How to Copy from Illustrator in Adobe InDesign

Updated on:

April 6, 2026

By:

Madhav Bhandari

Use this interactive demo to learn how to copy elements from Illustrator to Adobe InDesign.

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Here is a step-by-step guide on how to copy basic elements, such as shapes, from Illustrator to Adobe InDesign:

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To copy from Illustrator to InDesign, use the Selection Tool to select the elements or content you want to copy.
Then, right-click the selected content and choose 'Copy.'
Next, open your InDesign document, right-click on the page, and select 'Paste' to insert the copied content.
The content has now been successfully copied from Adobe Illustrator into your InDesign document.

📌 Why this matters

Copying Illustrator elements into InDesign lets you combine vector graphics with sophisticated layout capabilities without losing quality or editability. This workflow becomes particularly powerful when you're building complex publications that need consistent branding elements across multiple pages.

Rather than recreating logos, icons, or illustrations from scratch, you maintain design continuity while leveraging InDesign's advanced typography and multi-page features. The copied elements retain their vector properties, so you can still resize and modify them as needed within your layout.

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