Make a placed object (from Illustrator) white

[OsakaWebbie]

I want to use the same Illustrator shape in two different colors in InDesign (the original, which will be used with Color blending mode to affect the background, and plain white as an icon). I can't just copy/paste the path and use fill color (however tempting that might be) because I want to retain the link to Illustrator so that if I change the path there, all instances in InDesign will change accordingly. I tried different blending modes and looked through the effects, but nothing seems to do it.

I was originally trying to do this project (a set of scifi book covers) mainly in Photoshop, but it was extremely slow and cumbersome, and I realized that most of it could be done much more easily in InDesign, which is also the Adobe app I'm most proficient in by far. But this little thing was possible in Photoshop with a Black-and-White smart filter, whereas I can't figure it out in InDesign.

Alternatively, if there is a way in Illustrator to have two paths that are somehow "parent and child" so that editing the anchors/handles in the parent path affects both, but the fill colors are different, that would solve my problem - I'd just use two artboards and place them as desired in InDesign. (Yes, I know this isn't the Illustrator forum, but perhaps someone knows.)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

How about using layers in your linked Illustrator file? 

[OsakaWebbie]

Can you share a little more detail of what you're thinking? I know I can use layers to have a red path and white path (I'm currently using artboards, but layers would work also), but how can I make red and white layers based on the same path so that any edits to the path affect both? (If it matters, I'm already using a reflect effect to make it symmetrical. I experimented with making it a clipping path, but the reflected half disappeared. And even if it hadn't, I don't know how to make a single clipping path affect two different color layers.)

[Scott Falkner]

Duplicate the artwork in Illustrator to a new layer and make the artwork on that layer white. Use Object Layer Options to show only the layer you want for each instance of the logo in InDesign.

[Willi Adelberger]

Can you share a little more detail of what you're thinking? I know I can use layers to have a red path and white path (I'm currently using artboards, but layers would work also), but how can I make red and white layers based on the same path so that any edits to the path affect both? (If it matters, I'm already using a reflect effect to make it symmetrical. I experimented with making it a clipping path, but the reflected half disappeared. And even if it hadn't, I don't know how to make a single clipping path affect two different color layers.)

By @OsakaWebbie

you have to copy the path in Illustrator to a new lyer and change the color there. 
in InDesign you place the file and use the import options to select which layer will be veisible and which will be hidden. 

But honestly, I would create a second file, save a copy, make there the color changes and place or replace this file. If someone is not experienced it happens with linked AI files, that after changes done in Illustrator the wrong layer appears. 

[OsakaWebbie]

Thanks, Scott and Willi. But neither of you seem to understand my desire. You say "duplicate the artwork" or "copy the path" (synonyms), but that would make two independent objects. That's what I already have now. The path in question is an alien hand, which the author might later want me to adjust the shape of before the covers are finalized. I want to avoid having to try to do the same edits to two paths (likely not doing them exactly the same way).

[Scott Falkner]

You are asking for the impossible.

You could rasterize the artwork and save it as a 1-bit TIF, which you can colourize in InDesign by selecting with the content tool and aplying the Paper swatch. This wouls still require re-exporting the image when you edit it.

[Eugene Tyson]

Hi @Scott Falkner Scott

Yeh from Illustrator placed link it's incredibly difficult I didn't even explore that option.

As it might be a very simple illustration - I hope my method of Copying and Pasting to InDesign from Illustrator and using the Place and Link as I demoed suffices for their needs. 

Then they can edit the original and all other iterations throughout are linked and updated and preserver individual appearance edits. 

Let me know what you think. I never tried this before so it's new to me too - hope there's no major flaws/gaps in my theory! 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks, Scott and Willi. But neither of you seem to understand my desire. You say "duplicate the artwork" or "copy the path" (synonyms), but that would make two independent objects. That's what I already have now. The path in question is an alien hand, which the author might later want me to adjust the shape of before the covers are finalized. I want to avoid having to try to do the same edits to two paths (likely not doing them exactly the same way).

By @OsakaWebbie

As the 2nd is just a copy anyway - then you could edit original, duplicate it and change its appearance.

[Eugene Tyson · Accepted solution]

In InDesign

Copy your Hand into the layout

 

Add a background and set it to multiply

Copy the Hand

Use Place and Link

On the Placed and Linked object - set your transparency back to normal on the placed link (note it shows in the Link Panel)

On the Placed and Linked Object Change the colour to white

On the Links Panel go to Link Options

 The top one is optional - the other is necessary

 Click back on your original and make an edit

 

 Link now is required to be updated

Update the link and the change is made - but the appearance is preserved.

 

[OsakaWebbie]

Wow, I would have never guessed that an InDesign object could be linked to another InDesign object - I only knew about links to external sources. Convoluted, but it works! Your guess is correct that it's a relatively simple shape, so I don't mind doing any potential path editing in InDesign instead of Illustrator.

[Eugene Tyson]

Well it's quick to setup once you know the steps. Great that it will work for your needs.

[Dirk Becker · Accepted solution]

For the Illustrator side of the question: learn about symbols.

E.g. create your hand shape and a background.

Select both, and add them as one symbol in the Symbols palette.

Duplicate then means placing another instance of the symbol.

The interesting part of it - you can use the direct selection tool on any part of one placed instance, in our example that would be either the hand shape or the background, and modify / override them in the appearance panel. Different color, show hide that part, or apply any effect such as transform.

For example before UI became boring "clean", we had multiple shades of icons (for dark .. light UI), multiple scalings (normal, hidpi Windows 150% and Mac 200%), and a mouse-over version with colorful accents to better stand out. That would be 24 copies of the same icon, at different scales and few appearance tweaks.

[OsakaWebbie]

Wow, this is even better, as it preserves the reflect effect that forces it to be symmetrical (the alien has two thumbs, so the hand is indeed symmetrical). And it allows me to more easily use the symbol elsewhere besides the book cover document, while keeping it as the original, official shape.