Acrobat PDF File Format is having difficulties. Bad parameter.

[treefrog designs]

Does anyone know why Adobe illustrator is suddenly giving me this message on files... preventing my saving them...? ANyone else had this recently? It has only happend since yesaterday....

[Jason28801687x83l]

I can agree with that too. I'm not qualified otherwise to help with the actual problem. I can only share what worked in lieu of real help from Adobe. Sometimes you just need something to work so you can complete your job. I hope for all of us Adobe sorts it out.

[Angel Toledo]

In an attempt to help Adobe tech solve this issue I am including a file that gives this PDF error. The file came from a client so I don't know exactly what version of illustrator it was created in, but I am positive it wasn't the latest. Interestingly, and quite odd, is the fact that the mask on each element is located off the page and does not interact at all with the element. (Don't ask me why.) If I move the mask towards the artwork so there is actually a masking effect, the file is now able to save as PDF. Also, if any one of the two elements is hidden, the PDF file can save. Show both elements, and the PDF is NOT able to save. Feel free to examine the file as i have simplified and removed any elements of copyright.

[Angel Toledo]

https://www.mediafire.com/file/v9d0qvuhl83u2o1/TEST.ai/file

[Round_Earther]

Hey Adobe, time to fix this issue!  All of a sudden I can't write PDFs making it rather difficult to submit finalized print projects to clients!  Nothing has changed in my workfrlow vs. any previous projects and symptoms are exactly like described by others.

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi @Round_Earther check the post from @Jason28801687x83l - Our team found that the problem lies in text that should be converted to outlines or in corrupt clipping masks. 

[Ton Frederiks]

But according to reports on Uservoice it can also be caused by Opacit masks.

[Bombcrater]

Well that doesnt ring true does it?  If this was due to 'corrupt' elements then these 'corrupt' elements should also affect older versions of Illustrator which appears they don't.  Furthermore what is the point of having to convert text to outlines just to save our files, losing the funtion of editing to text test is not an acceptable solution?!

If you look back over the years this and the other problem I am having (copy and paste intermitantly not working in Illustrator) has been around before.  What ever happened to beta testing..... oh yes retailers ship the saftware now and allows us, the customer, to do it for them when its supposed to be a stable release.  This is why we are seeing updates at least once a week now.

[guipace]

I had the same problem today, and what solved it for me was to convert all types to paths (Type > Create Outlines). No more "bad parameter" after this.

[default3yuanbog7w9w]

All of my text is outlines and I am still gettign this error. 😞

[kevin stohlmeyer]

@default3yuanbog7w9w see above it can also be caused by masks.

[default3yuanbog7w9w]

How can I remove masks, when it is complex art that I didn’t create? I risk modifying the art incorrectly.

Best Regards,
<removed personal info - use caution when replying via email with automatic footers>

[Bombcrater]

You simply cannot.

[Angel Toledo]

@default3yuanbog7w9w  It's a process of elimination. First duplicate the file, then start deleting layers or objects and trying to save as pdf until you find the culprit. Use the Layers Window and show all the sublayers (make sure to uncheck "Show Layers Only" in the Panel Options). Depending on the artwork itself, you can probably recreate it by another method that is not opacity masks.

[Bombcrater]

We should not be using workarounds because Adobe has launched yet another version of Illustrator which is ridden with bugs. This is the tail wagging the dog.

[Liz5CBF]

Hi I didn't remove the masks, just clicked into them and moved them around a bit and then exited the mask. Then I saved and it worked

[Bombcrater]

This is not an acceptable solution, losing all text editablity in an illustrator file is not what we should be doing, it is not what the software was designed to do.

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi @Bombcrater nobody is saying this is the solution - but it is a workaround until Adobe can address this. The other viable alternative is to simply roll back one version until a permanent solution is announced.

[Bombcrater]

OK I must have been mistaken when I read many comments saying that outlining text and deleting opacity masks was the solution.

I agree those actions are not acceptable and we should not be doing anything that puts us at a disadvantage.

This has been reported several times before the latest version was released today, seems like Adobe are in no rush to resolve it, I bet they won't be as slow to collect the next month's subscription.....

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Again, if it's negatively affecting you in this great a manner - based on your responses, I would revert back to the last version which did not have this issue and continue on until a solution is presented. The issue has been noted, people have upvoted and posted on the UserVoice site, so piling comments on this thread isn't pushing the needle forward.

[Remi B_Mecalac]

I have just posted a message to explain how I found a wy to save as a pdf. 

To summerise it si due to opacity mask when they matching each over.

So adobe support finally (after spending 2 hours by phone) ask me to use the 2022 illustrator version (!)

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi everyone - see this post on Illustrator User Voice (Bugs). Add your comments and upvote the issue:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/46382371-acroba...

[default3yuanbog7w9w]

Is there a solution for this yet? Seems to be a global bug that alot of people are getting. Mine started today. Saving as a standard PDFX/4 is impossible on most files - using 1,2 works at the moment. Illustrator files wihtout unchecking the compliant PDf box will not save either.

[Liz5CBF]

Hi, see my comment below - it may help!

[Liz5CBF]

Same issue here for around 3 files so far over the last few weeks. 

[Liz5CBF]

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:

I managed to export the PDF finally after opening the mask and moving it around a bit and then exiting the mask. Then I saved it and it worked.