How to import a PSD file into Indesign WITH layers so it can be edited/saved as an InDesign file?

[Guest]

How to import a Photoshop file into Indesign CS6 so that it's layers show in InDesign and it can then be edited/saved as an InDesign file?

[BobLevine]

That is not even remotely possible.

Bob

[Peter Spier]

Bob Levine wrote:

That is not even remotely possible.

Bob

Depends on what he means by edited and saved as an InDesign file...

If you Place (File > Place...) a layered .psd file you cannot edit the pixels, but you can show or hide inidvidual layers (Right click on it and choose Object Layer Options...). You can then save your document as a .indd file with a linked image.

[Guest]

Just wondering if it's possible to bring the Photoshop file into InDesign so that all the layers are visible under the layers panel in addition to visually being visible in the Placed file.

It doesn't need to be edited again in InDesign but all of the separate layers need to be made visible under the layers panel on the right side similar to how they show in Photoshop.

[Peter Spier]

No, that's not possible. A placed image is a single object on a single layer. Best you can do is the layer visibility as outlined above.

[Guest]

Okay, thank you.

Someone had mentioned the possibility of saving each individual layer in Photoshop as a png file and importing into Indesign and adjusting it in there - does that sound possible? I'm quite new with the programs so just trying to figure out my options before havnig to resort to completely re-doing the project.

[Steve Werner]

You can't adjust images in InDesign, you just can't. (Only tiny exception, you can colorize non-transparent grayscale or B/W images.)

[Peter Spier]

MyTienN wrote:

Someone had mentioned the possibility of saving each individual layer in Photoshop as a png file and importing into Indesign and adjusting it in there

What do you mean by "adjust"? Editing of Photoshop images should be done in Photoshop.

Sure, it's possible to save individual layers from an image in Photoshop as inidvidual files in a variety of formats, but what's the point? You could just as easily import the layered file, then copy/paste it into a new layer for each layer in the image and use layer visibility to control which ones show. I don't think that will do you a lot of good, though, if you use adjustment layers or opacity controls on the layer in Photoshop.

[Willi Adelberger]

What you can do, is to place a PSD or PDF several times on the same place but when importing (or later in Object Layer Settings) to select only one layer for each placement. So each layer is placed as a seperate image.

I thnk it should be possible to script this.

A layerd file from psd cannot be coloured in InDesign as it is possible with 1-bit or greyscale images without layers.

[beexsting82]

Honestly Bob, that's the way I need to be spoken to in these types of situations. Respect. 

[Matteo Grander]

I disagree, as answers like this don't contribute at all to people finding a solution that works for them.

Additionally, language isn't an exact science and massive misunderstandings can arise from either bad writing by the person asking, or bad reading comprehension on the part of the person asking. (both of which I've come across countless times.)

For example, I have comic panels as photoshop layers, which I want to adjust to an additional alternative layout.

I would argue that answers such as "that's not what InDesign is for" are bogus in such a case, as this is clearly a matter of layout.

And insisting panels be redrawn for an alternative layout is nonsensical.

[Matteo Grander]

I am currently using multiple instances of the linked Photoshop file, with layers hidden or shown, but this seems a suboptimal solution.

[tabrez1215]

It should be...as psd layers support in illustrator. Otherwise Adobe should do something and work on it.

[Willi Adelberger]

tabrez1215 schrieb:

It should be...as psd layers support in illustrator. Otherwise Adobe should do something and work on it.

No, it should not be, as InDesign is a layout application and has a complete different target to work with. Layers in Photoshop are different than InDesign layer or Illustrator Layers. Opening a PSD file in Illustrator can keep the layers alive, but not under all circumstances, in many cases you have to choose between single layers or the correct appearance, both is often impossible.

InDesign allows you to use Photoshop's Layer Composition and you can place the same file several times with different Layer Composition settings.

In InDesign (and Illustrator) a layer can contain different types of content, in Photoshop not (except Smart Objects, but these are united as one single layer there).

In InDesign you can have Objects with different color spaces even on the same layer, in Photoshop not.

I think there is no need to have this in InDesign as it would cause more problem than advantages.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

PSD Layers ae supported in Illustrator, but there's no way I know of to get to those Layers individually. If there is, please enlighten us.

[Erinb.Kelly · Accepted solution]

UPDATE: I found an answer to this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh71QTBN1D0

Basically you can create a dynamic link between photoshop and indesign. Place your layered photoshop document on the indesign document, and if you want to make changes to the placed PSD file, you can alt (or option) > double click on the psd file on Indesign, and that will bring up Photoshop. Make desired change, and save and the psd file will automatically update in indesign (yay! Anything is possible!)