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Import from Illustrator looks terrible in InDesign

Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Test.JPG

When I place graphic files in InDesign it looks terrible. Normally it works perfect. What is wrong?

I tried to change from Mac to PC, but that did not help

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Expert , Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

Effective PPI are 23

Bingo. For print, you want to resolution to be at lease 200 ppi, although the precise number depends on the output device. The files are very very low res and that accounts for the pixelation.

You can place native .ai files from Illustrator into InDesign and not have to deal with resolution at all. That's my recommendation.

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Advisor ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Are you using High Quality display settings?

Right click and choose display performance as below:

test6.PNG

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Advisor ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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In short > because you could have hundreds or even thousands of graphics/images in an InDesign document unless you specifically tell it to.. InDesign will display everything by default on "typical display settings" or occasionally on Fast display...

This essentially is a thumbnail or pre-render of the actual graphic displayed at a much lower resolution and quality than the original - giving you that blocky effect that you can see.

If however graphics are still blocky on high-quality display settings then this normally means that the original image/graphic is much too small to be scaled to the size you have set it in Indesign (i.e. width/height taken on X size of X spread).

Best,

EW

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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It is now at high, but the result is the same

This illustration is in A4 Size and I import it smaller to Indesign

Photo af Ai årke.JPGÅkre i Inn.JPG

I think is so strange( fruuustrating) , because it never have been a problem earlier.

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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And when I try to copy some elipses from Ai to Ind I get the coding instead??

<!-- Generator: Adobe Illustrator 21.0.2, SVG Export Plug-In  -->

<svg version=”1.1”

     xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” xmlns:xlink=”http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink” xmlns:a=”http://ns.adobe.com/AdobeSVGViewerExtensions/3.0/”

     x=”0px” y=”0px” width=”617px” height=”95.3px” viewBox=”0 0 617 95.3”

     style=”overflow:scroll;enable-background:new 0 0 617 95.3;” xml:space=”preserve”>

<style type=”text/css”>

    .st0{opacity:0.77;}

    .st1{fill:#79BBB8;}

    .st2{fill:none;stroke:#E7EFEF;stroke-miterlimit:10;}

</style>

<defs>

</defs>

<g class=”st0”>

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Advisor ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Hmmm....

Have you changed the global display settings to high quality?

If that doesn't work have you tried clicking on the frame (that contains the graphic) in InDesign then right click>preview>High Quality?

If none of that works - have you tried exporting to PDF at maximum resolution settings and seeing what that looks like?

Then Finally -

Do you have any raster effect settings set in Illustrator? (Effects > Document Raster Effect Settings...)

Are you using native illustrator files? Do you import and place these or copy and paste them into InDesign?

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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It is all on high and some of the graphics have no effect, bur are only shapes with color fill

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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And it also looks terrible in a PDF

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Can I send you the InDesign file in any way?

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Advisor ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Yes you can use a file sharing site like Dropbox.

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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nilleg57851248  wrote

And it also looks terrible in a PDF

Then I suppose that the links to the original files are not updated or missing.

Check the Links panel.

Regards,
Uwe

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Hi,

did you do a test with Separation Preview panel and Separations turned on?

Or at least with View Overprint turned on?

Regards,
Uwe

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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nilleg57851248  wrote

… I think is so strange( fruuustrating) , because it never have been a problem earlier.

Did you had to trash your preferences lately?

Maybe your import options were set to default?

After inspecting your screenshot of your intital post I cannot see an Illustrator file placed.

Just an EPS file that perhaps was saved with Illustrator.

For EPS file types always check For screen: "Rasterize the PostScript" with your EPS place options.

From my German InDesign where this option is set:

EPS-Import-Options-Rasterize-the-PostScript.png

You can set the Import options at the bottom of the Open dialog where you select the file you want to place.

Regards,
Uwe

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New Here ,
May 15, 2019 May 15, 2019

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WOW!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

I spent so many hours trying to sort this out and nearly canceled the job - THANK YOU!!

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New Here ,
Apr 10, 2021 Apr 10, 2021

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Bro, I love you! I'm new to Indesign and was frustrated over an imported SVG file being pixelated.

 

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New Here ,
May 19, 2021 May 19, 2021

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THANK YOU!!!!

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New Here ,
Jan 26, 2022 Jan 26, 2022

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Solved it. Thanks. I knew this was an option in preferences. But, did not know it was in the View dropdown menu.

 

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Select one of the images, and check the Effective PPI in the Links panel. What does it say?

InDesign CCss_018.png

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Actuall PPI are 72

Effective PPI are 23

Dimensions are 97 x 113

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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So that means the exports were at 72ppi, and then the art was scaled up in size on the ID page, thus lowering the effective ppi to a crude 23 ppi. How are you exporting these pngs and jpgs from Illustrator? Why are you not keeping the artwork in a vector format like a native .ai file or a PDF file format?

Mike Witherell

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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I will import an ai file every time now !

Thank you THANK YOU

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Great! And use File > Place.That way you can use the Pencil icon in the Links panel to hop over to Illustrator to edit and file. When you save and close, InDesign will update the document to reflect the latest update.

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Effective PPI are 23

Bingo. For print, you want to resolution to be at lease 200 ppi, although the precise number depends on the output device. The files are very very low res and that accounts for the pixelation.

You can place native .ai files from Illustrator into InDesign and not have to deal with resolution at all. That's my recommendation.

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Community Expert ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Try these steps in this order:

1. Close the file

2. Open InDesign preferences > Display performance

3. Set both Typicals to High Quality

4. Uncheck Preserve Object Level Display Settings

5. Click OK

6. Re-open your file

7. Sometimes InDesign stubbornly ignores these global settings and a right-click of the problem graphic might reveal something under Display Performance.

Further advice:

Don't copy n paste from Illy; it is better to PLACE an Illustrator .ai file. If you feel you must copynpaste, go to Illy preferences  > File Handling > Clipboard. Turn off Include SVG Code. Turn ON AICB and either preserve paths or preserve appearance and overprints, if you are making more complex drawing.

Don't use the aged, creaky EPS filetype anymore. It cannot transparency blend mode. It cannot support live effects like drop shadows. Save stuff as .AI or .PDF from Illustrator.

Oh, and make sure your links are good in the Links panel.

Mike Witherell

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Engaged ,
Feb 20, 2017 Feb 20, 2017

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Hurrayyy

It was the handling/clipboard thing

Thank you for so many good advises 😄

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