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naturescape_peopletecture
Participating Frequently
July 31, 2018
Answered

Load Files into a Stack - Resolution Loss

  • July 31, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 1166 views

I thought I found a faster way to overlay multiple PDFs in Photoshop via "Load Files into a Stack" from the File > Scripts menu. It does a perfect job aligning the files but I am realizing that I am loosing a lot of resolution when it's finished. Like 300 dpi to 72 dpi.

Is there anyway to maintain the resolution of my PDFs when put into a stack?  The PDFs are 300dpi. I cannot find a way to manage resolution in the process.

Maybe i'm using this for all the wrong purposes.  Any input would be appreciated.

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Correct answer c.pfaffenbichler

Like 300 dpi to 72 dpi.

A quick test seems to indicate that Load Files into Stack simply uses the resolution set the last time a pdf was imported »manually«.

So try opening a non-Photoshop pdf with Photoshop, setting the intended resolution in the »Import PDF« dialog, OK that and then try Load Files Into Stack again – is the resulting file’s resolution as intended?

An image’s resolution is given in ppi, not dpi.

3 replies

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 1, 2018

Like 300 dpi to 72 dpi.

A quick test seems to indicate that Load Files into Stack simply uses the resolution set the last time a pdf was imported »manually«.

So try opening a non-Photoshop pdf with Photoshop, setting the intended resolution in the »Import PDF« dialog, OK that and then try Load Files Into Stack again – is the resulting file’s resolution as intended?

An image’s resolution is given in ppi, not dpi.

naturescape_peopletecture
Participating Frequently
August 1, 2018

Hooray!  That did the trick c.paffenbichler!

Very helpful. Much appreciated!

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 1, 2018
I thought I found a faster way to overlay multiple PDFs in Photoshop

What do you need to do this for?

How were the pdfs created originally?

If they were pixel images to begin with what were their pixel dimensions and what are the pixel dimensions of the resulting file?

JJMack
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 1, 2018

PDF files can be very complex and the way Photoshop opens a PDF is not a simple open its mora an import. PDF can contain many pages, images and 3d objects.  Photoshop can scale pages when opening(importing)  a pdf into documents.  Different Documents can have different sizes and resolutions.   I have no Idea how the script Load Files into a stack would handle PDF files or what size  and resolution the Document will be that all files are stacked into.  A document has a single resolution and some Canvas size.  Layers can be any size but in a document all layers have the same resolution as the document.   I would think Load files into a stack may have problems dealing with PDF files.  I have onle uses Automate PDF Presentation to save Acrobat PDF fullscreen presentation.  PDF is not a file type I normally process and save with Photoshop. IMO a PDF is not  an image file there more a multi page print document not a Photoshop file more a Acrobat document.   I have never save a PDF using Photoshop  and have no idea of what PDF save options are available.   I look at Adobe documentation.

Wow so many options where does one begin?

JJMack