One of the most common problems for InDesign users who need to print on a commercial press is “bleed” — the fact that colors or images must span not just to the edge of a page, but beyond it. (Learn more about bleed here: “InDesign Basics: Working With Bleeds in InDesign.”)
If you have a frame with a colored fill, it’s really easy to make it bleed: you just extend it out to the bleed guides, or a bit on to the pasteboard. But images are different — if the edge of the image is already up against the edge of the frame, then making the frame larger doesn’t help… there’s no image there!
But InDesign’s GenAI features make fixing this a breeze.
First, make the graphic frame bigger than the image. For example, in the image above, the image goes to the edge of the page, but I’ve expanded the frame out to the bleed guides.
Next, in the floating Context panel (Window > Contextual Task Bar) or the Text to Image panel (also from the Window menu), click Generate:
InDesign uses its Firefly GenAI tools (which, as far as I know, require you to be connected to the internet) to expand the image — adding new data where the frame is empty. It gives you three variations you can choose from, but because this is all going outside the page edge, it rarely matters which one you choose. The result is an excellent bleed, out to the edge of the frame:
It’s almost too good to be true. This is probably one of the most boring but actually incredibly practical uses for GenAI ever!
- It only works when you start with a JPG or PNG file. It won’t work with placed PSD, TIFF, PDF, HEIC, AI, EPS, etc.
- The expanded image is an embedded RGB JPG. In other words, your InDesign layout will no longer be linked to the original placed file.
- Any embedded color profile in the original image will be lost (the new JPG will be untagged).
- Transparent PNGs will be flattened.
- If the JPG file was CMYK, it will be converted to RGB.
- The InDesign file size will increase.
- The resolution of the image may change.
- Your image is replaced with the new GenAI image. For that reason, it may be better to clone your image (create a duplicate of the image), then select the bottom image and expand that one. That way, the original image will sit on top of the expanded one.
This article was last modified on July 29, 2024
This article was first published on July 23, 2024
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Leave a Reply
When I need to expand an image, I usually find it easier to do it in Photoshop. That way I can export it as a TIFF at full resolution and then place it in InDesign. Safer, oui? Avoids the caveats.
Oof da! Those are some big caveats. Maybe better to jump it to PS and generative expand there?
I was going to suggest that only.
Exactly! I’m working on a post about that right now.
It would be so neat if Photoshop had a way to snap to a 9pt bleed when you use the Crop tool to expand the edge of the image.
Genius idea, Mike! I wonder if someone has written a script to do something like that
In addition to silently converting CMYK to RGB, Generative Expand will also discard any embedded color profile in the images, potentially leading to color shifts. https://creativepro.com/downloads/indesign-generative-expand-color-profiles.png
Wow… that’s not good either. I hope they fix that!
Another cool AI feature that *seems* to make good sense in an actual production workflow buuuuut…
Bleed is a print need, typically using CMYK images, at least for 95% of the vendors I use. JPG and PNG? RGB? That will work only for docs going to digital print output, and then, only if a print vendor specifies RGB.
As currently constituted, this feature seems like a proof of concept, and I don’t see it fitting into my professional workflow yet.
Wait, Paul, you’re still using CMYK? We’ve been talking about this for 20 years… import RGB and export CMYK (when necessary). See: https://rgborcmyk.com
That said, you’re right that it does currently convert CMYK JPG images to RGB, which seems like a bug. It should keep images in CMYK.
Great tip! Looks like you need InDesign 19.5 for this to be enabled. Initially, it was greyed out for me but I managed to clear up the gnomes and get it to work.