Skip to main content
Roger Breton
Roger Breton
Legend
March 24, 2019
Question

Importing Gradients from Illustrator

  • March 24, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 2789 views

I saw a neat technique on YouTube about importing gradients from Illustrator to InDesign.

Importing Illustrator Gradient Swatches into InDesign - InDesign Tip of the Week - YouTube

The first time I tried it, creating a gradient from scratch in Illustrator, applying it to some geometric shape, selecting the shape, copying and pasting into InDesign, the "definition" of the gradient fully came across into InDesign gradient panel, much to my pleasant surprise!

I was able to save the Gradient into the Swatch palette -- great, I thought.

But then I went back to Illustrator to experiment some more and when I tried to copy new gradients to InDesign through the same technique, the gradient definitions refused to come through? All I was left was a static element I couldn't do anything with, no way to get at its attributes?

Of course, I tried quitting both InDesign and Illustrator in case...

I tried changing the Clipboard Preferences in both applications to no avail.
It's as though I was allowed to use the feature "once" and that that was it. Crazy.

I am on Windows 10 with InDesign CC 2019 v14.0.1 and Illustrator CC 2019 v23.0.2.

Just saw that it "worked" in 2018... So it is broken in 2019.... Sob...

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 25, 2019

Has the OP confirmed that he is not using the new Freeform gradient option?

Standard gradients from the libraries work fine on my system (Win 10; CC 2019).

Number of objects with gradients or gradient stops does not seem to be an issue.

Even multiple gradient fills with the Appearance works to a point.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 25, 2019

No, the OP did not mention the Gradient option (Freeform) in Illustrator.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 25, 2019

I didn't think so, but wasn't sure I missed it in my scan...

Until we know that info, we are just speculating...

I did have the same problem a few versions back, but I believe I uninstalled the software with CC Cleaner and then reinstalled.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 24, 2019

Hi Roger,

as far as I can tell this feature is not broken with CC 2019. Just tested this with InDesign and Illustrator CC 2019 on Windows 10. You may have missed that this is not working with gradients where the stop colors are e.g. in RGB color space.

If all colors of the Illustrator gradient are in CMYK it would work.

That goes for linear and radial gradients.

The new Free Form Gradients with Illustrator CC 2019 will not add a gradient swatch to InDesign's Swatches panel.

Regards,
Uwe

Roger Breton
Roger BretonAuthor
Legend
March 24, 2019

Hi Steve,

I just tried the CMYK route and did not get the expected behavior.

I created the Gradient from CMYK swatches in Illustrator.

Gave the swatch a meaningful name.

Then applied it to a rectangular shape.

Copied the shape to the clipboard.

Switched to InDesign.

Paste.

Nothing?


Sadly, I can't attach the Illustrator CMYK document here.
Please send a small email to roger.breton@live.ca so that I send you the Illustrator document for you to try.

Sorry, I pressed Ctrl + S in the middle of writing the reply and got the "Correct Answer" mark?

Best / Roger

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 25, 2019

Actually, you're replying to Uwe, not to a Steve.

I'm a Steve. I work on a Mac with macOS 10.14.3, InDesign CC 2019 and Illustrator CC 2019.

I would agree with Uwe's description of when you can copy gradients from Illustrator to InDesign and I have have no problems with doing that (two examples shown below—one radial, one linear).

I turned off the Correct Answer button on this thread because I'm a moderator, and it looks like you did it by mistake or perhaps there is a bug in the forum software.

I'd suggest you try restoring your InDesign preferences using the instructions here:

Set preferences in Adobe InDesign

If you'd like to post a file, best would to post your file on a cloud service like Dropbox or Creative Cloud Files and post a link to the file so others can test.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices