Known Participant

Answered

Illustrator file does not appear correctly when imported to InDesign

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
November 3, 2025
6 replies
1120 views

So I have sets of illustration in separated artboard (same layer) in Illustrator. But when I am importing it to InDesign, some parts of the illustration is missing. It occurs on some illustration, especially reused graphic asset from Freepik.

Funny enough, this isn't happening using the previous version of Indesign. Right now I am using the current latest 21.0 (not beta).

What I have done for the workaround;

saved into a new file, only the error artboard. not working.
saved the error artboard into EPS, works. But I wish everything works in native format.

Correct answer RCH Creative Studio - CB

I have been having this issue too with graphs that I have created from scratch in Illustrator. For me, it doesn't drop colours, but it moves columns around and doesn't put them in the same place. And this is not something I can outline and expand, as I need to update the numbers as needed.

I have found that if I copy and paste into a new Illustrator document and import that, it fixes my issue. But I should not need to do this.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for sharing your files and observations. The product team is actively working on this, and the latest updates are being posted on the UserVoice report for this issue. Please keep an eye on the thread here for progress and fixes as they roll out: https://adobe.ly/3WXLj3A

If you notice any new behavior, feel free to share it, so we can work on it.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

T

Tanya2000

Participant

Hi Abhishek, I find that if I delete any empty layers in Illustrator, the linked Illustrator file tends to appear in InDesign correctly. Also, I've had a couple of Template layers cause the links not appearing correctly. Might be worth looking into to solve the above issue.

A

Amy3602122606jp

Participant

Hi,

My collagues & I are having the same issue. Our illustrator files are not linking through to our indesign proofs properly even when all links are updated etc. The issue is inconsistent but definitely there. We have all recently updated to the newsest 2026 versions for Indesign & Illustrator. Have attached screenshots of the same file in Illustrator, Indesign & then exported from Indesign to PDF.

Koos Verdegaal

Participating Frequently

Hi, when I import an Illustrator file in Indesign, some of my last saved changes are not properly updated in the preview.

Also, when I choose Object layer options, I see the layers for every artboard in the document.

When I save my Illustrator document as an older version and directly after as the latest version, the document layer options are ok again, but the preview remains sketchy.

This is obviously a bug, can this be fixed?

Thanks!

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Can you try to save the Illustrator file with Preferences > File Handling > Save in Background turned off?

Koos Verdegaal

Participating Frequently

Thank you, that worked indeed. But like saving as an older version, this seems more like a workaround than a solution.

Why would turning this option off matter?

J

Jon31417863q2ip

Participant

Since updating to InDesign 21.0, files created in Ilustrator (vs. 30.0) seem to drop colors randomly when Imported to InDeisgn. The files render properly when exported as PDFs or even JPGs. Seems to only be when viewed in InDesign. Files I open that were generated and saved in the previous version of InDesign render the files accurately, this is specific to the 21.0 update. Display settings are set to High Quality Display and I've attempted an uninstall/reinstall of the software all to no avail. Images below: Top shows the file as it should appear, bottom file is once imported to InDesign 21.0. To my knowledge, no changes have been made to either file other than opening them in the latest version of each piece of software. Preferences have not been modified as far as I can tell, and neither file was directly modified since updating the software. It may be that some setting was changed in the background when updating, but I can't find anyting that was changed that could be causing this. Both files worked flawlessly prior to last week's update.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @Jon31417863q2ip,

Thanks for sharing the details and screenshots. I tested this with Illustrator 30.0 files placed into InDesign 21.0 but couldn't reproduce the color drop issue on my end. Could you please confirm which OS version you're using and whether this happens with all Illustrator files or only specific ones?

Also, please check if you're saving your Illustrator file with the 'Create PDF Compatible File' option enabled before placing it in InDesign. If possible, could you share an affected sample AI file where this issue appears, so we can test it further? A short screen recording showing the save process in Illustrator and then opening the same file in InDesign would also be really helpful.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

I

ivy_8550

Participant

Hello,

Since your EPS workaround is proof that the vector data itself is fine, here's the quickest and most effective fix to try on the native AI file:

Open the Illustration in Illustrator.

Select the entire illustration (the one with the missing parts).

Go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Then go to Object > Expand... (check both Fill and Stroke options).

This process simplifies complex strokes, effects, and gradients into basic paths, making it much easier

Best Regard,

harriet

hekselsiorAuthor

Known Participant

thanks for the suggestion, I will try it later and see if it works.

leo.r

Community Expert

Funny enough, this isn't happening using the previous version of Indesign. Right now I am using the current latest 21.0 (not beta).

By @hekselsior

If you can consistently reproduce it in InDesign 2026, while not in InDesign 2025 with the same Illustrator files, then it sounds like a bug in InDesign 2026. Are you also using the same import settings? Click Show Import Options when you place Illustrator files in both versions.

hekselsiorAuthor

Known Participant

Can't say it's a consistent occurence. Some assets from stock graphic works just normally, some don't, but ONLY happening in the current InDesign (v 21.0). I was working with the same file with previous indesign never had this problem at all. I do use "Show import options" as well.

Yes I guess it's a bug.

J

Jon31417863q2ip

Participant

I'm seeing the same issue. Inconsistently, but definely there. Opening the file in previous versions works completely fine, and exporting as a PDF shows the files properly... just seems to impact Illustrator files that are imported to InDesign and, at least for me, directly conincided with the 21.0 update.

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