- A lot of questions that I get

have to do with combining images

into an InDesign layout,

especially when it comes to illustrator.

A lot of users think that

the best way to get the images

that you see in illustrator into InDesign,

is to copy and paste.

And that usually does work.

So, here we're looking at an image

of a couple apples on top of their smashed brethren.

And, if I drag a selection rectangle around them all,

and copy,

and then jump to InDesign

where I have a blank document,

and paste,

it comes in.

Now, it initially comes in grouped,

but you can go to the object menu and choose ungroup,

and then you'll see that all these vectors are editable.

Now, if you're ever doing that,

if you're copying and pasting vector lines

and filled shapes from illustrator into InDesign,

and you're not able to edit them,

check your preferences.

In InDesign I'm pressing command or Ctrl K here,

go down to Clipboard Handling

and make sure that Prefer PDF When Pasting is disabled.

And also, I've heard that this might be not quite true,

but it works better if you choose Text Only,

instead of including all information

from the incoming application.

Similarly back in Illustrator,

open Illustrator's Preferences

and go to File Handling and Clipboard,

and then down here On Quit,

even though you're not quitting,

still makes no sense to me why it says On Quit

but in the clipboard,

you usually want to turn on AICB

and Preserve Appearance and Overprints.

If you're mainly concerned with the paths,

I guess you could choose this.

But honestly, in later versions

of InDesign and Illustrator,

they work really well back and forth.

I spent a long time trying to find an image

in Illustrator that just would not paste

and be editable in InDesign

if the preferences were set correctly.

And I have to tell you, I didn't find one.

All right.

So, why would you ever want to import the image?

I mean, isn't it always better to copy and paste?

That way if I want to turn the color of...

Let's see, let me get to the direct selection tool

so that I can edit just that one path.

If I want to fill this with a different color,

I could do so right from the Swatches Panel.

Say that we want it to be red.

Well, usually the only time

that you'd want to copy and paste

from Illustrator into InDesign

is if you just want to grab

some sort of outline or shape

that you're going to further manipulate in InDesign.

Something simple.

For something like this,

which is a bit more complicated,

you should go with a default way

of combining images into InDesign.

And that is to use the Place command

from the File menu,

also known as the Import command

if you're using the Essentials workspace,

let's see, under Import File.

There it is Quick Actions.

They call it Import File here.

I'm going to go back to Advanced.

And one reason,

is that it keeps your file size smaller,

because when you import, you're only importing a preview

of the actual full image.

When you print or export to PDF,

then InDesign sends that full image data

from the other application

to your printer or to the PDF.

Also, of course, you're not prone

to accidentally messing up your Illustrator document.

But something else,

like let's say that we wanted

to get rid of the mashed versions behind here.

It would be kind of difficult.

Instead, if I placed,

let me delete this.

If I placed or imported

that apples image right there,

and I turned on Show Import Options,

I have the ability to turn on and off layers.

So I could say, I don't want the wiggly version,

I just want the apples on top.

See, and there's a script, too,

that will let you manipulate this after the fact,

if you decide later and so on.

Or, you could just select it,

go to Object,

Object Layer Options,

and here you can turn it on and off too.

Pretty cool, huh?

A better way,

whenever you import or place an image,

or drag and drop from the finder or explore,

you'll see see it appear in the Links panel.

And then if you need to edit it from here,

you would just option or alt double click it,

or right click on the image or in the links panel,

and choose Edit Original.

And, it will open up back in Illustrator.

You can manipulate it here.

Let's say I'm going to take off the leaf.

Just that.

Okay. It's good.

And save it.

When I go back to InDesign, it's immediately updated.

Okay?

So better to place or import.

If necessary you can copy and paste paths,

but make sure your preferences are set correctly.

(upbeat music)