: Is there a way to test a color series of .ai graphics placed in InDesign? I have a set of 8 label graphics designed in Illustrator (.ai files) that I am placing in InDesign for text layout.

@Pierce403

Here's a workaround that you may find acceptable(or not ^^): using Alias Inks.
Of course, you'll understand that if you have a complex AI design with transparencies, it might not work as intended.

The idea is to first create and apply spot colors in Illustrator.
This is an example with 2 spots colors for yellow and blue (I call them Spot1 and Spot2):



Then go back to Indesign. Make sure 'Overprint Preview' is ON.
Create 2 new spots colors (I call them AliasSpot1 and AliasSpot2)
Open Ink Manager (Window > Output > Separations Preview, then Options > Ink Manager). Set Spot1 as an alias of AliasSpot1, and Spot2 as alias of AliasSpot2.
Finally, you can change the values of AliasSpot1 & 2 in the swatch panel.

Obviously, if you intend to print, don't forget to convert Spot to CMYK in Acrobat.

See example:

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@Holmes874

Have you considered reversing the process? Copying your layout from InDesign to Illustrator, setting it as a locked group/layer, and doing whatever you want with the labels on top of it.

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@Murray976

Illustrator files are not directly editable in InDesign. That includes color.


Set up your labels in Illustrator where you are free to copy and edit everything
Copy/Paste artwork from AI to INDD which will allow editing of the artwork in InDesign, ease of editing will depend entirely upon complexity of the artwork. (And nothing will be "linked" so the Illustrator files would then be ignored).


update after a bit more thought

Another option is to utilize layers within the Illustrator file. InDesign will allow you to toggle layer visibility within InDesign for linked Illustrator or Photoshop files.

So, set up your Illustrator file with a new layer for each color scheme:

Illustrator:


Keep the layers stacked on top of one another in Illustrator. Place the .ai file as a link in InDesign.

You can then right-click/control-click the placed image in InDesign and choose Object Layer Options... (Or choose Object > Object Layer Options from the menu with the image selected) which will allow you to toggle layers:

InDesign:


This still requires you to edit the .ai file for color variations. However, if there's some integration with InDesign that can't be replicated in Illustrator, this will allow you to play with layers and subsequently overall design colors in InDesign.

To be frank, I'm not certain why this would really be any easier than just setting labels up entirely in Illustrator. All I can assume is that something like the InDesign data merge feature may be in use.

CS6 screen shots/animation merely because I dislike CC versions. All the functionality in CC is exactly the same. However, panels, cursors, and highlights may look a bit different with more recent application releases.

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