How to Resolve Color Discrepancies in InDesign Due to Unlinked Artwork in Illustrator

[keri66780891]

Hello, hoping someone might be able to help me. I created an illustrator file where I used multiple links of a photoshop png to create a pattern. I then brought the pattern into indesign, but I forgot to embed the pngs. I sent the indesign file (packaged) to the printer,  (when indesign packaged, it did NOT include the original png's that were linked within in the illustrator file so the printer didn't have the original photoshop artwork).  For reasons unclear to me, the printer did not have an issue outputting and the resolution was fine. I then had a seperate issue with something unrelated, realized that I didn't embed the images and went back and embedded all of the png's into the illustrator file. When I did this and updated the artwork in indesign, the output is brighter in appearance. My guess is it's because the png is now updated and it's rgb since it's a png, but maybe what they were outputting before is a "memory" of the artwork and it translates to CMYK? Curious to understand this better and why the printer didn't need the original links to output the indesign file? Curious if tell me what my next step is. Wondering if maybe I change all the PNG's to CMYK jpg's, relink and then embed? (I forgot to mention that we like the original color the best). Thank you!

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[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @annawilkins,

Thank you for sharing your query! It sounds like you're experiencing issues with unlinked artwork in Illustrator when outputting from InDesign.

To help, could you provide some more details:

 - InDesign version and details of the operating system.

 - How the artwork was placed in InDesign?

 - Artwork was embedded or linked.

 - Please share the output settings in from InDesign. 

 - Also, please test the issue with a new InDesign file and let us know.

I'm looking forward to hearing back from you. 

Thank you, 
Abhishek Rao

[keri66780891]

 - InDesign version and details of the operating system.

19.5 Sonoma 14.4

 - How the artwork was placed in InDesign?

Imported into picture box

 - Artwork was embedded or linked.

(The issue is the indesign file is linked to the illustrator file, but the illustrator has it's own links that initially weren't embedded - the printer was able to output high resolution even without the links? cannot understand why)

 - Please share the output settings in from InDesign

this I don't know because done at printer

 - Also, please test the issue with a new InDesign file and let us know.

I cannot test because again, I'm not the printer. However, I'm really curious how the printer could output high resolution when they didn't have the original photoshop artwork. I am wondering if somehow when art is placed into illustrator, but then brought into Indesign, if somehow the links aren't needed if you aren't changing anything with the illustrator file?

[Mike Witherell]

Originally, did you File > Place the PNGs into Illustrator? When you did that, was the Link checkbox clicked on or not? If unchecked, the PNG would be actually embedded already.

When you "brought into" InDesign, did you File > Place the .AI file? 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

A placed Illustrator file (.ai) already has the images in it (in its PDF side), whether they were linked or embedded. That link status only affects the workability of the Illustrator file. e.g. If they reopened that file in Illustrator (the Illustrator side) it will report the missing links since they didn't have them, but if that .ai file was opened up in Acrobat (or even Preview) you will see that everything is there. In fact, do that with the old .ai file and then the new one to see if that "difference" shows there.

[keri66780891]

This is helpful! Thank you! I wasn't sure how they possibly printed without the photoshop links!