Script of the Month: InDesign to Photoshop Layers
This script can be used to convert InDesign documents to layered Photoshop files.
This article appears in Issue 144 of InDesign Magazine.
This article appeared in Issue 144 of InDesign Magazine.This script can be used to convert InDesign documents to layered Photoshop files.
Despite being software siblings, InDesign and Photo- shop don’t connect in some of the ways you might hope they would. For example, there’s no easy way to convert an InDesign layout to a layered Photoshop document. Fortunately, there are some third-party solutions, including a script by Luis Felipe Corullón, which is our Script of the Month.
The script is called InDesign to Photoshop Layers, and it comes in two versions, Standard and Pro. Both versions work in macOS and Windows. The only difference is that the Standard version allows you to export only the current page, while the Pro version allows you to export any range of pages. For best results on macOS, be sure you have admin access while running the script.
The Standard version normally costs $9.90, but from now through March 31, 2022, InDesign Magazine subscribers can get it for free here by using the coupon code IDMAGSOTM when you check out.
Once you have the InDesign to Photoshop Layers script installed, make sure Photoshop is running and there are no files open in it. Then, in InDesign, navigate to the page you want to export and run the script.
In the dialog box, you can choose the resolution (72, 144, or 300 ppi), color space, cropping option, and PDF Preset. (The script exports each layer as a PDF before reassembling them in Photoshop.) There’s also the option to export layers as Smart Objects. Click OK, and the new Photoshop file will be created and saved in the same folder as the InDesign file. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
An InDesign layout before running the script
The resulting layered Photoshop file
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Where can I download the script? Mine disappeared out of InDesign where it was before.
Why would you even want to do this? As a commercial printer I’ve seen more than enough brochures -and even a 64 page book- come to me done in Photoshop.
It’s definitely not intended as a substitute for a PDF in commercial printing workflows, but there are lots of other legit uses, mostly when there’s a need to repurpose designed content from layouts for the web, etc. For some folks this script and others like it are a lifesaver.
Ignore my previous comment. I’ve re-read the article in ID Mag and note it’s March 2022. Just downloading now thank you.
Enjoy the script :)
Arg, I’ve only had a chance to read ID Mag and note the cut-off date for downloading the app is 31 March. Any chance it can be extended?