Why are transparent Stock Illustrator files also available as JPG but not PNG?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 23, 2024
2 replies
379 views

I don't need and cannot justify the cost of the full Adobe suite. However this creates a problem when downloading transparent AI files from Adobe Stock. On many occasions - although not all - the transparent grid appears to be flattened into the AI file layers. App's other than Illustrator cannot then remove the transparency grid.

Yet Stock always offers an alternativge JPG download for these files - when they have a transparency grid this is of cource completely useless. A PNG file without the grid on the other hand would be fine.

Why is this not offered? Is it simply to force users to purchase Illustrator?

I'm not a design pro so I might be missiong something. However, I just spent over an hour on Adobe support and their only answer was 'buy Illustrator'.

AdobeStock_431412982.zip

This topic has been closed for replies.

Abambo

Community Expert

Those assets are using complex mathematical calculations that need a background to work as intended. And those assets are not available as PNG files, because the checkerboard background is the dummy background. You will need Adobe Illustrator to use such assets. All assets of this type, that I have licensed until now are great.

Any vector graphic showing a checkerboard background uses this, and they can be used only with Adobe Illustrator.

However, if they would not use that checkerboard background, the effect would be awful in the visual preview.

So, if you do not have illustrator, do not licence an asset that is not offered as a PNG file, if transparency is important. The checkerboard background will be present in JPEG files. JPEG files are basically useless with such assets.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

Jill_C

Community Expert

Adobe does not force you to use Illustrator; however we have found that some Stock Contributors have incorrectly applied the shaded grid even when the image is not truly transparent.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

L

Len0101Author

Participant

I have seen this also but for the most part only on low quality 'get your free image here' type sites. I wouldn't expect it from Adobe stock. So if this happens can I get a refund on the poor quality image?

Jill_C

Community Expert

If you have confirmed that it is not truly transparent you can request a credit.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

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