Output problems for print shop?

[Lessa]

Hi - I have 9 InDesign docs with a total of 350+ photos in them. Some photos are 3.5" tall, some are 1.5" tall. Problem is, the tiffs are all mixed together. So, I was thinking of running a Photoshop batch on everything to make them 3.5" tall (they're all at least that big now). Then I'd shrink down the ones that need it to 1.5" when I import into Indesign.

Is this going to be a major problem to output? should I make the effort to pick out the different sizes and size them in photoshop? It's a lot more work.

 

[texasjoe]

It will only be a problem if file size is an issue with your printer.

If you make them all "actual size" in Photoshop before placing them in InD, then you will wind up with a smaller PDF than if you make them all the "large" size and scale half of them down in InD.

I have been told there is a way to utilize Acrobat to reduce file size by downsampling images or something like that, but I don't know enough about Acrobat yet to do this, or give instructions to someone else. As a result, I end up spending a lot of time in Photoshop downsizing photos to actual size, instead of the larger original size. But I have found this extra step for each photo will make PDFs a great deal smaller than if I just scaled down images in InD.

Good luck!

Joe

 

[Lessa]

Not using Acrobat. I'm sending the whole file. But I don't want the printer charging extra if they're going to do that step.

 

[jmgalvin]

You do not have to do anything. If you size the frames for the tiffs to a certain size in ID, you can select the placeholder and tell ID to fit the images to the size of the frame - Object menu/Fitting/Fit content to frame. Make sure that you keep the length/height to the correct proprtion so as not to distort.

I have to do this very regualrly with eps logos that repeat at variuos sizes throughout docs. Rather than have all different sizes, I just use the biggest and tell ID to resize down at other locations in the doc. I have never had any print problems.

 

[texasjoe]

Yes, if you are sending the file, the fonts and all the linked files, then it shouldn't be an issue at all. Follow jmgalvin's advice, and you'll definitely save some time.

Many printers prefer PDF because it saves them time on their end, but hopefully your printer won't charge extra for getting a "package" of files instead of just one.

Good luck!

 

[signal49]

I work at a print shop and I scale my images in the layout *all* the time without any problems. I've only seen that problem once in about 5 years, so you're probably OK to leave them alone. But you could ask your printer about it just to be on the safe side.

 

[Lessa]

Thanks. I think they're just going to have to deal with scaled images. It's too much work otherwise.