Uploading image files to Indesign - pixelating for no reason

[RayStarBooks]

Hi there please can someone help me, I'm trying to create a book cover dust jacket and I have the design that I've pre made on Canva and I'm uploading to Indesign page by page for print use.

However, when I upload the files whether in PDF JPEG or PNG - they transfer onto Idesign as pixilated (I'm printing to a hard back demy size 216mm by 135mm) but the files themselves  on any other app / device etc are fine, it's only when I try to use them on Idesign. They're large enough to print to much larger than the size I need. Please can someone help me I cannot work out where im going wrong. 

[Eugene Tyson]

Indesign only shows a proxy image - not the actual image.

Why not just create the cover in InDesign? That's what it's for...

Anyway - I wrote an article here

https://creativepro.com/high-res-image-look-low-res/

It explains what to look out for.

[RayStarBooks]

Super helpful reply thank you - I wasn't aware the preview wasn't accurate, I'm the least tech savvy person on the planet so I use Canva for ease as it's so easy to use but it doesn't have a dust jacket option so I had to download Idesign to create the actual file but I haven't a clue how to use it and I need the file in a quick turn around. This has helped, Thankyou! 🙂 

[Willi Adelberger]

1. Upload? What do you mean?
2. Did you place the original image via File > Place…? Use PDF or PSD, no PNG.
3. Do you mean with pixelation the preview inside InDesign? What is your preview quality in InDesign?
4. How is the quality, when you export to PDF?
5. Do you print out of InDesign or do you export to PDF first and print out from Acrobat? You should always first export and print from Acrobat (and no other PDF Viewer Program).

[RayStarBooks]

Really helpful thank you I didn't think to export and check quality prior I assumed what was on screen was the image quality, I'll try that before I reply incase all is fine and I posted this for no reason - which is likely! (Only downloaded Idesign today) 

[RayStarBooks]

Yep it's exports fine - what a Wally! Thank you!

[Jumpenjax]

Hi, RaystarBooks

Do you have photoshop? If so open up your artwork and increase the ppi or resolution to see if that works. But if you are using Canva that tells me you probably do not have photoshop. I do not work in Canva but if that is what you have, is there a way to  raise the resolution in Canva, that is my would be my next choice. I hope one of those work for you