When placing an Illustrator file into InDesign, the colors don't show up in InDesign

[gracek81560049]

I placed an Illustrator file (all CMYK colors) into InDesign. None of the colors are showing up in InDesign. Anyone know why? Is this maybe because Patone has all gone away? Or do I have to somehow import each color I used in Illustrator into InDesign manually? Would appreciate any help on this. Thanks in advance!!

[rob day · Accepted solution]

Hi @gracek81560049 , On a Place, Process CMYK colors would not be added to the InDesign Swatches panel, colors spec’d as Spot in illustrator would get added to the ID Swatches panel.. If the Clipboard Preference in both apps are setup to keep vector objects, process Swatches would get added on a paste.

[gracek81560049]

Hey Rob, thanks so much. This was very helpful. Ok, I did see how the spot colors showed up in InDesign. You mentioned that if the Clipboard Preference was set up to keep vector objects then the process colors would be added. How do I do that? Am I going to my settings to change this in "Clipboard Handling"? I just can't seem to find it. Thanks again!!

[BobLevine]

This would only apply when using copy/paste from Illustrator.

[gracek81560049]

Great, thank you!!

[rob day]

How do I do that?

In Illustrator set your Clipboard Preferences to this and copy:

Then set InDesign‘s Clipboard prefs to this and Paste—in this case the fill color gets added to the Swatches panel as Process c6m0y70k0:

[gracek81560049]

This is awesome... Thank  you!!