Indeed, I haven’t checked gradients created in any apps other than InDesign. Thank you for investigating it further!

Same for Copy/Paste object with Gradient from InDesign to Illustrator. A gradient with a 100/0/0/0 stop does not copy/paste, but when this stop has 100/1/1/1 it will.

The form here is too restrictive and doesn't allow to attach neither InDesign file nor Joboptions one. Here's a link to download them https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/h1rdj0lof10vilwse13p2/AATwmfaRZ2qaHKSNI4i-T1s?rlkey=qh5qyaschfylg7j1xq8agwwwz&dl=0

You'll find there the following:
- an InDesign file with a misbehaving gradient
- a PDF exported from it
- a PDF settings file, actually, just the standard High Quality Print preset
- and an Illustrator file with the PDF file linked and embedded.

Well, here are:
- an InDesign file with a misbehaving gradient (it has doc extension, rename it to indd, because indd type isn't recognized by the form here).
- a PDF exported from it.
- a PDF settings file, actually, just the standard High Quality Print preset (with txt extension as the form here seems to fail to upload it, change txt to joboptions).
- and an Illustrator file with the PDF file linked and embedded.

Well, here are an InDesign file with a misbehaving gradient. A PDF exported from it. PDF settings, actually, just the standard High Quality Print preset (with txt extension as the form here seems to fail to upload it, change txt to joboptions). And an Illustrator file with the PDF file linked and embedded.

Interesting.
Indeed, the outlined text in the PDF is viewed as colored in viewers, but gets imported as having no fill.
And yes, I tried to create a whole lot of different gradients , with different variations of colors used, including pure channels and mixed ones. None fired.
Can you share also the original .ai document you used, and share the PDF settings?
As for the other report — yep, I saw your comment (I see all of them), but not yet sure if it’s the same problem — that’s why I ask about the details.

I updated AI to the latest version, and the problem still persists. Actually, the default gradient fails to show up after embedding as PDF. I attached an example.

And I believe this report is on the same problem https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/34124506-pdf-press-from-indesign-dropped-in-illustrator-m

Egor,

Please, find attached a test file. I'm using AI 28.1 on macos 14.3.1

Does your test file has 0 in one of the channels for a test object with a gradient? Only moving stops isn't enough to replicate the problem.

Did you also checked the problem with objects pasted from InDesign? Do they keep their fills upon pasting into Illustrator? (With both conditions I described in the initial post)

Can’t confirm.
For me, when I embed a placed PDF (saved as PDF/X-4:2010), Illustrator places missing gradient stops at 0 at 100 positions automatically, doubling existing ones.
Can you please share a test file that you can verify this behavior with?

Just stumbled upon a problem with missing a gradient after embedding a PDF file into an Illustrator document. Imported PDF shows the gradients, but upon embedding the objects with this gradient disappear.

The actual reason I've found after some experimenting is REALLY weird.
If gradient has 0 in at least one of the CMYK channels
AND
one of the stops in the gradient doesn't reach the very beginning or the end of said gradient (0 or 100 respectively),
Illustrator makes it TRANSPARENT.

At also happens if you just copy and paste an object from InDesign to Illustrator (because objects are copied as PDFs).

So, the temporary fix is either to duplicate a stop at an end you need it to be shifted and place the duplicate stop at exactly 0 or 100. Or to add 1 in the channels you don't need in your gradient.

Just stumbled upon a problem with missing a gradient after embedding a PDF file into an Illustrator document.

The actual reason I've found in my files is REALLY weird. Embrace yourself.

If gradient has 0 in at least one of the CMYK channels
AND
one of the stops in the gradient doesn't reach the very beginning or the end of said gradient (0 or 100 respectively),
Illustrator makes it transparent.

Schizophrenic a bit, right?

At also happens if you just copy and paste an object from InDesign to Illustrator (because objects are copied as PDF).

So, the fix it either to duplicate a stop at an end you need it to be shifted and place the duplicate stop at exactly 0 or 100. Or to add 1 in the channels you don't need in your gradient.

Just had the same problem with text using a gradient. Our printer didn't realize the gradient text was missing after adjusting the pdf in Illustrator, so printed and mailed a DM with the text missing.

The work around is exporting as an .eps, as noted, but that's a waste of time. I can't believe Adobe won't address this issue or even comment here.

Wow! So glad I found this. I hope Adobe acknowledges and fixes this someday! Moving or adding a gradient stop to the 100% location seems to be the best fix if you have access to the InDesign file. (Mac Illustrator 26.2.1, InDesign 17.2.1)

Me and my colleagues experience this very frequently. Across mac and PC (CC 2022). Very Frustrating!

I have this exact same issue. Using CC2021 on Windows 10.

Have had this same problem too. The extra problem is we did not have access to the original InDesign file (was only supplied a PDF and we needed to add more bleed for a wrap-mounted project. If I was more adept in Enfocus PitStop it would have been simple).

The solution was to re-export the PDF to EPS from within Acrobat Pro:

> File
> Export To
> Encapsulated PostScript

Then, opening the EPS into Illustrator, the gradient was retained.

Trying to understand this further, I did do an experiment replicating Olivier’s comment (Olivier commented · September 9, 2019 10:36 PM) and found this to be true.

Another aspect I wanted to check was font usage. If the font embedded in the PDF is not a font one has installed or has access to, what happens? (I usually use Acrobat Pro’s > Print Production > Flattener Preview function by adding transparency objects to a PDF (if it doesn’t already have it) then clicking on the “Convert All Text to Outlines” box within this window).

After exporting the InDesign file to PDF, then deactivating the font, then exporting to EPS within Acrobat Pro, the text was outlined when opening in Illustrator (and the gradient was retained).

Hoping this might help.

Try export as Adobe PDF (Interactive)

We made some tests in my company and realized that when creating a gradient in Indesign, exporting a pdf and opening that pdf in Illustrator, the gradient will be missing if the stop of the second color (on the right hand side under the slider) is not at 100% for its position. The 1st color stop can be at any position (and the gradient will reopen fine) but as soon as the 2nd color is not at 100%, the gradient will be missing when opening the exported pdf in Illustrator (last Indesign, last Illustrator, macOS High Sierra).
What we are doing now, whenever the position of the 2nd stop is not at 100%, we add a 3rd stop of that very same color at 100%, seems a good fix for the moment (the gradient is the same and is there when opening the exported pdf in Illustrator)