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Faith5C32
Known Participant
May 3, 2022
Answered

AI file importing black in Indesign

  • May 3, 2022
  • 7 replies
  • 2437 views

Hi all, looking for some insights. I have an object that is a color in Illustrator, but imported into Indesign it shows up black. Any thoughts? Transparency is normal... it's CMYK in Ai....

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Correct answer Laubender

Could also be that there is a bug with the regular version of Illustrator 2022.

Is your compound path too complex to hold a gradient?

 

Ok. Instead of a compound path I used the pathfinder to create that paths.

Success! Finally I could apply a gradient that sticks after saving, closing and reopening the AI file with the regular version of Illustrator 2022. You could use my result to build your gradient on that again:.

 

Download the file from my Dropbox account:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1tph2tm1uwt0h1z/Cover_3-EDITED-AND-SAVED-2022-3-PathFinderTool.ai?dl=1

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

7 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 4, 2022

"Unfortunately I didn't create the file myself - it was a Vectorstock download - so I didn't have total control over the file from the start."

 

I hope you did not pay money for this. If you did not open it in Illustrator, it should be clear that it was last saved in a beta version of Illustrator. That's one point. The other one: there obviously was no quality control at all.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    Hm.

    Just opened your AI file in the current released version of Illustrator 2022, added a gradient like I did this with the beta version, saved the file, opened it again. The gradient is gone. So your AI file is showing some strange corruption perhaps?

     

    Next step: I copied your paths to a brand new document.

    Released the compound path, did a new compound path, applied the gradient.

    Saved the file, closed the file, reopened the file: gradient on the compound path is gone.

     

    Well. That sounds serious.

    Could be your original compound path from that beta version ?!

     

    To proof that I did a new document, drew some new paths, did not use your artwork, made a compound path out of them, applied a gradient. Saved the file, closed the file, reopened the file. The gradient was still there.

     

    So here is my suggestion:

    Start from scratch with the regular version of Illustrator and do that artwork again.

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    Could also be that there is a bug with the regular version of Illustrator 2022.

    Is your compound path too complex to hold a gradient?

     

    Ok. Instead of a compound path I used the pathfinder to create that paths.

    Success! Finally I could apply a gradient that sticks after saving, closing and reopening the AI file with the regular version of Illustrator 2022. You could use my result to build your gradient on that again:.

     

    Download the file from my Dropbox account:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/1tph2tm1uwt0h1z/Cover_3-EDITED-AND-SAVED-2022-3-PathFinderTool.ai?dl=1

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    F
    Faith5C32Author
    Known Participant
    May 3, 2022

    Thank you thank you.

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    Did you create the file with a beta or prerelease version of Adobe Illustrator?

    Looked into the code of your file and see this:

     

    <illustrator:CreatorSubTool>AIRobin</illustrator:CreatorSubTool>

     

    AIRobin could be an indication…

    Saved your file with the current release version of Adobe Illustrator 2022 and visited that code again:

     

    <illustrator:CreatorSubTool>Adobe Illustrator</illustrator:CreatorSubTool>

     

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    To verify my assumption I saved an AI document from the currently available beta version of Illustrator 26.4.9.

    And indeed the statement for the CreatorSubTool is indeed AIRobin. And I also had trouble to create a gradient fill with the free form gradient tool. It simply did not work on your filled paths. So, it could well be that when saved with a previous beta version your AI file is simply not usable.

     

    See the details. Your file opened with the current beta release of Illustrator 26.4.9 where I added a gradient fill to your artwork:

     

     

    Saved the file. Closed the file.

    Selected the file to open it. The preview of Illustrator beta 26.4.9 is still showing the gradient:

     

    But the gradient is gone when the file is open:

     

    Never trust a beta version…

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    Hi Faith5C32,

    thank you for the AI file.

    Opened that with Adobe Illustrator 2022. The only color I see there is Black.

     

     

    However, when I look at the preview of your AI file in the file system of Windows 10 it seems to be colored:

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022
    • What file type do you import? AI, EPS, PDF or SVG?
    • If PDF, what kind of PDF?

     

    In InDesign go to  the Effects Panel:

    • Select object, what blending mode do you have?
    • Select the content with the direct selection tool, what blending mode do you have?
    F
    Faith5C32Author
    Known Participant
    May 3, 2022

    The file is an AI file. Selecting the object and also direct selecting show a normal blend mode.

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    Can you provide us the file with the linked graphic?

    Geоrge
    Geоrge
    Legend
    May 3, 2022

    How do you do an import? 

    As place or as copy/paste?

     

    Copy/pasting don't store many things, it used only for import "path".

    Remember, never say you can't do something in InDesign, it's always just a question of finding the right workaround to get the job done. © David Blatner
    F
    Faith5C32Author
    Known Participant
    May 3, 2022

    Import

    Geоrge
    Geоrge
    Legend
    May 3, 2022

    Sorry, what?

    Remember, never say you can't do something in InDesign, it's always just a question of finding the right workaround to get the job done. © David Blatner
    John Mensinger
    Community Expert
    John MensingerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2022

    It might help to have more information on the Illustrator construct of that object. Is there a gradient mesh involved?

     

    If you can post a screenshot of it selected in Illustrator with the Layers and Appearance panels in view, perhaps someone willl spot the potential issue.

    F
    Faith5C32Author
    Known Participant
    May 3, 2022

    Yes... here's a screenshot. Thanks!

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