Pictures get pixilated after saving as PDF print

[majan88678872]

Hi,

Every time I do a project for a big roll up, my pictures comes out pixilated. they are 300 dpi.

For some reason the graphic designers I use are able to use the images I use, but without that happening to their work. What am I doing wrong?

I export with no downsampling, maximum picture quality. etc.

[Derek Cross]

Check the Effective PPI in the InDesign Links Panel – for a banner (to be viewed from a distance) it should be around 150PPI.

[majan88678872]

Ahh! Mine says 30 effective PPI...

[Derek Cross]

30PPI is much too low, you need to get a high resolution copy of your original image (the format won't make ant difference).

[majan88678872]

But how come the graphic designers have been able to use a picture with an actual PPI of 72 and effective PPI of 64, for a project that measured 3 meters x 3 meters? When I exported that file it came out pixilated. When they exported it, it came out perfect.

[BobLevine]

3 meters by 3 meters in many cases only requires 50 ppi or so. It’s not like anyone’s going to be standing right in front of it view it.

[majan88678872]

Okay. But the picture is pretty damm crisp up close.

[Bill Silbert]

What kind of image files are you importing into InDesign and how are you importing them. Also keep in mind that 300 ppi images only retain that resolution if used at 100% of size. If you enlarge them your resolution goes down.

[majan88678872]

I have tried different formats, PNG, JPEG, PSD

[Bill Silbert]

majan88678872  wrote

I have tried different formats, PNG, JPEG, PSD

What steps did you take to import the images? If you altered their size either in Photoshop or InDesign, please relate how you did that.

[majan88678872]

I marked the area with the frame tool, went to edit, place, chose my file, pressed ok. Pressed fill frame proportional.

[Bill Silbert]

OK. But did you resize the images after placing them?

[majan88678872]

Well they resize when i press fill frame.

[Derek Cross]

That’s why you need a larger image (or enlarge it in Photoshop).

[Eugene Tyson]

I wrote a lengthy post here explaining why images appear pixelated

https://indesignsecrets.com/high-res-image-look-low-res.php