Inner glow effect using transparence instead of paper color?

[Chris201Chris]

I have a graphic created in InDesign which I would like to save as a png, with a transparent background in order for it to be used on slightly shaded backgrounds. In this I would like to use the inner glow effect on a photo, but when I export this as png, the background is transparent, but the inner glow (with "paper color") is saved with the glow being white and not transparent. Is it possible to create this effect with transparent?

[Barb Binder]

This is an unusual use of InDesign, which is designed to handle document layout: brochures, flyers, reports, etc. What are you doing with this png? Where is it going next?

Do you have access to Photoshop or Illustrator, which are more commonly used to create graphics? If not, please share a screenshot of what you're doing so we can get a clear understanding.

~Barb

[Chris201Chris]

It is because I have the design in InDesign (in a document with several pages) and want to keep it there, but create snapshots that I use on another background. Will the behaviour be different (i.e. the inner glow be transparent and not white) if I create a pdf or to be printed on e.g. paper of various shades (which I guess might be a more usual way of using indesign)?

Here is an example (in the middle and right photo I have used inner glow and in the left feather - I prefer the inner glow effect and would prefer this)

[Steve Werner]

I'll agree with @Barb Binder: InDesign is not the program in which to create a photographic image. It's like using a hammer to cut wood. It's the wrong tool for the job.

If you can't afford Photoshop, pick a less expensive image editor lile Affinity Photo or Photoshop Elements.

[Chris201Chris]

I have photoshop, but want to use an illustration I created in indesign - and as the indesign design might evolve over time I want the "conversion" for use in my other project to be as simple as possible - i.e. if I move the whole design to photoshop and make adjustments there, I fear it will be a bit of an omnious (if that is the correct word) task to redo frequently after each update of my indesign project.

[leo.r]

You mentioned that you used "the inner glow (with "paper color")". Did you try a normal color (not [Paper])? [Paper] is a non-printable color just to visually simulate the look of the target paper (and possibly for other special purposes), not sure it's suitable for various image effects.

[Chris201Chris]

The problem is that I don't want any color for the glow - I want the paper to shine thru (so in reality I want it to be transparent...).

[leo.r]

The problem is that I don't want any color for the glow - I want the paper to shine thru (so in reality I want it to be transparent...).

By @Chris201Chris

So you want the area of the image where the glow is applied to be transparent.

I'm sure that bigger experts on the subject will correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you can achieve it in InDesign. Or at least it's not trivial and will require some advanced trickery. You need Photoshop for this.

(Once again I might be wrong but I wouldn't know how to do this in InDesign).

[leo.r]

P.S. Oh and it looks like you're under impression that 'the inner glow (with "paper color")' created by you is transparent in InDesign. It's not.