Import options for Adobe files

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn about the import settings for placing Photoshop, PDF, Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign files with layer and cropping controls.

These options apply when placing Adobe files with layers, pages, or special settings. To access these settings, go to File > Place, select Show Import Options, select your file, and then select Open.
The available options allow you to select pages, control layers, set crop boundaries, and apply transparency before placement. Attributes are preserved in InDesign but may be lost when transferring to other applications.

Tab	Option	Description
	Show Preview	Displays a preview of the selected page or artboard. Use arrows or enter a page number to view others.
General	Pages	Specifies which pages to place: Previewed Page: Currently displayed page All: All pages Range: Specific pages or ranges (for example, 1, 3–7, 9) For Illustrator files, specify the artboard where the artwork should be placed.
	Crop to	Defines the visible area to place: Bounding Box (Visible Layers Only): Places content within visible layers, including page marks. Bounding Box (All Layers): Places the full layer area, including hidden layers. Art: Places only the defined artwork area (common for clip art). Crop: Places the display or print area defined in Adobe Acrobat. Trim: Places the final trimmed page area, if trim marks are present. Bleed: Places the bleed area beyond the trim. Media: Places the full-page size, including marks outside the content area.
	Transparent Background	Allows text or graphics beneath the placed file to show through. Deselect to place the file with an opaque white background.
Layers	Show Layers	Controls layer visibility. Use the eye icon to show or hide layers, and Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) to hide all others.
	Layer Comp	(Photoshop only) Displays a selected layer comp from the PSD file. Available if layer comps are present.
	Update Link Options	Controls layer visibility: Use PDF's Layer Visibility: Matches layer visibility to the current state of the source PDF or Illustrator file when updating the link. Keep Layer Visibility Overrides: Maintains the layer visibility settings applied during import, even when the link updates.

Note

Placed InDesign (INDD) files use the same options as PDFs. Page sizes don't need to match, and placed pages retain their original dimensions.

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