InDesign won't recognize PNG files, can't "Place"

[timothyl85839792]

I created a document about a month ago, a catalog, and placed PNG image files into image boxes for the layout. I opened the file back up today to do some edits and all the sudden InDesign tells me I have broken links. I investigate further to find that the images are located where they are supposed. I tried to "re-place" the png files into the boxes but InDesign doesn't recognize it and won't allow me to place it.

For reference, I also tried to open in PS but it doesn't recognize it either, so I'm sure it's a file issue.

Has anyone run across this and can you advise?

[BobLevine]

Sounds like those files are corrupt. Without a lot more info, it’s impossible to tell.

What version of InDesign? What operating system and where are those PNG files stored?

[timothyl85839792]

They are just placed in a folder on my desktop for now. Some images it picks up fine, others not. I'm on InDesign CC 14.0.1 on MacOS.

I just created new images in that same folder, it's immediately doing the same thing with some of those images but some are fine. A lot of these images I get need to be cropped or other adjustments, so I'll make those adjustments in PS and then resave the files, then place them in InDesign. It works fine the first time but when you reopen InDesign it says there is a broken link.....

[Bill Silbert]

Do all of the PNG files have the .png file suffix at the end of their names?

[timothyl85839792]

Yes, I found a workaround but it's not ideal:

1) Open the .jpeg file

2) Make the adjustments and save as a .png file in folder location

3) Save the file again as a copy .png file in that same folder location

It will then recognize the copy version, but if I do it in any other order it doesn't work........

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Timothy,

Sorry to hear about this issue. Is it happening with all the files or some specific PNGs? Would you mind sharing a sample file, so that we can test it at our end?

Regards,

Srishti

[angelah3826782]

This seems to be a problem as the Creative Cloud software upgrades. I am trying to pen an older design file with multiple links to package and send a client. It will not let me package stating the "png" files are invalid, but most are PSD files. I have tried replacing all files, and it won't let me place several of them, though they are in the same folder they were originally in and are not corrupt, etc. Super frustrated and on a time crunch. Any resolve for this issue? Thanks!

[rob day]

It will not let me package stating the "png" files are invalid

Can you share one of the problem PNGs?

[clarer4061577]

I have this same issue. Files I have previously created (2/3 weeks ago) that I have today come to edit are now packaging due to unrecognised PNG files (previously no issues at all) and I'm also unable to Export to PDF. Images that were previously visible as high resolution in High quality display appear corrupted, but are. visible at typical quality display. I am using creative cloud and have installed the latest version of indesign, still not resolving. Not happy! I've missed deadlines today and am losing income

[clarer4061577]

Some examples of the errors I'm seeing here

[rob day]

Hi @clarer4061577 , can you select one of the problem links in the Links panel and post a capture of the Link Info with the Path info showing—something like this:

Also for the case of the corrupted preview, does it happen if you resave the PNG in Photoshop and turn off InDesign’s GPU Performance preference?

[clarer4061577]

None of the links have errors against them so I can only guess which linked file it is, I'm presuming it is all pngs. Here's an example of a PNG

[clarer4061577]

And here's an example of the file that used to be visible at high quality display and now only visible at typical display

[clarer4061577]

I don't use photoshop. I'm not a designer. I use indesign to create basic documents that look better than powerpoints. I've used indesign for 10 years, and on the occasions that I have had to use png I've not had this issue before. 

[rob day]

Can you expand the Links panel so we can see the full Path? Just want to check if it could be a permissions problem.

[clarer4061577]

This is as much as I can get it to expand

[clarer4061577]

Sorry here it is expanded wider

[clarer4061577]

And this is one of the JPEG images that is no longer visible ini high quality display (but was previously)... I have no other files open and the files are still linked

[rob day]

The path looks ok, maybe try resetting your preferences? Could you share a few of the problem files?

Does your CC subscription include Photoshop? If resetting prefs doesn’t work try installing Photoshop and resaving the .PNGs or a Save As to .PSD format.

[Willi Adelberger]

Why did you choose PNG? If it comes from Photoshop, use PSD instead, if it comes from Illustrator, use AI or PDF instead. I don't see any advantage to use PNG and there are some other reasons I would avoid PNGs in InDesign.

[Phil Kjelland]

sometimes you're working on a hella large psb (because it's too big for psd) and you need to bring it into indesign. png's work great at providing a manageable file size that also supports transparency.

[rob day]

There shouldn’t be a problem linking large format .PSBs at least on OSX where you can drag and drop a .PSB and still get a link proxy. Here is an a 1.8GB .psb placed, and the ID file is only 2mb:

[who denied to be named]

if the psd file is too large, try this script

change the extension of the attachment text to jsx

---------------------------

###Principle
The main principle is actually very simple: delete a large number of 'metadata' in PSD.
Metadata: historical data of file operations. Generally, more than 90% of the capacity of a PDS is occupied by metadata.
can clean the metadata of smart objects and nested smart objects in smart objects. This script can clean the metadata of all smart objects and their descendants with one click.

[clarer4061577]

I created a simple, basic, quick document to give a colleague some instructions via Teams. I quickly screenshot some pages from a larger file and placed them into the indesign doc. The screenshots saved as PNG. In the 10 years I have used indesign I've never had an issue with creating these "quick and simple" docs (when the client needs instructions quickly but has minimal time/ budget) it's only today that I have encountered these issues

[gilesg93274171]

I have had exactly the same issue. Multiple InDesign files I am now opening are not accepting png files which I have used without issue before. I spent an hour with an Adobe support rep yesterday giving her access to my laptop. She kept saying the file was corrupt, but this is every file I open. The only way I've got around this is saving every file as a jpeg or tif and re-importing into the indesign file. Great fun and use of time on an 88 page overview.

What I do know is that this has all happened since upgraded my system software to Mac OS Monterey 12.3.1 a week or so ago.