Prepare images to place in page layout programs

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Prepare images to place in page layout programs

How To Tip:

Prepare images to place in page layout programs.

How you prepare an image for a page layout program depends upon the file formats the program recognizes:

Adobe InDesign 2.0 and later can place Photoshop PSD files. You do not need to save or export your Photoshop image to a different file format. Transparent areas display and print as expected.
Adobe PageMaker 7.0 and later can place Photoshop PSD files. However, transparent areas display and print as white unless you define those areas using a clipping path. (See Use a clipping path to create transparency.)
Most other page layout programs require you to save the image as a TIFF or EPS file. However, if the image contains areas you want fully transparent, you must first define those areas using a clipping path. Check the documentation for your page layout program to determine the best format for importing Photoshop images.

If the page layout program cannot place Photoshop PSD files, follow these steps:

If your image contains a transparent background or areas that you want to be transparent, create a clipping path around the opaque areas of the image. Even if you have deleted the background around the image, you must define the area with a clipping path before converting the file to TIFF or EPS. Otherwise, areas that are transparent may print as white in the page layout program. (See Use a clipping path to create transparency.)
Choose File > Save As.
In the Save As dialog box, choose the appropriate format from the Format menu. The format you choose depends upon the final output for the document. For printing to non-PostScript printers, choose TIFF. For printing to PostScript printers, choose Photoshop EPS. Then click Save.
In the TIFF Options or EPS Options dialog box, set the options as noted below. Leave any remaining options at their default setting, and click OK.

TIFF Options dialog box: set Image Compression to None.
EPS Options dialog box (Windows): set Preview to TIFF (8 bits/pixel) and Encoding to ASCII85.
EPS Options dialog box (Mac OS): set Preview to Mac (8 bits/pixel) and Encoding to ASCII85.

If the layout program displays transparent areas as white, try printing the document. Some layout programs do not display clipping paths properly but print them as expected.