Anchor points twist and warp between closing and opening file.

[theTRAC Galleries]

I have tried finding the answer to this issue, but my search results don't get me anywhere close. My issue is that I create a file, get every single anchor, every handle exactly the way I want it, close the file, open it later, and all my anchor points are completely out of whack. The only way I have found to correct this is to delete the "infected" anchors and recreate the paths. On some files, this requires hours of additional work to fix something that wasn't broken when I saved and closed the file. Below is the most recent, extremely simple example (only a single anchor effected), but it's been happening with far too many files recently.

The path shown is saved in its own file, which I bring into other files as needed. The original file's path is fine. The new file with the path is corrupted every time I reopen it. Both files are "embedded" SVGs.

Other irritating things happening recently which may or may not be related, is the pop-up upon saving informing me the file has been accessed/edited or whatever outside of Illustrator, do I still want to save? I haven't opened the file with anything else, though I am connected to the Adobe Cloud, against my will. Another irritation is that embedded SVGs will randomly save as linked, without my consent or knowledge, until I'm attempting to use the file elsewhere and it tells me the images aren't embedded. I then have to go back, Save As embedded and try again. I'm including this information in case all symptoms add up to one gloriously easy fix, ha. ha.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Anubhav M]

Hello @theTRAC Galleries,

Could you share more details, like the exact OS/Illustrator version and whether this happens when saving to a particular folder location on an internal/external/network drive or cloud-synced folder like Google Drive/Dropbox/etc., so I can better assist you?

Also, if you are using a backup utility/software like Time Machine, try disabling it temporarily and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[theTRAC Galleries]

I do not use a backup utility. I am on version 29.4, and get updates regularly, whenever they come out. I save all my files locally to the same general folder/subfolders on my PC. Some go screwy, most do not. So far as I am aware, I do nothing different on the files that go awry than the ones that don't. I save most of my Ai files as .svg, images embedded, not linked. I am hesitant to begin new projects now because of the hassle the program causes me, so I couldn't say if it is still happening, but I have taken the pieces into another file and tried altering/saving there, with the same result. 

Previously, the only way to correct the vector problem has been to delete the errant anchors and remake the vector connections one by one. Dragging handles on the original anchors results in the same issue of them jumping out of whack every single time. I have zero idea how to keep my stylizations in place, or get my rastorized images to remain intact, or the correct size.

Thank you.

[Bobby Henderson]

I suspect there is something wacky going on with the anchor points in the SVG artwork you imported into Illustrator. A plugin such as Vector First Aid would probably correct the anchor point problems.

SVG is not a good format to use for archiving artwork created in Illustrator. If the artwork is going to be edited further or re-used in other projects it is far better to simply save it in Illustrator AI format.