Grotesquely LARGE AI source files. Pray tell why?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
April 1, 2022
2 replies
468 views

Thought I'd resurrect this gripe for 2022. Found some ol technotes from 2017 and 2018 on this board, but doesn't apply.

Using Illustrator 2021 (25.4.1) and I build some fairly intense Illustrator files. Either just one or two artboards. Lost of layers using vector art, gradients, imported JPG images, nothing unusual..

Yet when i continue to work with the file, open, close, save, open, close, save.. etc. the file starts at 40 or 55 MG and balloons to the 1.2 sometimes 2.4 GB size ?!?!?!?!

No clue why.. it's not like I'm importing 3d video into the file.

I did read something about turning off the 'PDF Compatible file' when doing a Save As, which reduces it.. oh another 100 MG. Yet that's typically a non-starter as I need the file to have the fonts so it can be edited by other designers.

Thoughts? Is it just my albatross to feed.. ?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

JPG is not a format you should be placing into Illustrator. JPG is a compressed final format for web. Try using .PSD and linking to the images not embedding. Yes ofcourse turn OFF PDF-Compatible when saving, if you do not need that.

S

SundayGladiatorAuthor

Legend

Thank you, PSD is always better practice. I'll remind myself of that. Yet just means AI file will be more behemoth. But what are you going to do..

I'll try paying more attention to the PDF compatible off switch when saving.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

Are the jpgs embedded or linked?

Raster effects, etc. all add up.

If your art is "fairly intense" I would consider a 1-2 GB file not that out of the ordinary.

S

SundayGladiatorAuthor

Legend

For raster images they are either JPG or PNG. Not terribly large - anywhere from 2 to 10 megs.

It's the act of opening, closing, saving etc that the file suddenly balloons to GB size over time. Quite unusual. Like it's raiding the fridge in my computer when I'm not looking.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

So if you do nothing to it but open, save and close several times it bloats?

Or are you adding more elements, etc. each time you open and save?

Is ~55 MB the file size for the blank artboard?

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