Blend mode in AI graphic will not work in InDesign when placed

[lewisv123]

Uwe

I have just encountered a problem with my workflow with blend modes and wonder if you might know how to fix, given your helpful response to Mark above.

My situation is a bit different - I am placing (linked) a complex AI file (a map/diagram) into InD . The AI file has many layers and sublayers, and I've been using InD to control which layers are visible in each separate instance in InD. (e.g. in one spread I just want the base map, in another I might want an overlay with traffic circulation illustration).

This is all working fine, but I just noticed a problem with blending...

Basically the "Lighten" blending I have set up (for tree icons) in illustrator is not happening in Indesign. The blending that has failed me is hidden in a sublayer of the AI file, so I don't know what to do.

To complicate things a bit, I should add that the trees are contained in a sublayer that has Isolate blending turned on (so that the Lighten setting controls only how the trees overlap each other, but not how they alter the layers beneath them (showing roads, footpaths etc).

Another level of complexity is that the tree layer is then set to Multiply with the background. The multiply effect is working fine in InD though, so not sure if this is related!

I have turned on overprint preview, but no joy...

Hope you - or anyone - can help

Lewis

PS should this be a new post - not used to these forums yet?

[This post branched by Moderator]

[Laubender]

Hi Lewis,

moderator Ten A was so kind to branch out your post to a new thread.

I suggested a new title, hope that's ok with you.

To your problem:

Could you do screenshots from Illustrator and InDesign to show the difference?
Of course Overprint Preview should be turned on.

Another thing:
Try to export to PDF with PDF/X4 setting from Illustrator with no downsampling of images and place the PDF?

Dov Isaacs from Adobe recently pointed out that this should be the preferred format for placing Illustrator graphics with InDesign.

With this format it's likely that the Multiply on your "tree layer" will not work for InDesign elements on the page.

But let's test this first as a workaround.

Regards,
Uwe

[Laubender]

This thread will continue here for all interested:

inDesign/Illustrator import layers blending problem

Regards,
Uwe