AI files blending modes will not show up on Indesign file

[Julienne5C88]

Hello,

I have run into a problem where whenever I edit an image with Adobe Illustrator and try placing the file in InDesign, the colors won't show up. I am designing for a work project and the way the organization styles their pictures is by converting the original picture to black and white then adding a fill layer on top with a soft light blending mode. I have tried saving it both as a PDF/X-4 file and an AI file and whenever the pictures are placed in InDesign the colors will only show up if it is low resolution, but not high quality, and then once I export the indesign file the colors once again do not show up in the final PDF file. I have attached two screenshots-- one with the color in "typical display" mode and one without color in "high quality display" mode. Is there a way to get the soft light blending mode to show in InDesign? Please help.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Why are you using Illustrator for this and don’t apply the Soft Light-element in Indesign itself or in Photoshop? 

Is the Color a Spot Color? 

What is the ai-file’s File > Document Color Mode > …? 

[Julienne5C88]

I originally used illustrator to make a graphic timeline and used it again for the cover page (pictured above) for a low fidelity image trace. If I do the blending in photoshop will that work? It is a spot color and the document color mode is RGB.

[Luke Jennings3]

Does it make any difference if you turn on Overprint preview in InDesign? (View> Overprint preview). Are you viewing your PDF with Acrobat or Reader with the page display preference for overprint preview set to Always?

[Julienne5C88]

When I turn on Overprint preview in InDesign the colors go away like in the picture above. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I am afraid that if you want to maintain Spot Color Output your setup will not work out. 

In Photoshop Blend Modes cannot be applied to Spot Channels, but you may want to create the image as a psd there nonetheless because you might at least get an almost meaningful preview. 

Could you post screenshots that include the Separations Preview Panel? 

[Julienne5C88]

[rob day]

Your Illustrator file is RGB (the color is showing as process not spot), and it looks like your InDesign document’s Transparency blend space is set to CMYK—the Soft Light blending mode would behave differently when the blend space is set to CMYK. Is this for print?

[Julienne5C88]

This will primarily be viewed on screen, but I might make a few prints. I tried doing the blending in Photoshop this time and it seems to be working, but I still need to convert it to a PDF.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

Then it shouldn’t be a problem to set the InDesign Transparency Blend Space to RGB. Also when you export for screens don’t use a PDF/X preset, they are designed for press output. Use the Export Output tab to convert the ID doc to sRGB.

CMYK Blend Space:

RGB Blend Space:

[Julienne5C88]

This worked! Thank you so much!