InDesign 19.5.2 : Error encountered while reading TIFF image.

[jocstone_me]

I try to place TIFF images rendered from Blender and get the error "Error encountered while reading TIFF image. Image may be damaged or incompatible."
While this was no problem at all in all previous versions of Indesign (2022, 2021, …) version 2023 can't handle them anymore. Also opening files previously created with version 2022 containing those tiff's can be openend, however, I get errors trying to make pdf's and they show grey.
Open them and resave in photoshop, without changing any settings, solves this issue, however, I have hundreds Indesign files containing much of those files.

The TIFF's are saved with zip compression, since all others (LZW, No compression) gives me images where the transparency is shown black, so no option for me.

In the future I can use other file formats for my render, but I would like to continue use my old TIFF's.
I attached 1 example image.

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

There have been other similar reports, yes.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Looks like another bug? 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/forums/searchpage?sort_by=-topicPostDate&q=19.5.2&noSynonym=false&col... 

[John Beeckaert]

The problem does not occur on InDesign CC 2025 … so it is by my knowledge and testing strictly related to version 19.5.2. How is this possible Adobe?

[Eugene Tyson]

EPS is outdated

By John Beeckaert

EPS is an older format, but that doesn’t make it obsolete. I use it daily without any issues. If it works for your workflow, there’s no reason to avoid it.

How is this possible Adobe?

By John Beeckaert

If you’re experiencing this issue, rolling back a version is a quick workaround. Also, make sure to report it here: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs.

Adobe prioritises fixes based on user reports, so logging it increases the chances of it being addressed.

[John Beeckaert]

Well yes … EPS is outdated, and i never, ever … save files as EPS for years now, but, and this is the catch … it is still used a lot! Like projects that need to be updated and use e.g. icons that has been used for over 10 years … you can't throw away or resave files for over 30 years! … if it only are 10 EPS files, then this shouldn't be much of a hassle … but over 3000 EPS files or more, over hundreds of projects, it a bit … time consuming. Especially when it has been used for over a decade.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] but over 3000 EPS files or more, over hundreds of projects, it a bit … time consuming. Especially when it has been used for over a decade.

By John Beeckaert

If you work on Windows - not a big deal 🙂

I have a perfect tool for that - isn't free but I can give you access to the full version for a few days - you should be able to easily convert everything in those few days 😉

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] We do not use CC 2025 yet.

By John Beeckaert

If you're a Mac user - stay away from 2025 as long as possible. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] We do not use CC 2025 yet.

By John Beeckaert

If you're a Mac user - stay away from 2025 as long as possible. 

By Robert at ID-Tasker

And it looks like 19.5.2  is also quite buggy??

[John Beeckaert]

Oh yes, I keep my hands of CC 2025 for production! … I just tested the issue with 19.5.2 with my home workstation, to pinpoint it's 19.5.2 only. I downgraded tot 19.5.1 at the office the same day. 🙂

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @McJohn,

Thank you for reporting this issue. I want to let you know that a bug has been logged internally, and the product team is actively investigating it.

To help us move forward with a fix, the team has requested any assets, files, or images where this issue can be reproduced. If you're experiencing this problem, please share the affected files along with the steps to reproduce the issue.

You can upload the files to a cloud service (Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc.) and share the link here. If you prefer to share them privately, you can share via DM on the Community. 

Your input will be extremely valuable in resolving this. Appreciate your help!

^
Abhishek

[Laubender]

Hi @Abhishek Rao ,

sent you a sample where I can see the bug.

Download link per DM …

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Laubender]

@John Beeckaert said: " 'TIFF file could not be read' … or something like that. "

Hi together,

I see the same issue with placed EPS graphics. The previews of affected placed graphics are grayed-out on a page in Normal viewing mode. I assume only a specific kind of EPS is affected. Cannot test now, will come back tomorrow, to fill in the details.

Assumption:

EPS files with TIFF image headers  for preview are the ones that will not work.

InDesign 2024 version 19.5.2 on macOS.

The problem is not visible with InDesign 2024 version 19.5.1.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[John Beeckaert]

@Laubender… I'm wondering. Are there different ways to save as an .EPS? Is there a difference between saving to .EPS from Adobe Illustrator CC vs Adobe Photoshop CC. Obviously the Adobe Illustrator saved .EPS will be (mostly) vectors and the Photoshop will be pixels. In Photoshop it is featured as "Photoshop EPS".  But underneath the saving process, it's the same file structure/technology while saving?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

EPS, mostly, is a TXT file - so you can take a peek inside yourself. 

[Laubender]

Hi @John Beeckaert ,

yes, there are several ways and options to save an EPS file from e.g. Illustrator or PhotoShop.

What's interesting according to the bug we see here is the kind of preview that can, but must not embedded to the EPS file. It could be a TIFF preview for example.

From German Illustrator 2024:

"Vorschauformat" ( preview format ) is TIFF (8-Bit-Color). Could be also TIFF (1-Bit) or "None".

When it comes to PhotoShop other options are also possible with encoding the EPS file:

So one workaround could be to open the original AI file and save the EPS without any preview.

InDesign will do one if you prompt it when placing the EPS andyou  have the import options enabled:

So you could switch from "Use TIFF preview" that is default to "Render PostScript" (the second option).

Have to test that tomorrow when I'm in the office …

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Laubender]

Hi together,

did some tests with the placed EPS file that caused the error message:

When in InDesign 2024 version 19.5.2.129

[1] Exported the document to IDML, opened the IDML file as InDesign document.

Result: Issue is gone

[2] Placed the EPS file again.

Result: Issue is gone

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Laubender

Looks like just corrupted INDD file and IDMLing helped? 

[Laubender]

Hi @Robert at ID-Tasker ,

I'm not sure about that.

When I open the InDesign document that's saved with 19.1.0 in InDesign 2025, there is no issue at all.

Well, then the corruption sneaked in with InDesign 19.2.0 by opening the InDesign 19.1.0 document.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Laubender]

Hi together,

the easiest solution or workaround is to relink all problem EPS files from the Links panel.

Just did that to resolve my personal issues with that bug.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

It looks like it would be a good idea to re-save or do full IDMLing of the INDD files after each minor and major update? 

[John Beeckaert]

I wouldn't call it the easiest solution really. I had this document at the time, and I really have lost 30 minutes (!) before I could even relink. This popup appeared like you sometimes have on spamwebsites. My easiest way is to go back tot 19.5.1 an stick with it. As mentioned, the problem only exists in 19.5.2. I have field tested CC 2025 and there the problem does not occur as far as I could tell.  It is really annoying that I have to be "alert" when an update appears for software that is already 1 year old or more.

Adobe says it is investigating it, but nothing really happens. I was even contacted by someone who claimed to be from Adobe by email about this. But his Linkedin only had one connection and his emailfooter used icons that were from around 10 years ago. Even so scammer or not … that person addressed it to be fixed in CC 2025 … but that was not the issue for starters. … The problem lays in 19.5.2.

[Laubender]

@John Beeckaert said: "I wouldn't call it the easiest solution really. I had this document at the time, and I really have lost 30 minutes (!) before I could even relink. "

Hi John,

well, I have to agree. Recently came accross a document where a couple of EPS files, that were placed about 10 times gave me some headache. So I also agree to revert to InDesign 2024 version 19.5.1 until the bug will be fixed.

But I doubt, that will happen soon or ever … ( sigh! )

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Laubender]

For now I umarked my answer as the correct one. Instead I marked your answer as the correct one.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[John Beeckaert]

Let's hope a patch update will overrule our "solutions"! 😉 I will keep a close watch on CC 2025 patches also., but I guess it is still not advisable for production environment yet. I work in a team with over 20 desktop publishers and graphic designers, and my main goal is that the projects we make every day go safely to the printer without major issues. Luckely I experienced this issue before my collegues did, so I could inform them to stay put at their current software version.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I doubt you will see a patch for version 19.X (2024). Any fixes will be in the new version 20.x (2025).