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Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
Oct 14, 2024 2:00 PM UTC
Question

Adobe InDesign MAX Release: MathML Support to create math expressions

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Hello Everyone,

We are thrilled to introduce the new MathML feature in InDesign. Now, you can easily create, style, and edit math expressions with the new MathML panel. Seamlessly integrate complex equations into your documents, styled to match your text. Perfect for scientific and academic content!

 

Insert a math expression

  1. Create or open any InDesign document and select Object > Insert MathML.
  2.  Add the MathML code in the MathML Input section.
  3. Select the Preview Expression icon to see the expression in the Expression Preview section.
  4.  Select Place. Your math expression is placed as an SVG file in your document. You can anchor it just like any other SVG.
    5. Update the Font Size and Fill color (including document colors) in the Math Expressions panel to match the rest of your document.
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Edit a math expression

1. Right-click the math expression and select

2. Update the MathML code in the MathML Input section.

3. Select the Preview Expression icon to see the updated expression in the Expression Preview section.

4. Select Save.

 

 

For more details, please click here. 

Have questions? Click 'Reply' below to ask.

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47 replies

g58211702
Participant
Mar 8, 2026 4:44 PM UTC

InDesign now supports MathML, allowing users to easily create and edit math expressions. You can insert equations by going to Object > Insert MathML, paste the MathML code, preview the expression, and place it in the document as an SVG file. The Math Expressions panel also lets you adjust font size and color to match your document.

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Wilfred_Springer
Participant
Feb 6, 2026 10:16 AM UTC

Instead of using Adobe’s MathML support, I have been successfully using Claude and two Claude extensions: one capable of generating SVG from LaTeX formulas, and another (Sidekick) that connects Claude directly to InDesign, allowing Claude to do the heavy-lifting.

It works brilliantly. I basically give it a Markdown file with embedded LaTeX formulas, and all I ask is that you place that Markdown file in my InDesign file. Claude is exporting the LaTeX formulas to SVG, placing text with placeholders in the files in my InDesign document, and then replacing those placeholders with placed and anchored SVGs.

You can read a blog post about it here.

 

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Participating Frequently
Feb 3, 2026 12:47 PM UTC

To me this feature is incomplete and almost useless without the ability to import properly math equations from Word documents. All my costumers prefer using this tool to write their textbooks rather than using LaTex or MathML. So, recomposing equations (a job you’ll have to charge to your costumer) which have already been composed in an other app is very counterproductive and difficult to justify economically.

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jctremblay
Community Expert
Community Expert
Feb 3, 2026 1:15 PM UTC

There is a [really nice] script by Roland Dreger for InDesign that can import Word document and create the document math equations found in the doc. Give it a try.

https://github.com/RolandDreger/indesign-word-import

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Participating Frequently
Feb 3, 2026 2:19 PM UTC

Thank you very much! I will study and try it right now.

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Participant
Nov 18, 2025 6:05 AM UTC

I’m having trouble working with MathML in InDesign 2025. Even with help from the third-party MathType extension, I’m still not able to handle math content smoothly in this version. Some MathML elements don’t render as expected, especially when working on MathML-based projects.

Could you please clarify whether full MathML and math automation support is 100% implemented in InDesign 2025?
Or should I wait for an upcoming update or future version that offers complete math automation?

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jctremblay
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 8, 2025 3:44 PM UTC

One of the issue with MathML is when you need to specify the color in CMYK or a Spot Color. MathML expressions in InDesign are SVG internally and SVG are RGB only. To workaround this limitations (for print) you can use the script MathML Magic Painter I have create.

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Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 8, 2025 4:11 PM UTC

Acrobat can convert RGB colors to CMYK while converting RGB black to 100K. Of course, the conversion is best left to a commercial printer*, so you should talk to them about that. 

*If outputing at a quick-print shop (high-end laster printers) or your own laser printers, you shouldn't have to worry about any conversion. 

 

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David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Stellar_Wonderland5049
Participating Frequently
Sep 24, 2025 12:41 PM UTC

Adobe InDesign 2025 now supports MathML, allowing you to create, style, and edit math expressions directly within your documents.

🔢 How it works:

  • Go to Object > Insert MathML

  • Paste your MathML code and preview the expression

  • Click Place to insert it as an SVG

  • Style using the Math Expressions panel

You can also right-click to edit expressions later. Ideal for academic and scientific content!

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Participant
Aug 21, 2025 4:32 PM UTC

Hi, it's a very good thing, I was waiting for it, but...
How could we change the font ?
How could we change the color of each symbol in the equation ?
Best regards
Mikael

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Anubhav M
Community Manager
Community Manager
Aug 21, 2025 10:25 PM UTC

Hello @mikael_6520,

InDesign currently lacks this functionality. Would you mind creating a UserVoice for this feature request (https://adobe.ly/4lEYO1R) and adding your comments there? Doing this will help us prioritize this request, and you will be notified of any updates.

 

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Anubhav

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Participating Frequently
Apr 4, 2025 1:45 PM UTC

I am designing a technical book in indesign full of equations. It takes too long because I do them manually. I found out about the MathML feature but I can´t use it because I don´t know how to write the code. Is there another way to create the equations in any of the Adobe programmes and bring them in indesign? I received the equations in powerpoint and I can´t copy and paste them. Please help! 

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Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
Apr 4, 2025 2:44 PM UTC

Did you try googling "indesign math plugins"?

Try it and research the products that are. listed.

 

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David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Participating Frequently
Apr 4, 2025 3:19 PM UTC
ok I will, thank you
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Participating Frequently
Jan 18, 2025 11:56 AM UTC

great, now that you have introduced new buggy features that LaTex was able to handle in the 80s can you please address your bugs, interface issues, software bloat, slop, bad UX choices, annoying popups that can't be turned off, cross-compatibility between IL ID or IL Ae, or any number of other products that used to work together. oh and also can you not constantly check licensing and making me wait to open apps several times per day when I pay for them on a yearly basis?

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Participant
Dec 22, 2024 6:43 AM UTC

looks good

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