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Strange InDesign bug when importing TIFF file with Alpha channel

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
September 28, 2021
6 replies
5293 views

There is an application, Solid Works, that can export documents in TIFF and PSD file formats and preserve transparency. I can open the file using Adobe Photoshop, Mac OS Preview, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Pixelmator Pro and Illustrator. All of them shows a perfect transparent backgroud.

BUT when placing the image into InDesign, it not only does not recognize transparency, BUT creates a shadow background that seems real.

Sure its a problem with the TIFF format created by Solid Works, because I can simply open the file with Photoshop and save it again, and then it works perfect. But my client has thousands of TIFF files that work in all the software EXCEPT InDesign.

I'm using latest version of InDesign CC2021 in different Macs, and all of them ignores the alpha channel.

PRUEBA_TIF.zip

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Correct answer BobLevine

You're making the mistake of thinking Photoshop and Illustrator work the same as InDesign.

They don't. That's not to say it's not a bug, but it's not going to get fixed any time soon even if it is. But the only way to start is to report it here: Adobe InDesign (uservoice.com)

rob day

Community Expert

There is an application, Solid Works, that can export documents in TIFF and PSD file formats and preserve transparency.

Hi Javier, Do PSDs saved out of Solid Works also have the transparency problem? One of the reasons I avoid saving TIFFs even out of Photoshop, is there is an explicit Transparency setting in the save options dialog—PSDs automatically include transparency:

rob day

Community Expert

Just realized this thread is from last year.

W

weird-fishes

Participating Frequently

is it possible for you to get .png files in the future? indesign can use these files pulled directly out of solidworks and composer for me when tiff does not.

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

You write that the software can makes PSD as well. What happens if you use the PSD for InDesign?

Jumpenjax

Community Expert

I agree with Willie and Bob. Also, is it necessary to have it saved as an alpha channel? Another thought, can it be saved without a shadow from Solidworks? Then you could drop the white in InDesign.

Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer

Javier Gómez LaínezAuthor

Inspiring

Hi Jumpenjax.

Of course I can always use the workaround they suggest (I'm already batch converting the images simply by opening and saving again with a simple Photoshop action), but the "problem" is that InDesign does not directly support the placement of TIFF images with alpha channel exported from Solid Works, when any other imaging software I've tried do (from Adobe and from third companies, Windows and Mac and Linux) and also all kind of applications that can place or import an image, as Microsoft Word or Apple Pages.

So, I'm sure its more a faulty application (InDesign) than a faulty file format.

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

I don't think it's a bug - but rather that the SolidWorks the way it saves transparency is not compatible with InDesign.

You can make a feature request here

https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

What I'd suggest also would be to see if the person supplying the images has any other options for exporting images as TIF. Perhaps changing compression setttings or something else.

Running a batch as @BobLevine suggests is a great option - and running a batch on thousands of images is something I used to do regularly - and it doesn't take long at all.

Maybe also ask SolidWorks what is going on?

Javier Gómez LaínezAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks for your reply, Eugen, but I do think it's a bug because Adobe Pohotoshop and Adobe Illustrator can open the file with its transparent content (as do all the other non adobe image processing apps). Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop pertain to the same suite, Creative Suite, and for me it makes no sense if there is no 100% file compatibility between these 3 apps. If the TIFF file is wrong/bad formatted or whatever the problem, then Illustrator and Photoshop would complain. But they do open the file as intended, and only InDesign is blind to the alpha channel.

BobLevine

Correct answer

Community Expert

You're making the mistake of thinking Photoshop and Illustrator work the same as InDesign.

They don't. That's not to say it's not a bug, but it's not going to get fixed any time soon even if it is. But the only way to start is to report it here: Adobe InDesign (uservoice.com)

John Mensinger

Community Expert

BUT when placing the image into InDesign, it not only does not recognize transparency, BUT creates a shadow background that seems real.

Can you post a screenshot of that?

When you Place, is Show Import Options enabled?

Javier Gómez LaínezAuthor

Inspiring

Attached the import options dialog box and the aspect of the image once placed in InDesign. Also screenshot of the same image placed in an Illustrator document. The Illustrator Screenshot also shows that the transparency is recognized because there is a red circle behind.

BobLevine

Community Expert

Well, you could run a Photoshop action on them.

Javier Gómez LaínezAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks for you reply, Bob. That's what we are currently doing, but its a mess of file versions: the original and the "good one". My client do not understand why InDesign can't open a file that any other program can correctly open, so they state that "it's my problem if InDesign is broken". The ideal solution:

InDesign can correctly import the file with its transparency
or Solid Works can export a tif that InDesign understands (but Solid Works statates that their files are good, and can prove it with any software other than InDesign)

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