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Alfred Scott
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 625
Location: Richmond, VA
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 Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:41 am Post subject: Slightly OT, Open and Place |
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I'm drowning in digital photographs here and to deal with the situation, I'm moving all of the photographs into Aperture 2.
I also use Adobe InDesign for my publications, and I didn't know how to place images in InDesign if they were locked away inside the Aperture (or iPhoto) libraries.
Turns out they aren't. I did a Google search for Aperture and InDesign and ended up on the Apple website looking at "AppleScript: Aperture InDesign Integration".
Turns out that with the lastest Leopard, any Open or Place command in InDesign, PowerCADD or other programs will use the new Apple Open dialog. On the left at the bottom, you have a Media group with the Aperture and iPhoto libraries right there. Too cool for words!
However it goes on to say that in InDesign when you place the images, you are actually placing a low-resolution preview image, and they have an AppleScript that you can run to export the original image for the best imaging when you go to printing.
This is where I'm lost. I've always placed images in PageMaker and InDesign and never thought about it again, and assumed I was getting a high-quality image in InDesign. Indeed, I've never had a problem.
I've looked at the AppleScript and it looks to me like the decision for this is made in Aperture, not InDesign, and it has to do with the Export Settings of Aperture, and possibly 'SpecialInstructions' in the IPTC tag of the photo metadata.
What I think is happening is that if I have the Export settings in Aperture set to 300 dpi TIFF, then that's what the Place command in InDesign will use (which is generally okay with me) and if I use the Aperture AppleScript from InDesign to Replace Selected Images with Exports, then I think I will get the original file imported into Aperture, which may or may not be higher resolution than the 300 dpi TIFF.
Can anyone add anything to this?
However, I think everyone should be interested to know that you can access images in iPhoto and Aperture libraries from any program. I didn't have a clue that you could do that.
Alfred |
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PaulH
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 19
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 9:48 am Post subject: Aperture |
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Alfred, Aperture is a terrific program and designed primarily for Raw images, although very applicable for jpeg et al. As you know Raw images are huge, easily 25 megs each and not appropriate to place full resolution in a graphic software program. We're talking VERY slow response if you do. Hence the low resolution for design layout. When you export the file to a printer with all your images the original Raw file of each image is included and linked to the low resolution image which was used for placement only.
You'll love the program, Paul |
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huc
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 656
Location: ::caddpower.com:: (Aurora, CO)
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Just to build on Paul's response...
| Alfred wrote: | ...This is where I'm lost. I've always placed images in PageMaker and InDesign and never thought about it again, and assumed I was getting a high-quality image in InDesign. Indeed, I've never had a problem.
I've looked at the AppleScript and it looks to me like the decision for this is made in Aperture, not InDesign, and it has to do with the Export Settings of Aperture, and possibly 'SpecialInstructions' in the IPTC tag of the photo metadata. |
Linking vs. Embedding is at the core of what you're describing and is not controlled by the source applications (Aperture, iPHoto, Photoshop, Word, Excel, etc.).
Linking: Akin to referencing. The image in the InDesign or PowerCADD file is a pointer to the original. Modify the original and the linked/referenced content is updated automatically. Remove the original and the link is broken.
Embedding: The image inserted into the InDesign or PowerCADD document is a copy of the original. There is no dynamic linking back to the original.
By default, PowerCADD always embeds an image when using Place... . To create a dynamic link, use Place Reference instead (an old trick from when references were first introduced)
By default, InDesign always creates a link when placing an image. To embed an image after it has been placed choose Embed from the Links floating palette. When placing text or spread sheet content, the behavior of linking vs. embedding is controlled by a preference setting in InDesign.
When printing from InDesign, for example to PDF which is what you're likely doing, the high resolution images are automatically embedded in the PDF so when it goes to the service provider they have it all one flat file. Using InDesign's Package feature will collect the linked images into a new folder so the printing service has all the eggs in one basket. If service providers are requesting InDesign files, they generally don't want the images embedded as if they need to tweak an image they can simply open the high res. image in the package folder. PDF workflows of course will be different.
You might have faked yourself out if, in InDesign, you set Display Preferences to always show as High Quality. The on screen image looks better but performance can suffer.
It's been so many many many years since I used PageMaker I can't recall what it's default behavior was with respect to placing images.
_________________
I hope that helps
Cheers
Brian |
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