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Gareth_Williams
Gareth_Williams
Inspiring
April 14, 2026
Answered

Placed Image Making File Save Slow?

  • April 14, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 32 views

Hi Everybody, I’ve got an Illustrator file with a placed image in it. The image is very large but it’s not part of the actual artwork. It’s just a guide I’m drawing over the top of. When you save the file it takes ages. I guess because of the size of the placed image and that’s a bit annoying.

Is there a way to place an image that you have in the same folder without the Illustrator file actually saving all the data contained in the image file? Another way of achieving the same thing is just removing the placed image when I save the file and then bringing it back in again when I next want to draw over it but I just wondered if that was necessary?

Thanks for your help,
Gareth

    Correct answer Ton Frederiks

    During Place you have an option Link, that will save the file faster.

    Another option, while you are working in Illustrator is to turn off PDF compatibility in the save options.

    You will need to turn that on when you are using the file in other apps, like InDesign.

    1 reply

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    April 14, 2026

    During Place you have an option Link, that will save the file faster.

    Another option, while you are working in Illustrator is to turn off PDF compatibility in the save options.

    You will need to turn that on when you are using the file in other apps, like InDesign.

      Gareth_Williams
      Gareth_WilliamsAuthor
      Inspiring
      April 14, 2026

      Thanks Ton, using the link option is certainly quicker. It still takes longer than I would expect for the tiny amount of vetor data in the file. I would guess that there are still other settings that can be applied. I will investigate later but link is a big improvement on the time it was taking before! Thanks!

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 14, 2026

      ​@Gareth_Williams I would certainly try to turn off the PDF compatibility, when it is on, it will embed the entire linked file. But you will need to turn that on when you are using the file in other apps, like InDesign.

       

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