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Import monotone, duotone, and tritone images from Adobe PDF files
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn how to import non-native art that includes monotone, duotone, and tritone images from Adobe PDF files to Illustrator.
When you import artwork from an Adobe PDF file, you can introduce data that can’t be created within Illustrator. This is known as non-native art and includes monotone, duotone, and tritone images. Illustrator’s ability to preserve non-native art, such as linked or embedded PDF content, helps maintain spot color information during color separations.
Select a PDF file that contains a monotone, duotone, or tritone image.
In the Place dialog box:
- Select Link to preserve original data.
- Select Show Import Options if you want to control the page selection.
Select Place and position the file or image on the artboard.
In the Layers panel, select <Non-Native Art> Illustrator object.
Select Object > Rasterize to convert non-native art into an Illustrator object and edit it.
To convert the Illustrator artwork to non-native artwork, select Object > Flatten Transparency.
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