CPU Mode in Illustrator

[Moonpepe]

Hi all, I have a question. My file is now in CPU mode and I tried it turn it back to GPU mode but it didn't work at all. I've encountered this problem a few times back then but it worked when I tried to turn it back to GPU mode. But this time, there is this specific file that I'm working on atm - keeps switching to CPU mode and I can't revert back to GPU. The other files are fine, but this specific AI file is not working. It says, “Can’t finish previewing. Could not complete the requested operation." Does anyone know how to solve this? Any tips would be greatly appreciated, Thanks! 

[Ton Frederiks]

How much RAM (memory) do you have on your machine?

Does copy and paste (with Paste Remembers Layers checked in the Layers menu) parts into new document(s) work?

[Moonpepe]

Hi Ton Frederiks, 

My Dell has 16GB RAM and I've used up 90% of it because I've opened too many tabs on Chrome. I tried to close a bunch of them but it still didn't work for me. I managed to find a way by using the toggle visibility to hide that specific artboard, and it worked! I also tried to copy that particular artwork into a new document but unfortunately, it didn't work either. I think I drew too many dots and lines and also used gradient overlays a little too much. Maybe I should consider upgrading my RAM for more future/complex projects. What do you think? 

[Ton Frederiks]

I currently have 16 GB on an (10 year) old machine which still works, but slows down sometimes. My next machine will certainly have more RAM.

[Moonpepe]

I see. 16GB should be fine then! 

[Ton Frederiks]

"Fine" depends on the size/complexity of the file and other apps that are running simultaneously. 

[Bobby Henderson]

The Google Chrome browser is quite a memory hog. I use it frequently, but I'm still not going to be nice about its use of system resources. I usually shut down any web browers (Chrome especially) when I'm doing any kind of "heavy lifting" work in graphics applications. I have 64GB of RAM to work with yet I still don't like taking any chances.

On a Windows-based PC 16GB of RAM is kind of at the minimum of what Adobe Illustrator requires to work properly. Aside from that, make sure your graphics card or chipset driver is up to date. A buggy graphics driver can cause issues.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hello @Moonpepe,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing the details with our experts. Regarding the error message "Can't finish previewing. Could not complete the requested operation," this issue commonly occurs when there is a problem with the layers or objects within your Illustrator file. It's possible that a specific layer, clip group, compound clipping path, object, or group has become corrupted, causing the entire file to have issues.

To troubleshoot this problem and identify the problematic element, you can follow these steps:

• Isolate Layers: Start by isolating layers one by one. Delete all layers in your document except one, and then attempt to switch to GPU mode or preview your artwork. Continue this process for each layer, checking if the issue persists with each one.

• Delete Problematic Elements: Once you identify the problematic layer, group, or object, try deleting or recreating it. This might involve recreating the content from scratch or finding a backup if available.

• Save a Copy: Before making any changes, it's a good practice to save a copy of your file as a backup. This ensures you can revert to the original state if needed.

Remember to save your work regularly during this process and create backups to avoid any potential data loss. By isolating and addressing the problematic elements, you'll be able to resolve the issue and continue working on your Illustrator file without disruptions.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the issue and improve the performance of your specific Illustrator file.

Best,

Anshul Saini