1 Correct answer
Thank you !
I went with @m1b 's method and, with a bit of a struggle, managed to obtain what I wanted. But I will look at that for sure.
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If you want a picture example on how it doesn't match the artboards:
Hi @Martin Dedron, here's what I was imagining:
1. I make the blend on an artboard that matches the page size of the document (click to enlarge).
2. I expand and ungroup the blend so there are separate path items selected.
3. I run my script.
For showing the idea I have added a text frame with dummy text:
Note to readers: my post here is now about Indesign not Illustrator.
Okay @Martin Dedron your example page helps. It's an interesting exercise. I'm assuming that your document uses facing pages (if not, the solution is just slightly different than what I am about to post).
I've written a script for Indesign that will import a multiple page pdf with one page of pdf per page of indesign document, with the option of duplicating and/or flipping the same page to the right-hand-page. To make the pdf ready to import into indesign, follow my instructions I posted earlier in Illustrator, using my script, specifically making sure the blended items are on artboards that match the indesign document page size and in the correct positions on the artboards.
Then save that output .ai document as .pdf (all artboards). Then open or make a document with correct dimensions and number of pages and run script below "Place Multipage PDF On Multiple Pages.js". Script will ask for pdf file so select the one you just saved from Illustrator.
To see it working, see the demo sample files attached.
- Mark
/*
Place Multipage PDF on Multiple Pages.js
for Adobe Indesign
by m1b
discussion here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/export-separately-every-step-of-the-blend-tool/m-p/12978097
Imports a multi-page pdf into indesign, putting
one page of pdf on each page of indesign document
aligning at top left corner. (Ideal for when pdf
dimensions match indesign document dimensions.)
*/
var settings = {
// the image file to place (assumes is multiple pages pdf)
// leave undefined for user to choose pdf
// imageFile: new File('/Users/foobar/Desktop/blend-split-output.pdf'),
// layer name on which to place
// leave undefined to use active layer
// layerName: 'blend',
// place first page of image on page with this documentOffset
// 0 is first page in document
startDocumentOffset: 0,
// will place the same image on the facing page
repeatToFacingPage: true,
// will place the same image on the facing page flipped horizontally
flipOnRightHandPage: true,
};
function main() {
if (settings.imageFile == undefined) {
settings.imageFile = chooseFile('pdf');
if (settings.imageFile == undefined)
return;
}
var doc = app.activeDocument,
documentOffset = settings.startDocumentOffset,
firstImagePageNumber = 1,
imageFile = settings.imageFile;
if (!imageFile.exists) {
alert('File "' + imageFile + '" doesn\'t exist.');
return;
};
var targetLayer;
if (settings.layerName != undefined) {
targetLayer = doc.layers.itemByName(settings.layerName)
if (!targetLayer.isValid)
targetLayer = undefined;
}
// Explr.init(app.pdfPlacePreferences); return;
app.pdfPlacePreferences.pdfCrop = PDFCrop.CROP_MEDIA;
var finishedPlacingEveryPage = false,
docPageCounter = 0,
imagePageCounter = 0;
while (!finishedPlacingEveryPage) {
var page = doc.pages[documentOffset + docPageCounter];
app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = firstImagePageNumber + imagePageCounter;
if (!page.isValid)
break;
var placedImage = page.place(/* file */ imageFile, /* placePoint */[0, 0], /* destinationLayer */ targetLayer, /* showingOptions */ false, /* autoflowing */ false)[0];
if (
imagePageCounter > 0
&& placedImage.pdfAttributes.pageNumber == firstImagePageNumber
) {
placedImage.parent.remove();
finishedPlacingEveryPage = true;
continue;
};
// repeat to right hand page?
if (
settings.repeatToFacingPage == true
&& page.side == PageSideOptions.LEFT_HAND
) {
var facingPage = doc.pages[documentOffset + docPageCounter + 1];
if (facingPage.isValid) {
var repeatImage = placedImage.duplicate(facingPage);
docPageCounter++;
if (settings.flipOnRightHandPage == true)
repeatImage.flipItem(Flip.HORIZONTAL, AnchorPoint.CENTER_ANCHOR);
}
}
// flip image if necessary on right hand page
else if (
page.side == PageSideOptions.RIGHT_HAND
&& settings.flipOnRightHandPage == true
) {
placedImage.flipItem(Flip.HORIZONTAL, AnchorPoint.CENTER_ANCHOR);
}
docPageCounter++;
imagePageCounter++;
};
} // end main
function chooseFile(fileExtension) {
fileExtension == fileExtension || 'txt';
fileExtension = fileExtension.replace('.', '');
var f, fsFilter;
if ($.os.match("Windows")) {
fsFilter = "*." + fileExtension;
} else {
var regex = RegExp('\.' + fileExtension, 'i');
fsFilter = function (f) { return (regex.test(f.name) || f.constructor.name == 'Folder') };
};
f = File.openDialog("Please select a '" + fileExtension + "' File", fsFilter, false);
if (f != undefined && f.exists) return f;
}
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Place Multipage PDF');
P.S. Something that can make it hard to align graphics in indesign is when they aren't using the artboard for cropping. When importing a graphic to Indesign, click "Show options" in the Place dialog and change the bounding box to, for example, Trim or Bleed. This will respect the artboard sizes in the pdf and make positioning easy. The script does this, but you can do it anytime you are importing a graphic.
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