Participant

Question

Vector pastes as JPG in INDD

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
September 15, 2017
5 replies
3382 views

Hi,

Im having trouble pasting a vector into my indesign file. I've always been able to just "drag and drop" a vector and place it in my indd file. Then I can resize it, recolor it, whatever I wanted and it retained all groups from illustrator.

Now when I do the same process, it pastes my vector into a JPG image.

Is this some hidden preference I accidentally changed? Help!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Srishti Bali

Community Manager

Hi Mimainthebox,

I would like to know if the steps suggested above worked for you, or the issue still persists.

Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance with it.

Thanks,

Srishti

R

rudo123

Inspiring

Sometimes, when pasting complicated object to InDesign (not a good idea), it is placed as embedded graphic (you will get a info dialog about this - something about big or complex data that must be converted to embedded graphic) - so it looks like bitmap (your jpg?), because you really look at generated preview of placed embedded vector. But it is still vector - try copy and paste it back to Illustrator.

winterm

Legend

How do you know it's specifically jpg?

In InDesign, Preferences > Clipboard Handling > Prefer PDF when pasting should be unchecked. Is it?

M

MimaintheboxAuthor

Participant

Yes its unchecked. What IS checked is "Copy PDF to CLipboard"

Im not sure what it is JPG or not but it comes up as an image to each layer.

winterm

Legend

Well, just another wild shot in the dark...

We know nothing about your vector object in Illy. What if it has some effect applied? Say, from Effect Gallery...

InDesign doesn't support those, so it will rasterize your object upon pasting. Honest try to keep appearance while loosing editability.

That said, for testing purposes, did you try to drag'n'drop, say, simple rectangle? No fill at all, just a plain black stroke?

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

I could not replicate your problem using CC 2017 InDesign and Illustrator. I would suggest resetting your InDesign preferences since this would not be an issue at all with the program at default settings.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: With InDesign closed Launch a Finder Window in column view and click on your home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the following two files and delete them: “Adobe InDesign” and “com.adobe.InDesign.plist”. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

After you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, it is a really good idea to create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

For Windows Users: Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset.

If it still doesn't correct the problem then I would suggest also resetting Illustrator's preferences. Use the instructions above substituting Illustrator for Indesign.

JonathanArias

Legend

its not a good practice to past vector art into indesign. It is not good if you are printing the files. its embedding everything which is making your indesign file size bigger than it should be. Go to file and place your vector art in the layout. It opens issues to paste things in.

Place you art and your life will get easier. and remember to package your files.

BobLevine

Community Expert

I’m going to debate that point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with pasting vector art from Illustrator. Simple vectors become native InDesign objects no differently than had you drawn them in InDesign.

Now, what is cause the OP’s problem? That’s a good question so it would be good to get more details.

Version of ID, Illy. Operating system and clipboard prefs from both applications.

rob day

Community Expert

rob day wrote
I think the OS can have an affect. On OSX I get a PDF with AICB unchecked.

You may be right. I'm on Windows, and we still don't know about OP's OS.

Frankly, I always thought AICB must be checked ON for successful copying vectors to ID, and I always keep it on.

But it seems not the case?

FWIW, just my own mileage. Yours may vary:

In Illustrator, copy vector shape to clipboard. Close the app (closing just a document is not enough!). You'll get the Warning about data on the Clipboard. Sure you choose Keep Data, since you want to paste it into ID. Switch to InDesign document, paste. The shape is rasterized. It's not embedded vector eps. as it happens with too complex artworks. And no warnings.

If you copy/paste with Illustrator still running, you'll get editable outlines in ID.

I exported pdf from ID to double check this.

Bigger (red filled) shape is copied, than Illustrator closed, than pasted to ID.

3 smaller shapes are copied from Illy with various settings, same result. Pasted with Illy still running, fills changed in ID.

Your one-liner names it a bit differently:

Didn't notice any difference playing with AI Preferences > File Handling and Clipboard > Clipboard on Quit (On quit? hmm...). The only thing that matters for me is ID's setting Prefer PDF when pasting.

Here's David Blatner's post of 2011, just on topic:

No mention about different behavior on different platforms, though...

Your one-liner names it a bit differently:

On the script you have to watchout for what you are selecting—I think you have the container frame selected, which would be a rectangle with an image or PDF:

A direct selection

OSX's default clipboard format is PDF, which ends up being an advantage for generic cutting and pasting.

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