How to Embed Images in Indesign

The great thing about InDesign is that it can be used for both personal and business purposes. As layout design software, it helps you create a variety of different items, from brochures to flyers to presentations to newsletters to books, and so much more.

After spending a lot of time creating your project (whatever it might be) and adding photos to make it look good, the last thing you want to see is the image disappear. To prevent this issue from happening, you can embed your images. That may have you wondering how to embed images in InDesign.

When it comes to InDesign embedded images, you can rest assured knowing that they’ll still be there when you transfer your image folder or send the project to someone else. It’s worth your time and effort to learn this process, and we’ll walk you through step by step.

How to Insert a Picture in InDesign

Before learning how to embed images in InDesign, you’ll need to know how to insert a picture in InDesign. There are a couple of ways to do this, and which one you choose will depend on whether you’re inserting the picture/image into an existing frame or not.

If you’re placing the image into a project without a frame, here are the steps you’ll need:

Step 1: Open InDesign

The first thing you’ll need to do when inserting a picture is to open the InDesign software.

Depending on how your computer is set up, you may be able to click on the icon on your taskbar, or you may need to go to your Start Menu.

Step 2: File and Place Your Image

Once you’ve gained access to InDesign, you’ll then need to click on the File tab at the top of the page.

When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Place.”

Step 3: Select Your Image and Open It

Clicking on “Place” will open a new screen with a list of files and folders containing images. Find the one you’re looking for, choose the one you want to add to your project, then click the “Open” button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4: Move and Resize the Image

Opening the image will change the way your cursor looks, and when learning how to insert an image in InDesign, this will allow you to move and resize your image so that it fits neatly into your project.

There are several different ways to do this, including the following:

Use your mouse – using your mouse, click on the image and hold the mouse button down. Then, drag the cursor until your image reaches the desired size. Release the button, and the image should stay the size you picked.
Click on the page – click the place on the page you want the image to appear with your mouse. Pick to have it appear at 100% of the original size.
Use your mouse and keyboard – using your mouse, click on the image you want to size, and then hold down the Shift key on your keyboard. This will allow you to move and resize the image to fit it into differently proportioned parts of your project and ensure it still looks good.

In addition to learning how to insert a picture/image into an InDesign project with no frames, you may also need to insert an image into a document with frames. Here are the steps you’ll follow for that:

Step 1: Open InDesign

If you don’t already have the software open on your computer, that’s the first thing you’ll need to do.

Step 2: Choose the Frame

After opening the software, you’ll then need to select which frame you want to add the image to.

Step 3: File and Place the Image

Click the File tab at the top of the page, then choose “Place” from the list of options.

Step 4: Replace the Selected Item

Within the “Place” dialogue box, you will see the option to “Replace the Selected Item.” Make sure that box is checked.

Step 5: Find the Image and Open It

After clicking that box, you’ll then need to navigate to the image you want to include in your InDesign project.

Once it’s been located and selected, click the “Open” button at the bottom of the screen.

When wondering how to insert an image in InDesign, clicking “Open” will place the picture/image into the frame you selected.

How to Embed Links in InDesign

In addition to wondering how to embed images in InDesign, you might be curious about how to embed links in InDesign. This could apply to images or other files, and you’ll follow these steps:

Step 1: Open InDesign

As usual, the first thing you’ll need to do is make sure you have the InDesign software open on your computer.

Step 2: Go to the Link Panel Menu

Click on the Link tab and open the menu. From the list of files, when asking how to embed images in InDesign, choose the one that you want to embed into your project.

Step 3: Embed the Link

Clicking on the file from the Link panel menu will bring up another list of options.

Click on “Embed Link.”

When linking images in InDesign, depending on how your project is set up, you may find that there are multiple instances of a file, if that’s the case, you’ll need to click “Embed All Instances of [File name].”

If there is only one instance of your file, then clicking “Embed Link” is all you need to do.

How to Link Files in InDesign

When wondering how to embed images in InDesign, you might also be wondering if it’s possible to place one InDesign document into another. You can, and you can even make it an image link. If you want to learn how to link files in InDesign, you’ll follow these steps:

Step 1: Have InDesign Open

To be able to make any changes to your document, including linking images in InDesign or another InDesign document, you need to make sure you have the software open on your computer.

Step 2: Go to File to Place the Item

Click on the File tab at the top of the page, then choose “Place” from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select the InDesign Document You Want to Link

Clicking “Place” will open the file browser, and from the list of options, you should see your other InDesign files.

Choose the one you want to add, then click “Open.”

That InDesign file will be added to your current project.

InDesign Placed Images Not Showing

There’s nothing that can be more stressful or frustrating than your InDesign-placed images not showing in your project. When that happens, you have a couple of ways to potentially solve the issue, including the following:

Place Your Document in the Same Folder as Your Images

One of the ways to ensure that the images in your InDesign document show up is to place your project file in the same folder on your computer where your images are stored. You can either drag and drop the InDesign file from one folder to another, or you can copy and paste it. You decide which is the easiest way to transfer it!

Relink the Images

Another option you can consider is to relink the images in your InDesign document. This task can be accomplished by following the steps we’ve listed above.

Knowing Whether to Embed or Not to Embed

This article is all about how to embed images in InDesign, and the process can ensure that your pictures or images are always present within the document no matter where you move the file or if you send it to another person.

It may seem like embedding is the answer to all of your problems, but it may not always be the best solution. Here are some things you need to consider when deciding if you should embed an image or not:

How Large Is Your Image?

The size of your photo/image when stored on your computer will have an impact on the size of your InDesign document. If it’s really large, it will make your project large, which could make it difficult to send to others.

There are, of course, ways around this, including sending the file through a file-sharing service such as Dropbox. If you don’t want to go through that hassle, then you’ll need to decide if embedding images into your InDesign project is worth it.

You’ll also have to decide what “too large” means. This will come down to personal preference and the file size you are most comfortable with.

Will the Image Need to be Edited?

Another thing you’ll want to think about before going through the how to embed images in InDesign steps is whether or not the image will need to be edited.

Should that be the case, then you’ll have to go through extra steps to unembed it, make the changes and then insert it once again.

If you know that there might be a chance that the image will have to be edited, you might consider waiting to embed it into your document until you get the finalized item. This can save you some extra steps, and it can also ensure your image/photo is included in the final project before it gets sent out.

Unembedding Images

Should you find that you need to unembed the image, there are steps you’ll need to take to accomplish that task. We’re assuming that your InDesign file is already open. If not, opening the software is the first thing you’ll need to do.

Step 1: Select the Graphic

Within your InDesign document, select the graphic you want to unembed.

Step 2: Go to the Links Panel

Click on the Links tab and open the panel menu.

Step 3: Unembed the Link

From the Links panel menu, choose the “Unembed Link” from the list of options.

Step 4: Choose What to Do with Your Image

Clicking “Unembed Link” will open a dialogue box that offers you several choices. In essence, it’s asking if you want to link to the original image/photo file or if you want to save the image to a folder on your computer.

If the original image file is in the same place on your computer that it was when you added the image to your InDesign project, you can click “Yes.”

If the image has been moved, you’ll need to click “No.” This will open another menu that will ask you where you want to save the image from your document. Find a folder to place it in and click on it.

Creating the Best InDesign Projects Possible

InDesign can be used for a variety of different purposes, whether for your business or personal needs. Adding photos or images can enhance your document and make it more appealing to audiences, but there are times when the image might disappear.

To keep your images/photos within your project, you need to learn how to embed images in InDesign, and here’s what you do: