InDesign to Photoshop to InDesign

[KevinGrandison]

Hello!

I'm fairly new to ExtendScript but figuring it out as I go along. I'd like to know if it's possible for two different apps to communicate with each other and pass along data.

Specifically, I want to be able to select an image frame in InDesign, have it sent to Photoshop with the dimensions of the frame, crop the original image to the image frame, export and relink the InDesign source to the newly cropped image. I assume this is a tall ask, so I'd just like some help with the overall syntax for communicating from one CC app to another.

Thanks!

[Kukurykus]

Try with BridgeTalk() that works between Photoshop and Bridge. I never tried between other Adobe applications, but it may work. To get know how to use it read 'Javascript Tools Guide' you find in 'Menu' bookmark of ExtendScript ToolKit.

[Chuck Uebele]

Yes, that can be done with BridgeTalk, as Kukurykus stated, but my question would be why you would want to do that? When working in ID, I like to have my images a bit oversized, so that if I need to change the aspect ratio of the graphic frame, I have some image to play with. I did write a script for ID that allows me to create and place a photo based on the page's column width, then it adds a caption text box. So here's an example:

Page before image placed:

Script bring up dialog to choose image:

UI box to select position of image, width (height is proportional to image aspect ratio, but that could be altered), and height of caption frame.

Image Placed:

You could most likely just write a script where you select a graphic frame, it could then just place an image in it, and have the fitting fill the frame. Then you could fine tune the size or crop of the image, once in ID.