Inspiring

Linked Illustrator files do not update properly

Forum|Forum|2 days ago
April 24, 2026
3 replies
27 views

The last update does break linked Illustrator files in photoshop. Linked illustrator files do not update properly and glitch out visually. It’s as if you cut out objects (command+x) and they are still in the linked photoshop file without an option to delete them OR object just don’t render at all. Also, masks which are applied in illustrator seem to be not rendered properly in photoshop (linked AI file).

jane-e

Community Expert

Hi @wnwka

I just now had time to test.

I chose File > Place Linked in Photoshop and placed my Illustrator file. I kept both applications and documents open.
I then made changes in Illustrator and saved the Illustrator file. The changes did not immediately appear in Photoshop.
With the Move tool in Photoshop, I clicked once on the Illustrator image on the Canvas and all updated.
Then I repeated the steps several more times with the same results.

Again, you didn’t specifically say that you clicked the image with the Move tool after editing in Illustrator and saving. I don’t remember having to do that before.

macOS Sequoia

Photoshop 27.5

Illustrator 30.3

Does this work? If not, show before and after screen shots and give your versions of PS, AI, and OS.

Jane

W

wnwkaAuthor

Inspiring

You know what? I don’t want to waste my time with this anymore. Either take this and forward it or not. This is not a user error but a bug in the software. The software does not render illustrator files properly. BTW a quick search lead me to this reddit post which seems to describe the same issue:
https://www.reddit.com/r/photoshop/comments/1pb83gm/anyone_else_been_having_issues_with_placed_linked/

leo.r

Community Expert

Is your Illustrator updated to 30.3? If you still have this problem in 30.3, then did you try to disable Save in Background in Illustrator preferences?

jane-e

Community Expert

@wnwka

I hesitate to say this, but because you didn’t actually say it:

Are you saving the Illustrator file after making the change?

I usually copy from Illustrator, then when I paste into Photoshop there are five options.

I’ll be able to test with your method within a few hours and will get back to you.

Jane

W

wnwkaAuthor

Inspiring

Yes, I link the file to photoshop and then work in Illustrator and save it - switch to photoshop to wait until it updates the rendering. To be more specific, it’s bascially a Mockup I have in Photoshop and the Design itself is made in Illustrator (no effects, just shapes and texts).

jane-e

Community Expert

@wnwka

Can you give us the steps you use to link the Illustrator file?

Jane

W

wnwkaAuthor

Inspiring

Besides “Place linked ...” no other steps are done in photoshop as the file usually get’s updated automatically once I save the Illustrator file.

I have both files open the whole time, so the photoshop file where the Illustrator file is linked and the Illustrator file I’m actively working on.

It’s hard to say what happens in Illustrator or between Illustrator and Photoshop. It’s also hard to say when the issue occurs exactly. It feels like, the issue mainly occurs when I command+x an object. It’s as if the moment before I cut out the object out and the updated version are merged, although there’s no way to get rid of the “old state”, it stays above the updated version the whole time. To get rid of it, I basically save a new illustrator file and link it again until the problem occurs again.

Today, I had an slightly different issue but I assume it’s because of the same reason. I’ve added a mask to a shape which did not render in the linked illustrator file in photoshop at all.

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