Hello. I have a tint of a PMS swatch that I want to include in an ASE file as part of a family of colors. I do not want to include the full value of the PMS color, only the tint.
InDesign will not export a tint in an ASE file. The parent PMS swatch carries through but the tint is discarded.
Illustrator will export an ASE file with a tint in it, and does not need the parent swatch. It will give you a warning upon saving but it will still do it. The catch? You can only use it in Illustrator. If you open the ASE file in InDesign, the new swatch is not visible.
Is there another way to achieve this?
FYI, I am currently using INDD 2017 release, if that matters.
Thanks for the suggestion, Eugene. Unfortunately, it must be an ASE file. It is going to be bundled as part of a brand standards package that gets passed out to other designers to use so it works best as an ASE file that can be stored on a server or emailed.
Best thing I could suggest for InDesign is creating the swatches on the Page in InDesign - select them all - drag them to the desktop to create a Snippet.
Rename the snippet - brand colours or something.
Then host that Snippet on dropbox or other service and provide a link for users to download.
They can then drop that snippet directly into indesign and it will create the swatches.
Since most people are moving toward CC Libraries, I doubt seriously there will be any change in the ASE standard, which is mainly for people still using Creative Suite products, although you can certain make a feature request. Otherwise, Eugene's suggestions are good. You'll probably just need to provide both options—CC Libraries and a snippet for old InDesign users.
Thanks, Steve. The way you worded that though makes it seem like InDesign is going away. I mean, it is a core CS product. Are there plans to discontinue it?
By the way, I did try to create a special library but when I tried adding the tint, it would not take it. It will only take solid colors. So maybe the snippet is the best alternative.
I meant CS (Creative Suite). InDesign from InDesign CS through CS6 (2012). Everything after that is InDesign CC (Creative Cloud) which has access to CC Libraries after CC 2014. ASE will not go away.
But if you changed ASE it wouldn't change for people who use InDesign CS6 and earlier, Illustrator CS6 and earlier, etc. Those versions are dead and no longer supported so there would be no way to add features like tints and gradients. And those are pretty much the only people still using ASE.
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