of relinking from JPEG -> PSD - is just a simple Action in Photoshop.

BobLevine

Community Expert

No. Get the original image and re-link it.

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