PowerPoint/Excel charts imported into InDesign

[C***@adobeforums.com]

I finally made the switch from PageMaker to InDesign. I need to pull some charts into InDesign. Right now I am creating them in PowerPoint. To import them, I "select all", copy and paste. Some of the charts have shaded areas, and for some reason the shading all goes away when I pull them into InDesign. Only the solid colored areas remain as is. Also, some of the lines from the chart background are removed. Does anyone know why this happens and what to do about it?

Also, what's the secret to printing charts with CMYK colors? My whole booklet uses spot colors (CMYK), but these stupid Excel charts are only in RGB. I really can't pull them into Photoshop and change colors because some of them have these shaded and patterned areas which would be impossible to color correctly. Seems like the last time I printed these, the printer could not change those charts to encorporate the CMYK colors. What to do?

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Try printing the charts to PDF using a CMYK profile or press quality setting.

[unknown]

Do not use fancy fills in PP or Excel. Create the charts simply and then
C/P to Illustrator. Then do the tweaking there.

The other possibility is to create PDF from Excel or PP and place that
in ID.

Bob

[J***@adobeforums.com]

Taking those charts through Illustrator works great for me. Except that I've
had trouble with Ppt transparency effects, which get nasty. The transparency
looks a lot better when re-done in Illustrator, anyway.

-John O

[C***@adobeforums.com]

OK. So a couple more questions.

Worse-case scenario - I have to use the Excel charts as is. BUt my problem is still existing that the shaded and textured areas don't show up when pulled into InDesign? WHY is that? I'm actually missing my PageMaker right now since this was never a problem there. I don't know how to add shading and such in Illustrator (very novice user). Also, I wanted to use the 3D charts and I don' think that would be too easy to color those in Illustrator. I would have to go back to a simple chart, correct?

I may end up trying the PDF conversion, although that bothers me since even using Press Quality, I don't feel like the quality is as good as pulling graphics directly into the program.

What is the simplest way to pull charts into InDesign? They need to take that back to the drawing board and do what PageMaker did, where it allowed you to open the actual chart in PM and edit it on the fly.

[unknown]

I'm guessing that you either used paste special or insert object in PM.
Both of those were very flakey and if you never had a problem consider
yourself lucky.

I already gave you the simplest method...Create a PDF and place that. If
the quality is no good, then let us know in what way and/or post a link.

Bob

[unknown]

Which is why I don't recommend doing that in Excel or PP. For
professional results use the right tools.

That means Illustrator or CorelDRAW to create the final artwork.

One other point. C/P from Excel or PP to ID CS created a pixelated low
res image. In CS2 you get vector based artwork that should be okay if
you keep it simple.

Bob

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Caveat.

The creation of PDFs from Excel is a good technique, and generally the one I'd recommend. However, I've been burned when the Excel chart contains patterns and shading. I would recommend that if you use this method, you work with your printer's prepress people to make sure that what you expect is what is on the plate BEFORE it gets onto the press.

[D***@adobeforums.com]

I just did a test from Excel and PowerPoint for Mac 2004 to Illustrator CS2. I copy/pasted a chart from both Excel & PP, and in Illustrator, after ungrouping/releasing clipping masks, I found that everything was alterable...right down to editable text!

Do you have Illustrator CS2 as a translator? If they come in rasterized, then at least you'd have Live Trace to give you some control over editing.

[Y***@adobeforums.com]

Your problem was excel and PP dont create gradients the same as adobe. When you pull a file with gradients into illustrator it creates a separate color for each band of the gradient. It's easiest to reformat in illustrator.