5 Replies Latest reply: Mar 31, 2011 5:03 PM by Canned Pug RSS

    layering images outside ID -vs- within ID

    Canned Pug Community Member

      HI,

       

      Are there any appreciable differences between layering 2 images with drop shads in PS, flattening, then importing into ID as one file, and importing 2 images into ID and creating drop shads there, in terms of:

       

      1. print quality

      2. drop shad transparency

      3. sizing

      4. total size of files?

       

      I've always wondered if it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other, as we're just working with numbers on the front end or the back end...2+2 always = 4?

       

      thenk you...

        • 1. Re: layering images outside ID -vs- within ID
          Stix Hart Community Member

          As far as size goes there's so many variables here the only way for you to get the right answer is to test it yourself.  Try both and compare it.  As far as print quality goes both would be fine although if you knew what you were doing you could probably get more control over a drop shadow in Photoshop.  And totally unsure what you mean by "drop shad transparency".  If saved in the right format both would have a transparent drop shadow.

          • 2. Re: layering images outside ID -vs- within ID
            Canned Pug Community Member

            yes, you're right about the trans..ack!  and I'm thinking that though 

            I had had a few pieces of text done in PS, If I do them in ID the 

            printing will always be clearer as they're vector. so to get the best 

            possible, I need to piecemeal ID text over PS images...the drop shads 

            seem to be the same.

             

            thanks for your input Stix. (R U a drummer?)

            • 3. Re: layering images outside ID -vs- within ID
              Stix Hart Community Member

              With a very few exceptions always do text in Indesign.

               

              And no, but as a kid I was skinny...!

              • 4. Re: layering images outside ID -vs- within ID
                afsdfasg Community Member

                InD gives you more flexibility. You can size and crop the image however you like, even use the same image in multiple crops and have the shadow assigned with a style.

                 

                If you do it in Ps, then the shadow scales with the image and you can't crop it.

                 

                Also, if you don't flatten in Ps (as you are doing), then a multiplied shadow will not multiply over an InD background. ie drop shadow will appear as grey over a coloured background, instead of as a darker version of the colour...

                 

                Unless you are bringing all images in at the same scale, never cropping and don't need to blend with page elements, then Ps shadow workflow is too limiting.

                • 5. Re: layering images outside ID -vs- within ID
                  Canned Pug Community Member

                  Also, if you don't flatten in Ps (as you are doing), then a multiplied shadow will not multiply over an InD background. ie drop shadow will appear as grey over a coloured background, instead of as a darker version of the colour...

                  Well, I was flattening, but I do it over a transparent layer and save it as a Tif was saved transparency....I'm probably going the long way around.

                   

                  Is it going to be grey this way as well?

                   

                  Picture 6.png

                   

                  I tried the drop shad in ID and it was good...but if the shad drops to the right, I still want a little on the top and left side, softer and it seemed tedious to plug in numbers constantly to get various effects rather than a slider, etc.

                   

                  and don't need to blend with page elements,


                  LIke what do you mean in this case, "blending with page elements"?

                   

                  thanks!