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Answered

Photoshop file looks pixelated in InDesign

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
April 26, 2017
6 replies
32033 views

Hi,

I am making a book in InDesign CC 2017.1 with illustrations from Photoshop.

When I place the photoshop file into the ID document, the image looks pixelated, but when I export it as a PDF, it looks fine.

I am viewing it with "High Quality Display" selected, but it doesn't help.

How do I get it so it looks like it will when I export it for print?

Here is a screenshot of the pixelated image...

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Willi Adelberger

The display quality doesn't matter for output quality.

Important is:

Is the file linked correctly? (Look into the link panel)
Is the effective resolution high enough? (It is also found in the link panel)
Do you choose the correct PDF export settings?
Does the file has the correct format? If it is a vector file with transparency don't use EPS, use PDF or AI.

J

Jacque25827912b1ke

Participant

When you are in Photoshop, if you can FLATTEN IMAGE in the Layers panel, then your images will not look pixelated when importing to InDesign. If you can only MERGE VISIBLE in the Layers panel, yes, the image will look pixelated when importing to InDesign but will export fine as a PDF and print just fine also.

J

Jacque25827912b1ke

Participant

Question for all of you (not really related to OPs question). When I posted above, my email address is incorrect and uses an old Google email. When I went into my Google account, that old email is nowhere to be found. So odd.

Mohit Goyal

Community Manager

Hi all,

Check out the following article to correct the workflow for moving files from Photoshop to InDesign and resolve the file pixelation issue: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/photoshop-assets-in-indesign.html

Hope it helps,

Thanks,

Mohit

L

LoveGodAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you so much everyone for your input.

I think I have reached the conclusion that, since the pixelation in InDesign does not affect the final product, I should just not worry about it. I hope that Adobe will figure out a easy way around this.

Thanks.

rob day

Community Expert

I hope that Adobe will figure out a easy way around this.

It's not likely to change, the linked proxy method is needed for performance. Imagine a 200 page photobook with full res embedded images. You could easily end up with multi-gigabyte page layouts.

L

LoveGodAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you everyone for your help.

From what I am hearing, it sounds like it is not a problem with my Photoshop or InDesign documents themselves, but it is just how InDesign renders my file, and it can't be fixed.Is this right? Should I just not worry about it? Is there a way so I can at least see my graphic without it being pixelated?

Thanks.

M

Migintosh

Legend

LoveGod wrote
Is there a way so I can at least see my graphic without it being pixelated?

The part of the image that you see in InDesign (the preview) is built from the image, although it isn't actually the image itself. If you really want it to be more clear in InDesign, you could lower the resolution in Photoshop without resampling (very important point) to something like 100ppi. That will necessitate it being scaled down in InDesign to the size you need it to be. The larger the image physically, the more data in the preview, so once it's scaled down, it will be a bit sharper. Make sure you don't resample in Photoshop, or you will be removing data (and detail) from your file. Larger previews will make your InDesign file a bit larger in file size, but if it's just a few images, it probably won't be a problem. But, I wouldn't suggest doing this for a large book with tons of images, because the extra file size could really add up, and a larger file is more likely to fail.

Eternal Warrior

Inspiring

Well... two thoughts... one a suggestion and one a question:

Why are you making illustrations like this in Photoshop rather than Illustrator?

I assume you have Illustrator as you have InDesign as well.

This would be a far better programme for this type of drawing.

The question however is what size is the illustration in Photoshop? (Width x Height x Resolution?)

Also what preview mode in InDesign are you using?

Have you tried using High Quality Display settings?

Right click the image then >

L

LoveGodAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you Eternal Warrior for your help...

I am making the illustrations in Photoshop because

1) I am drawing them with a Wacom pen tablet, which works better in photoshop (and I like the hand-made feel better than the precise lines you get in Illustrator)

2) I bought Illustrator less than a year ago, and haven't had time to really learn it, while I have been working in Photoshop for years.

The illustration is approximately 6 inches square, at 500 pixels per inch.

Thanks so much!

Willi Adelberger

Correct answer

Community Expert

The display quality doesn't matter for output quality.

Important is:

Is the file linked correctly? (Look into the link panel)
Is the effective resolution high enough? (It is also found in the link panel)
Do you choose the correct PDF export settings?
Does the file has the correct format? If it is a vector file with transparency don't use EPS, use PDF or AI.