Preserve Illustrator Transparency

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
August 22, 2017
3 replies
6341 views

I'm trying to import a file from illustrator (CC 2017) to indesign (CC 2017) which contains several shadows and transparencies. However, when I enter in the indesign what was meant to be the shadows is filled with white. How do I solve this problem? Tks!

transpency

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macpawel

Participating Frequently

Bill is right - be carefull and save image as .ai not epps. Don't use copy and paste option but save your ilustrator file and then place it into InDesign. Sometimes if you use very complicated vector image it would be convert to eps or maybe raster image

Be sure your vector image uses transparency. If it is pdf for print shadows may be resterised

Pawel

Dov Isaacs

Legend

Don't save as .AI at all!

Save a copy as PDF using the PDF/X-4 settings and place the PDF file in InDesign making sure to use the import options to enable transparent background.

- Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)

Jongware

Community Expert

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Dov+Isaacs wrote
Don't save as .AI at all!

*cough* unless the OP is randomly checking options on and off, AI's default is to save with full PDF compatibility. In that case, it's a rather "fat" PDF – it will consist of an entire, complete PDF, with AI's native data stored inside as 'private data'. There ought to be no difference between placing this or the same as a PDF.

InDesign's "Show Info" actually tells you it's a "PDF" if you select such an AI file.

> what was meant to be the shadows is filled with white

Enable high quality preview. InDesign defaults to showing a low-res bitmap preview sans live transparency.