Issues Placing Background in InDesign..

[SSpiro]

I created an image in photoshop that I am placing as a background for a marketing piece within InDesign.

When I output the project on paper through the printer, the background is not very sharp and somewhat fuzzy.

What is the best way to sharpen this image for more clarity? What am I missing?

The original image is at 600dpi, and is 9"X11", and is being placed in Indesign and shrunk down to 8x10 for print.

EDIT: for spelling error

[resdog]

Well, 9x11 doesn't shrink down to 8x10 porportionately, so it could be that when you change the images dimensions, it is causing the background to not be very sharp or fuzzy. I would suggest sizing the image to the finished size in photoshop (8x10), then placing that one and seeing how that looks.

[D-Frag]

I dont think its that resdog. I would check your print settings and make sure that when you are printing out of ID, that it sets your image resolution to 300dpi. Go through all the sections in your print dialog and make sure image compression is turned off and that it is printing at the highest setting.

[Craig B]

What pritner are you printing to. Is it an inkjet? Does the photo have large soldi areas of color or lots of small detials? What ype of paper are you printing on?

[SSpiro]

Well, 9x11 doesn't shrink down to 8x10 porportionately, so it could be that when you change the images dimensions, it is causing the background to not be very sharp or fuzzy. I would suggest sizing the image to the finished size in photoshop (8x10), then placing that one and seeing how that looks.

I resized to 8x10.. Not much better..

I dont think its that resdog. I would check your print settings and make sure that when you are printing out of ID, that it sets your image resolution to 300dpi. Go through all the sections in your print dialog and make sure image compression is turned off and that it is printing at the highest setting.

I'm not finding the image compression within print dialog.. but I'll keep looking.

What pritner are you printing to. Is it an inkjet? Does the photo have large soldi areas of color or lots of small detials? What ype of paper are you printing on?

Right now my proofs go to a B&W HP LaserJet 1012. It's temporary.

The image is a light blue overset over a right light image of the state of florida.. Then there is a header and footer in Myriad Pro font with Drop Shadow and Bevel/Emboss effects. The print is the fuzziest part, the rest of the image I can deal with. The print is set at Anti-Alias sharp as well.

[Craig B]

Try flattening the image first. Saving as a TIFF and then placing it into InDesign and printing.

[SSpiro]

EDIT - I need to keep the image @ 9x11.5 for print...

I'll try that Craig.

[SSpiro]

Try flattening the image first. Saving as a TIFF and then placing it into InDesign and printing.

Slightly improved...

[PrintDriver]

Are you printing to a postscript printer?

[SSpiro]

Nope..

[Pica]

Then there is a header and footer in Myriad Pro font with Drop Shadow and Bevel/Emboss effects. The print is the fuzziest part, the rest of the image I can deal with. The print is set at Anti-Alias sharp as well.

Are you saying that you set your text in PShop instead of InDesign? That could be why you're getting fuzzy text since you've rasterized the text.

[SSpiro]

Are you saying that you set your text in PShop instead of InDesign? That could be why you're getting fuzzy text since you've rasterized the text.

I'll revise.. I didn't even think of that.. that's sad. I set ALL the text for the piece in InDesign, EXCEPT the header.. for some stupid reason.

I knew there was an easy answer.

Thanks. ;)

[urstwile]

Also, check to make sure that when you go to print, in the graphics category you're output is set to Optimized Subsampling, not Proxy. Proxy prints your image based on the preview of the image, not on the actual resolution of the image.