Expert: Ken Black - 11/25/2008

Question
Hi there -
Can Indesign print photos of the same quality as Photoshop?I have an issue where an image prints differently in Photoshop vs. Indesign.  The image has been sized in Photoshop (400ppi), placed into an Indesign document (File->Place), and CS3 claims it has consistent color management across all apps. My monitor has been calibrated, etc.  I'm choosing the correct paper type/icc profile, (although I can't find options for black point compensation and rendering intent in Indesign).  In any case, the Indesign print looks worse -  darker, colors a little different, and perhaps lower resolution.  I've changed the screen display to High res, I've tried placing .tiffs and .psds, all with limited success.  
Does Indesign change images when they are imported, is this an InDesign printing configuration I am missing, or do I need to live with the fact that Indesign prints won't match my Photoshop prints?

Answer
Hi Alberto,

Your output should be the same between photoshop and indesign if your color management is consistent.

Check to see that something isn't being changed within the print settings of Indesign. Be sure that images are not being downsampled under Graphics and that you have the correct profiles in use under color management. Anything that conflicts with the way you are outputting from photoshop here will give you unwanted results.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com