Importing transparent pictures into indesign???

[emkemner]

Is there a way to import photos with a transparrent back ground into indesign? every time i import the pictures it puts a bounding box around the graphics. I need my photos to keep there transparency.
If not possible what program should i be using for this?
I'm on mac osx panther, using indesign cs
also my background is 300dpi and my images are 1200dpi so as far as i know photoshop wont work to keep 2 different res's.
any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[jimoblak]

Can you describe what you mean by 'bounding box'? Is this simply a blue line around the frame? If so, this is easily turned off with the 'View' menu->'Hide Frame Edges'.

What format of image are you using for transparency?

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[AdobeTim]

I'd recommend you use .psd files. You should have no problems maintaining trasparency that you create in Photoshop.

 

[emkemner]

It's not just a bounding box it's a white back ground that is being created behind the image when i import it. I've tryed tiff files and psd files both formats end up with a white background even when the file has no back ground in photoshop.

 

[jimoblak]

Are you saying that you see a transparency checkerboard in the background in Photoshop?

Are you viewing the image in InDesign with 'high quality display'?

Do you see the white background on screen only, in print only, or both?

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[emkemner]

In photoshop I created the image with no background. (yes i see a checkerboard background) When i place the photo into illustrator or indesign it has a white background (no transparency what so ever) with indesing I swicthed to high res preview still no transparency. Also no transparency when i export to pdf. not sure what im doing wrong.

 

[emkemner]

Ok i figured this out but it wasnt anything like i was thinking. I had to use adobe image clipping paths to create the transparency. Not just a transparent image. Basicaly in photoshop go to Help>Export Transparent image. This is an interactive wizard that helps you prepare images with transparency for export to a pagelayout applications. Suposably indesign wont read clipping paths from .tiff or .psd files. This wizard actualy creates .eps files with transparency. Not sure if this would work the same on windows but works good on mac osx.

 

[jimoblak]

it wasnt anything like i was thinking.

Keep thinking. What you found is not really anything new... the image with the clipped path is suited for Quark, PageMaker or InDesign - - - but it still does not make use of InDesign's new transparency features. Although I am stumped why you are having trouble, I would hope that you persist to find a way to place a PSD file.

The transparency features of InDesign allow you to have soft edges on your PSD files. Clipping paths only allow hard edges.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[emkemner]

I see what your saying. I'm not sure why i'm having problems with the psd files my self. I'm gonna keep trying though, I think it would give a cleaner look with soft edges. Even though the banner wont be veiwed any closer than 15 feet by anyone but me and the printer. I would still like it to be a little more crisp.

Thank you for all of your help it's much appreciated.

 

[tad1952]

I tried a few tests, but I can't seem to mimic your problem. I even tried dragging & dropping a psd file & it still came in as a transparent background. Are you sure you are actually saving the image as photoshop file and not something else?

I am currently creating a series of signs for our zoo. I placed psd files of the animal heads with transparent backgrounds and added a drop shadow in InDesign. It works perfectly and the transparency shows up in both typical and high res. The images have been placed on a variety of backgrounds and images. I love the soft edges - particularly on the fur & feathers.

I am working in CS - Panther at home & Jaguar at work.

 

[emkemner]

Ok I have no idea what I was doing wrong but i tried again after reading everyones reply's over again today and it worked with no problem. I must have tryed 100 times when i posted this and it wouldnt work now it works fine. Just strange.

 

[monbro]

Its Easy. object ---> clipping path ----> detect edges

 

[Carolr321]

Is this subject still open? I have a similiar issue. I import a tranparant gif or psd, tilt 3 degrees. Everything looks great in In design. I export as a pdf and a white dashed bounding box appears.Sure I could use clipping paths but it does look as good as a transparency. I've imported the same transparency into a different page and had it work fine. I have a hunch it's an INDD known issue and a magic series of actions solves the problem. Anyone know what that is?

 

[jimoblak]

Carol, you need to describe your set-up. What type of PDF are you exporting? What version of Acrobat are you viewing this in?

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[Carolr321]

Interesting, Using In Design CS 3.0 I was exporting as Acrobat 4 compatiblity thinking it would open viewing to more users. When I changed it to Acrobat 6 the box dissapeared. I doesn't quite explain why the older composition works with the transparency but it has solved the problem.

 

[jimoblak]

Your Acrobat 6 settings retain the transparency effects so the problem appears solved until someone with Acrobat 4 needs to view the PDF file.

When exporting to Acrobat 4, InDesign flattens the effects. You may want to adjust the flattening output and/or use the Flattener preview to adjust for Acrobat 4.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[bigdaddykraven]

Hey guys, I work at a lab and we encountered the same problem. I joined because I found the solution. Not sure if it's the same for the problem you are having but I'd wager it is.

Once you save the image...(I'm using tiff in this situation but it worked in PSD). When going to save, you get the compression information. I had to make sure the little Presever Transparency thing was click on the bottom in Photoshop and it worked fine from there...

If you don't click that, you'll still see it transparent in Photoshop when you open it there, but for some reason it won't transfer over unless you hit that box...something I missed and you may have too.