Skip to main content
Kwadwo29527087b8wy
Kwadwo29527087b8wy
Participant
Oct 11, 2026 10:55 PM UTC
Question

How can I verify whether students completed their Illustrator assignments themselves or modified the provided End files?

Hi, I’m a Teaching Assistant for a graphic design course. My instructor and I have been having issues with students submitting the completed End files from Adobe Classroom in a Book lessons as their own work. Some even modify the End files before submitting them.

We now require students to submit their original Illustrator and Photoshop working files (.ai). Is there a reliable way to check a file’s editing history or determine whether a student worked through the lesson themselves instead of modifying the provided End file?

    2 replies

    justlearn
    Community Expert
    justlearnCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 21, 2026 9:21 AM UTC

    ​@Kwadwo29527087b8wy Working as an instructor in a higher education institution, I create detailed rubrics for Illustrator and Photoshop assignments. In addition to evaluating the final result, I assess evidence of the design process, such as proper layer naming, the use of groups, logical layer organization, clipping masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, and other non-destructive editing techniques.

    I would also look at the file information. On a Mac, using ‘Get Info’ can show when a file was created and last modified. If the files originated from a Classroom in a Book exercise, those dates may provide clues as to whether a student started with the supplied files or created the work themselves. While this is not definitive proof, it can sometimes help identify suspicious submissions.

    Personally, I do not use Classroom in a Book projects as graded assignments. Instead, I adapt projects to require original work while still meeting the course learning outcomes. For example, a previous instructor required students to design a menu using a supplied logo and images. I revised the assignment so students must create their own logo, select their own images, and redesign the menu while incorporating specific required elements and techniques.

    I also provide the text content, but I intentionally make small changes or include minor errors. This helps me determine whether students are critically reviewing and proofreading their work or simply copying and pasting content without paying attention to detail.

    In my experience, there is no completely reliable way to view a detailed editing history in Illustrator or Photoshop files. Instead, the best approach is to assess the workflow and process. Well-organized layers, meaningful layer names, proper use of groups, evidence of non-destructive editing, and the student's ability to explain how the file was created often reveal far more than the final design itself. A student can modify an End file to resemble original work, but it is much harder to demonstrate the thought process, organization, and technical decisions that occurred throughout the project.

    Translate
    m
    CORCTON34033231
    Community Expert
    CORCTON34033231Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 20, 2026 10:00 AM UTC

    Hi Kwadwo,

     

    Short answer: an .ai file doesn't store a step-by-step editing history that you can review later. The History panel only exists for the current session — once the file is closed, those individual steps are gone, so there is no built-in audit trail.

     

    What you can inspect is the file's XMP metadata. Open a submitted file, go to File > File Info, and check the Advanced / Raw Data view. Compare it with your untouched End file:

     

    1. Document ID and Derived From: a file that began as a copy of the End file typically keeps a Derived From / Original Document ID reference pointing back to it. If that ID matches the End file's Document ID, the student started from the finished file rather than building it themselves.

     

    2. Created vs. Modified dates and the save history (the xmpMM:History "saved" entries): genuine coursework usually shows a creation date near the project start and several saves spread over hours or days. A lightly edited End file often still carries the book file's original creation date.

     

    3. Creator Tool: the Classroom in a Book files were produced with a specific Illustrator version — another useful comparison point, though not proof on its own.

     

    Two honest caveats: metadata can be stripped or edited, so treat it as strong evidence rather than absolute proof. And for Photoshop files, the detailed History Log only exists if it was switched on in Preferences before the work was done — it can't be created afterwards.

     

    For future terms, the most reliable fix is process: have students work in Illustrator cloud documents and submit those. Cloud documents keep a version history you can open and step through, so you can watch the file evolve instead of guessing. Requiring one mid-project checkpoint file helps as well.

     

    Hope that helps!

    Translate
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices