Illustrator PDF not exporting with transparent backgrounds.

[SRosner]

Hello!

I currently use Illustrator CC2015.5. I may be crazy, but it seems like the latest round of updates are causing PDFs saved from Illustrator to be flattened. When I import the graphics into Indesign as objects, they have white backgrounds instead of transparent ones. I have been using Illustrator for many years, and I used to be able to "save as PDF" then bring those images into Indesign with transparent backgrounds. Very frustrated, as I can't figure out what's going on!

Before you tell me to save graphics as EPS, I have some vendors that require high resolution PDFs when delivering images. The PDFs do retain their transparency when brought into Photoshop.  I am saving the PDFs at the 1.5 and higher settings in PDF preferences. We often drop PDFs into documents to keep the file sizes manageable.

Also having transparency issues when saving EPS files. Effects are not retaining their transparency when imported into Indesign. Tried all of the recommendations in this forum so far. I did not start having these problems until the more recent updates. What's going on!?!

Thanks,

Susan

[Mike_Gondek]

What pdf setting did you use?

Did you preview your document in Illustrator with Shift Command D to confirm your transparency exists?

[SRosner]

Hi Mike,

I usually use the "Illustrator Default" setting with capabilities checked. In my efforts to find a solution, I have tried all of the settings in many configurations, but still getting a white background when I import onto an Indesign page.

Yes, transparency appears to exist when previewing in Illustrator.

Thanks,

Susan

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Did you check the Transparent Background option in InDesign's import options?

[SRosner]

D'oh! That fixed it. (*hangs head in shame*) Thanks, Ton!

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that.

Once the option is unchecked it becomes the default until checked.

But I would not know how to get the transparency back once it's placed in InDesign (except placing it again with a different option).

Curious to see if someone knows how to do that.

[SRosner]

It is definitely strange. Up until the last couple of updates, I never had to worry about checking or unchecking Import options. The only time I ever really worried about that was when I was importing something with a clipping path. Nutty all the small annoying things that have happened with the latest versions. Thanks!

[emilyc98877165]

Where is this "Transparent Background option"

[Doug A Roberts]

with 'Show Import Options' ticked in the file browser in InDesign:

[Ton Frederiks]

Or with the Shift key when clicking Open in the Place dialog (shows the Import options temporarily)

[CMcDowall]

Thanks Susan and all. I too was perplexed by an apparent change of behavior for placing native Illustrator files in InD. This was a major selling point of Illustrator 9 and the original InD 1.5 (If I am not mistaken).  What Adobe could add in InD is a right click (control click) option which would change the placed graphic to a transparent background. As it is now, you have to re-import the graphic - no big thing, but it would be nice.

Easy to miss the import option, but it is correct answer.