Can't save the illustration. Could not complete the requested operation.

[Heather2889101563e9]

Hello, 

I've seen a few others having the same issue but the solutions that worked to correct it for them are not working for me. I can save as .pdf, .ai, etc. but not .eps.  I've tried saving to my Network and to my desktop, neither work in .eps. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the software (multiple time because of other issues I had going to the new M2 chip) and made sure it was up to date. I've turned off background saving. Still the same error message...  Anybody else having this issue and find a solution? 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @Heather2889101563e9 go to Apple System Preferences/Security and Privacy/Full Disk Access and making sure Illsutrator is listed and active.

I'm on an M1 Ventura and do not have an issue saving .eps. Can you include a screen shot of your eps save settings?

[Heather2889101563e9]

Hi Kevin! Thanks for the reply. I actually had Adobe take over my computer today and they can't figure it out either. They did give full access to Illustrator to no avail. Nothing in my save setting have changed. I even attempted to update a single color in a file from last year (changed from teal to purple) and now I can't even Command Save that older file. It was fine for the first two weeks I had this new computer and just started two days ago. The Adobe tech just recommended I go back to an older version until tomorrow when a senior tech can look into it. The older versions do it as well. I'm at a loss. I invested in the M2 Pro Max MacBook Pro from a 2018 MacBook Pro for a reason - to handle these larger files better - and it's just been a huge disappointment.... I'll update here tomorrow if the senior tech is able to come up with a solution. I'm not the only one who is having this issue based on my search for a solution to this. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @Heather2889101563e9 try copying your art to a new file and see if you can save that. It could be an issue with older files.

[Heather2889101563e9]

Hi @Kevin Stohlmeyer . I did that with the the Adobe tech and tried a few files. No go. Just restarted everything this morning in hopes that it was just something "stuck" and I still get the error. It's older files (and by older I mean files that I created Friday of last week with no issue as well as files from last year) and brand new files and still get the error message. The senior tech appointment is today 10am-12pm est so I'm crossing my fingers and toes that we can find a solution. I appreciate your help!

[Heather2889101563e9]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer  Just finished up with the senior Adobe tech. The issue is multiple art boards. As of now, Adobe doesn't fully support the M2 chip but will hopefully have an update soon so this isn't an issue. I didn't realize it when I was having the issue but the issue is having multiple art boards. If the file has a single art board, no issue. I hope this helps save someone else lost hours going back and forth with support to figure out what the issue is. 

[Met1]

Can I ask why you need to save to .eps?

[Heather2889101563e9]

@Met1  I have a large format printer that runs on .eps files. I am able to send them through as a .pdf but in terms of vector artwork files, .eps has always been the "gold standard". EPS is more useful because they contain more image-specific data and are better suited for scaling within other programs that I use for my business. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

@Heather2889101563e9 your reasoning no longer holds true - .eps files are obsolete and are being phased out by both Windows and Apple as image standards. We too run a large format printer (both HP and Epson) and both prefer PDF as the univeral file format - it retains vector formats natively.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

@Heather2889101563e9 see
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/support-for-eps-images-has-been-turned-off-in-office-a069...

https://www.prepressure.com/library/file-formats/eps

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213250

[Heather2889101563e9]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer  maybe I am behind with the times. Are you then saving all of your design files as just a .pdf, even if you're not exporting them to your printers? I've been in this industry since 2006 so maybe I need to "upgrade" my thinking.... I run a Roland and unless there is a cut in the file, I export as .eps. If it has a cut, it's a .pdf because there is a weird glitch with .eps that adds a second cut line. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @Heather2889101563e9 we save all our original designs as .ai files and then send .pdf to the printer. Seems double work since you can open .pdf files in illustrator to edit - but it helps us organize "working" files vs "final". PDF is always cleaned up, flattened files for the printer.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

lol @Heather2889101563e9 I've been in the industry a lot longer. You're still going to find .eps files for a while - they are phasing out support not cutting it off immediately, but the writing is on the wall.

Adobe Stock for instance still gives me a ton of .eps files which is frustrating because of similar issues you noted. I always seem to have to do a lot of cleanup to remove overlap, duplicate paths when creating laser-ready files.

[Heather2889101563e9]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer  yeah! All my art subscription sites all still use .eps (as well as other files) so I guess I never questioned it. Oh well, moving along now.... You have a great day! 

[Heather2889101563e9]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer  Good to know.... Since tech and college, I've always been taught the importance of using .eps over the other file types. So again, maybe I'm just behind on the times. I appreciate your feedback. 

[Met1]

I'm with Kevin, I don't think holds true in 2023 - eps is basically a destructive file saving format, you can't get back (transparency is ripped apart, fonts are outlined, etc) - fine if you never need to edit or you are saving .ai and/or .pdf as your art files, but that's more work you don't need to do when pdf is perfectly fine for most print requirements.

I admit, that once in a while a pdf looks like it's going to take an hour to RIP, I'll make an .eps and it's done in five minutes, but this happens maybe twice a year...

[Heather2889101563e9]

@Met1 @Kevin Stohlmeyer  Ya'll have taught me an important lesson then! Ya'll are my heroes! Thank you!