Expert: Roy Wilhelm - 2/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi - I have created a shape in adobe photoshop that I would like to use in In Design. I created the shape in photoshop because I wanted to warp the shape to give it curves which I couldn't figure out how to do in ID. Now I would like to use the shape with all the effects I've applied to it in ID. The only problem is that when I drag it into ID, the edges of the shape are all jagged and blurry. My Photoshop doc is 300 dpi so I don't know why the image quality is coming in so bad into ID. I tried saving my shape as a JPEG and then using the "place" command in ID but the image still comes in blurry - why is this happening?

Thank you!

ANSWER: Okay, this is fairly simple to address so long as your image is hi-resolution as you say it is. Continue to use the Place command for getting images and graphics into ID. If you drag or paste images and graphics into ID, it will embed them directly in the file resulting in a very large document file size. Placing the images allows ID to create a reference link to the file and keep the actual graphic or image outside of the document. So in effect, the ACTUAL image or graphic is never really in the ID file. On that note, you'll want to make a habit of not moving your graphic and image files around to different folders and definitely don't change the names of file. Doing so will cause ID to lose track of your placed image. If you're familiar with building websites, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Now to address the display issues you're having. When you paste or place image in ID, the program creates a rasterized display image for you solely for the purpose of allowing you to see the image. By default, ID sets this display image at a low resolution to make navigating around the document happen more smoothly. (ID has to render your layout on the screen and hi-res images take longer to render). You can change the display settings for each image you place by going to View > Display Performance > High Quality Display. Just below that option, you'll notice an option for "Allow Object-level Display Settings." If that is checked, you can have some images display as low-res and others as hi-res. In that case, you'll have to adjust object-level display settings by selecting the image and going to Object > Display Performance > High Quality Display.


Roy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That worked perfect - thankyou! Just one follow up question...

My shape does an S curve along the bottom, but of course it imported as a rectangle, so now it has all this white space attached to it. Can I get rid of the white space so that the white space doesn't hide layers I have underneath my shape? Thanks

Answer
Glad to help!

There are two ways to do this, one quick, and one a bit more time-consuming. The method you choose may depend on whether the shapes/objects or background behind the image you've placed is white.

Method 1:
Simply use the pen tool to create a shape that matches the S-curve of your placed image. Then apply a Text Wrap (the third choice: "Wrap around Object Shape".) to the S-curve shape you created.

Again, if the issue you're up against is also that the white space in your placed image is covering other shapes or backgrounds, you'll want to use the following method.

Method 2:
(Depends on your comfort-level with Photoshop). Either erase or mask out the white background in your original Photoshop image file. Save the file as a PSD or a TIFF and be sure to "include transparent background" or "Include Transparency." Save. Now, go back to ID and open the "Links" palette. Find your image and select the "Update Link" icon at the bottom of the palette window. Apply a Text Wrap to the image using the "Wrap around Object Shape" option. ID should automatically pick up the transparent background in your original PS file and wrap text around its natural shape. If it's not working, Go to Object > Clipping Path > Options, and select the "Photoshop Channel" from the menu.

Hope this helps!