Skip to main content
BarryRowell
Known Participant
August 26, 2025
Question

Linked Files Not Visible in InDesign and Copying Incorrectly Between Layouts

  • August 26, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 314 views

I have been having a lot of trouble the past two weeks with linked artwork not being visible when imported into InDesign. Usually, I was able to cut the artwork and repaste it (in exactly the same place and on exactly the same layer) and it would show up. Now, however,  on a file that I created using Save As and giving it a new name, ALL of the linked artwork is showing in the list of files but for some reason is microscopic—not exaggerating, they literally dots on document when I use the Go to Link from the links sidebar; then, when I start to expland ot to the right size, it behaves as though I'd imported it using Trim size instead of Visible Layers (I did not).  Also, when I try to copy and paste from the original document, the pasted image is the same microscopic as the linked artwork.  All I did was rearrange the elements on the page after creating the new vile so both files are exactly the same size and use exactly the same artwork. So far, it's only happened on this one file but I'm not sure if these are bugs in Illustrator (v 29.7.1 on a Macbook Pro Apple M2 Max with 64 gb RAM).

I have attached a screenshot of what is showing up in my file and what the actual size of the artwork was when I saved the file.

1 reply

Anubhav M
Community Manager
Community Manager
August 26, 2025

Hello @BarryRowell,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I tried replicating this on my end but could not. Could you kindly share a link to a sample AI and INDD file, along with screenshots or a small screen recording of your exact workflow and the problem, so I can try to replicate this on my end?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

BarryRowell
Known Participant
August 26, 2025

Thank you Anubhav: I can't do it right now because I'm tied up with client work and I deleted the file that was the problem (and emptied the trash). One thing I discovered was that the Saved As file somehow had a pasteboard that was massively larger than the other files (I've been making copies of the same file to rearrange the elements). I'll respond with something asap but it may not be today!

BarryRowell
Known Participant
August 26, 2025

Okay a different but related problem: I'm trying to convert text to outlines on a different file and when I selected the text box to convert it, everything disappears (it's still visiible in wireframe and says that it's the right color but it's invisible on the screen). I'll try putting it into the layout after I've outlined but here's what I recorded.