How to Import Illustrator Patterns into InDesign

[Martha Lynn Laskie]

How is it that this feature isn't available?? 


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[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Copy&paste - in pieces - doesn't work? Or you are using some effects? 

But you should rather place PDF/AI file. 

[Bill Silbert]

InDesign does not actually have a pattern feature per se. You can create a workaround by importing (File>Place) a large rectangle filled with the pattern from Illustrator directly into a selected predrawn shape in InDesign. The pattern can then be manipulated in position and size like any other imported graphic. You can edit the pattern at any time in Illustrator and then update it in the InDesign file through InDesign's links Panel.

[Martha Lynn Laskie]

Yes Im aware of the work-arounds, but Il would to be able to import my pattern swatch from Illustrator or save it in my libraries... why isnt this available?

[Mike Witherell]

If you mean CC Libraries, you cannot do this because InDesign does not support pattern fills directly. But you can make a pattern fill object on an artboard in Illustrator, and File > Place that saved/named file into InDesign.

[Bill Silbert]

It's not available because Illustrator is a drawing program with limited layout features and InDesign is a page layout program with limited drawing capability. Pattern fill comes under the area of a drawing program.