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How do you make images transparent in inDesign?

Explorer ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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How do you make images transparent in Adobe InDesign CS5.5?

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

so if I get you correct , you have the image and you want to make its background transparent....

if so, not possible use application like Photoshop or Illustartor and then import it in Indesign

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Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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select the image ,

Go to Objects-->effects-->Transparency , and change the opacity value.

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Explorer ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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Not what I wanted.

The white background still stays

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Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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so if I get you correct , you have the image and you want to make its background transparent....

if so, not possible use application like Photoshop or Illustartor and then import it in Indesign

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Explorer ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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Yep so I've got an image that has a white background. I only want the part of the image that does not have a white background.

Okay will do.

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Community Expert ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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New Here ,
Aug 11, 2015 Aug 11, 2015

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If you are importing a layered tiff file, with the white bg on it, you can turn this off in the layer settings

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Community Expert ,
Aug 11, 2015 Aug 11, 2015

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Not in InDesign you can’t. And you’d need to open it in Photoshop and resave it with the transparency.

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New Here ,
Aug 11, 2015 Aug 11, 2015

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Sorry my bad, its a PSD file not Tiff...

I meant if the white background is a separate layer you can switch it off. Obviously if it is a flattened image, you need to edit the image in PS to remove the white background, but if this white background is a separate layer, it can be switched off in InDesign by importing the psd and turning the layer in that psd off in the layer settings...

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New Here ,
Aug 11, 2015 Aug 11, 2015

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Otherwise the only format you can use with the transparency would be an AI or PNG

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Community Expert ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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That you have to do in Photoshop…and you might want to take a little time to write your questions with some actual details.

Bob

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Explorer ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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tbh I think it was pretty much a straight forward question.

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Community Expert ,
Apr 24, 2012 Apr 24, 2012

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Indeed it was; so Manish gave you the straightforward answer.

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Guest
Jul 23, 2013 Jul 23, 2013

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It is possible to do this in InDesign. I did it last year in our annual reports but I cannot for the life of me remember how I did it. I will have a hunt through my notes and see what I did.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 23, 2013 Jul 23, 2013

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Did you read through this thread? The whole thing is there....

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New Here ,
Oct 06, 2022 Oct 06, 2022

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Thanks, this is exactly what i wanted to know :3

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New Here ,
Aug 22, 2013 Aug 22, 2013

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It IS possible: Select the image. Open effects (Window > Effects). Switch from "normal" to "multiply". Viola! White background is gone.

Good question jinda55.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 22, 2013 Aug 22, 2013

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Dittco wrote:

It IS possible: Select the image. Open effects (Window > Effects). Switch from "normal" to "multiply". Viola! White background is gone.

That only works with a white background. In addition, it introduces a transparency effect, with its associated problems.

With a rather light background: Select the image. Open clipping path (Object > Clipping Path > Options). Select Type > Detect Edges; use Threshold and Tolerance to get as close as possible to the edge of your image. This may be difficult because of a too low resolution image, or too much fringe on the edge -- if all fails, use the Inset Frame value to force the mask "into" the image. Click OK, and the background is gone.

But that's not the only way: you can always create a clipping path manually, and then you are in total control, not limited by transparency side effects, auto-edge detection, and busy backgrounds.

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New Here ,
Aug 06, 2018 Aug 06, 2018

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Awesome thank you. I knew it must be simple as I was using a file someone else had made and the images were automatically knocking out backgrounds

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New Here ,
Dec 19, 2015 Dec 19, 2015

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Thank you!!! You saved me a lot of time, I was worried i had to do it on photoshop or illustrator but I'm short on time.

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New Here ,
Aug 17, 2016 Aug 17, 2016

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Thank you, All that other BS from the other peeps was not needed.

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New Here ,
Aug 30, 2017 Aug 30, 2017

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You win the internet

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