»Document Raster Effects Settings«: 1200 dpi = No Saving possible :-(

[Klаus]

[Windows 10/11, Illustrator 29.1 (64-bit)]

Hello everybody!

Simple document, two layers building some kind of device panel look. When I change the »Effect / Document Raster Effects Settings« to resolution 1200 dpi, I am no longer able to save the document. Saving progress keeps falling asleep at 65% or so:

Here’s a copy at dropbox, to check it out:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x6eackyqcl4zqncikf2cr/Panel-look-issue.ai?rlkey=me06wc7pavmcc5q2biq4r...


Thanks!

[Monika Gause]

THat is quite a large object.

That resolution will create an even larger pixel object in the embedded PDF in your AI file and that's why it slows down so much.

[Klаus]

Thank you, Monika!

I could possibly live with »slows down« – but not with this message coming up after some loooooooooooooooooong waiting time ...

[Kurt Gold]

I tried it with your sample file (Windows 10, Illustrator 29.0.1 and 29.1), applied an additional raster effect (drop shadow) using 1200 ppi in the Document Raster Effect Settings, then saved as pdf-compatible .ai.

As you mentioned, at about 65 % saving progress nothing happens anymore for a very long time and the file obviously doesn't get saved.

Saving without pdf compatibility works well.

[Klаus]

Saving without pdf compatibility works well.

By @Kurt Gold

Thank you, Kurt!

Can confirm that: un-checking the pdf compatibility option in the saving window seems to do the trick.

Not quite sure though if that might lead to any cons afterwards.

[Kurt Gold]

There may be some drawbacks. For example, without pdf compatibility you cannot place the file in InDesign or open it in Photoshop (in case this is what you may want to do).

One question remains: Do you really need 1200 ppi for the raster effect settings? I'm pretty sure that saving with pdf compatibility using 600 ppi would work effortlessly.

[Klаus]

OK – so that work-around is no valid solution actually 😞

[Ton Frederiks]

You can rasterize it or use a Rasterize effect at 1200 ppi.

It will become raster anyway.

The result saves very quickly.

[Klаus]

That would kind of rob me of all those fine-tuning possibilities that I usually like to maintain.

[Ton Frederiks]

Not if you group it and use the Rasterize Effect. Everything will stay editable and you can turn the effect on and off or fine-tune it.

[Klаus]

Rasterize Effect

By @Ton Frederiks

Nice! I never ever used that function before. Helps a lot here. Thanks!

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped (remains a mystery why saving does not work).

[Klаus]

(remains a mystery why saving does not work).

By @Ton Frederiks

The top layer has a super duper opacity mask 😉 ... I’d guess that’s the source of the trouble.

[Klаus]

Well ... If selecting »Anti-alias« with »Art optimized […]« in the Rasterize window – witch is what I want – you again end up with no saving possible ... 😞

[Ton Frederiks]

That is what I did.

See attachement (replace .pdf by .ai)

[Klаus]

Uh, I see. You rasterized the contents of both layers, while I restricted that to the top one only.

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes I did group them because the top one influences the bottom one.

[Klаus]

👍