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Scott Falkner
Community Expert
Scott FalknerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 13, 2018
Question

Pattern fill does not preview when placed in InDesign

  • September 13, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 324 views

I have an Illustrator CC 2018 file saved as .ai with PDF compatibility. It is just a rectangle with a pattern fill. The pattern uses simple shapes and a compound path filled with process black (which overprints) and a Pantone solid. When I place the file in InDesign CC 2018 the cursor previews the file, but only a blank image shows. InDesign will only preview the file when Separation Preview is on.

Odder still, whatever the image is behind does not show. So if I send the image to the back, everything is hidden. If I bring it to the front everything is visible, except the image. With Separation Preview on everything looks as it should.

I saved as IDML and deleted preferences. The problem is still occurring. This also happens when placing the Illustrator file in a new document. The file behaves normally when I expand the pattern.

Cross posting in InDesign.

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    1 reply

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 13, 2018

    Can you upload a dummy version of that file to Dropbox or the like?

    Scott Falkner
    Community Expert
    Scott FalknerCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    September 13, 2018

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/gl0ol8nc19c16dq/Pattern.zip?dl=0

    I am told in the reply to my InDesign post that this is a bug in InDesign when using overprinting objects. If I expand the pattern but leave the overprint the file works as expected. If I leave the pattern but edit the objects ion the pattern to remove the overprint the file works as expected.

    Dropbox - Pattern_bug.zip

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