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Participant
April 27, 2022
Answered

Illustrator layers won't import with layers into indesign

  • April 27, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 2550 views

Good afternoon, I have a problem placing a layered Illustrator file into InDesign and I followed all the steps to make the layers visible. The imported file appears as one static layer. now when I try to right-click to edit with InDesign it says I am missing a plugin?????

It also happens with the illustrator files I have. This is so frustrating

I am attaching an image that shows there are no layers.

Thank you in advance

Correct answer Frans v.d. Geest

Illustrator Layers will not 'translate' to InDesign Layers, there both different things. Your screen shot show the InDesign Layers, not the AI layers. If you right-click on the placed Illustrator file you can choose 'Object layers options' to see those Illustrator Layers. Or select the image then choose menu Object > Object Layer Options. Also when you have Show import options on while you place the Illustrator file you can set Layer visibility. The illustration itself then sits, of course, on a InDesign layer, don't confuse the two 😉

3 replies

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 27, 2022

What you are showing is the layer panel but it is not the way to show or hide the layers of an Illustrator placed file. You must go to the Object menu > Object layer options.

Frans v.d. Geest
Community Expert
Frans v.d. GeestCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 27, 2022

Illustrator Layers will not 'translate' to InDesign Layers, there both different things. Your screen shot show the InDesign Layers, not the AI layers. If you right-click on the placed Illustrator file you can choose 'Object layers options' to see those Illustrator Layers. Or select the image then choose menu Object > Object Layer Options. Also when you have Show import options on while you place the Illustrator file you can set Layer visibility. The illustration itself then sits, of course, on a InDesign layer, don't confuse the two 😉

Scott Falkner
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 28, 2022

My mistake. I thought that was a screen grab of the Illustrator Layers panel. 

Scott Falkner
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 27, 2022

You can show or hide individual layers and sublayers, but not the objects on those layers. If you want to show or hide the objects in Layer 1 they will need to be on their own layers.