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Carrie1674
Participating Frequently
September 22, 2020
Question

InDesign JPG exports as wrong DPI

  • September 22, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1703 views
When I export a full page JPG from InDesign the settings aren't applying. I typically export the file as a CMYK 300 dpi file. When I open the file in Photoshop, it says the file is 300 dpi. But when I open the file in Preview, the file is 72 dpi. My developer using it in the background says it's importing at 72 dpi in his 3rd party document composition software as well. Any ideas why or if this is a bug?

 

 

 

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3 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 22, 2020

Also, you can change the size back to 8.5 x 11 in the Preview app and resave (but an exported PDF would be better). Works the same as PS, just uncheck Resample:

 

 

 

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Carrie1674Author
Participating Frequently
September 23, 2020

Yes, I'm taking this extra step now. Just confused why InDesign gives an option to export at 300 ppi if not all readers open it as 300ppi. 

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Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 23, 2020

Probably because expor to JPEG is an option designed for the web.

So you can export it as 300 ppi - but it increases the dimensions of the pixels - so the PPI is set to 72 ppi for the web.

You just need to change the dimensions to 300 to get the width and height correct.

 

What you're using it for is not what it was designed for - and I'd imagine it was a software engineers decision to have it work that way. 

 

You can request a feature here https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

 

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 22, 2020

    Im not seeing the same when I compare the exported JPEG in the two apps with no changes.

     

    Are you by any chance resaving from Photoshop via Save For Web?

     

    Photoshp’s Save for Web removes the output dimension metadata, which isn’t needed for the web—the resolution will be 72ppi, and the output dimensions are scaled up proportioanlly.

     

    The export opened in PS

     

     

    The export opened directly into Apple’s Preview v10

     

    Resaved via Photoshop’s Save for Web and opened into Preview

     

    C
    Carrie1674Author
    Participating Frequently
    September 22, 2020

    I'm using the Command+E shortcut to export as JPEG. Also, RGB files export correctly. CMYK does not?

    C
    Carrie1674Author
    Participating Frequently
    September 22, 2020

    The document is set up for Print and I'm choosing this option: 

     

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 22, 2020

    What is the Effective PPI of your image in InDesign?

    By the way, the correct term is PPI for images -- DPI is for printer resolution.

    You should normally have your images in RGB color mode.

    C
    Carrie1674Author
    Participating Frequently
    September 22, 2020

    We are a printing company. So I always export as CMYK at 300ppi. The image is imported into another piece of software, where dynamic data is overlaid on top of the background image. I'm unsure why when I specify I want 300 ppi for my file, it would open as 72 in non-Adobe software?

    John Mensinger
    Community Expert
    John MensingerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 23, 2020

     

    [remarks removed by moderator]

     

     

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