How to use illustrator icons in Adobe InDesign document?

[unique_enthusiast5CD7]

I newly designed icons using Adobe Illustrator and now would like to use those icons for a document in InDesign. May I ask please how to integrate them? It is not possible to scale the icons when I paste the icons in Adobe InDesign.

[jmlevy · Accepted solution]

Place them in your InDesign document. Shortcut is Cmd D (Mac) or Ctrl D (Windows). Even it is possible to copy from Illustrator and paste in InDesign, it is not recommended, but anyway, you should be able to scale the objects.

[defaulthunsofcctdbv]

So I create my log - Done. How do I add to library? How do I add the logo to the InDesign? Just hit  CMD D when on the document page? Sorry for not understanding. Could you possibly link a tutorial video? Not sure why when I save it has to do "ai" at the end and then in the InDesign I cannot use the "ai" saved doc....all very frustrating.

[jmlevy]

How do I add the logo to the InDesign? Just hit  CMD D when on the document page? 

Yes.

Not sure why when I save it has to do "ai" at the end and then in the InDesign I cannot use the "ai" saved doc

To be able to import the logo in your InDesign file, the logo filemust be saved (in Illustrator) either as an Illustrator file (.ai) or a PDf file (.pdf). The InDesign file cannot be saved as .ai, only as .indd or exported as .pdf

[defaulthunsofcctdbv]

Thank you was able to use the Illustrator created logo. How do I open an InDesign in Photoshop? Or better yet mail to someone so that they could read/open the InDD file. Why are Adobe files not compatible with other Adobe programs?

[Test Screen Name]

You can't open INDD files in Photoshop. 

If you need an UNEDITABLE version - review copy - save as PDF.

[defaulthunsofcctdbv]

Why are they not compatible? How do people open the documents in PDF if the program does not let me save as PDF? How do I save as PDF?

[defaulthunsofcctdbv]

My real problem is, I created the document in InDesign. Looks great and want to send to a colleague to read. He does not have the InDesign nor do the other prospective people I want to send the flier. How do I save in a format other than ai or indd so they can open and read? When I try to save as PDF it does not allow me to save as PDF. Sorry for the dumb questions.

[jmlevy]

When I try to save as PDF it does not allow me to save as PDF. 

You can't save an indd file as PDF, you have to export it as PDF (Cmd E)

[defaulttc4be6yxld11]

Thank you

[jmlevy]

How do I open an InDesign in Photoshop?

Why would you want to do this?

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Why are Adobe files not compatible with other Adobe programs?

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Because they are made to perform completely different tasks. It is exactly the same thing than having a jigsaw, a circular saw and a drill…

[defaulthunsofcctdbv]

Understood, but why are they not comåpatible programs? Both saws fit in my workshop.

[Test Screen Name]

"Both saws fit in my workshop." Yes, but you would struggle to use one of your saws - even your best saw - to put a nail in a wall, and using a screwdriver as a chisel is rarely satisfactory. If you see these apps as basically the same, you just need to spend more time with them both... Adobe make them as separate apps to do separate jobs - but like a saw, a chisel, and a screwdriver, you switch constantly between them as part of your work.

[defaulttc4be6yxld11]

Thanks, appreciated. Have a good one 🙂

[Derek Cross · Accepted solution]

Add them to your library.