How to stop illustrator adding a mask when placing items ?

[defaultuxur86aeed3j]

So I'm placing many items onto an artboard in illustrator. The problem is that when you place items illustrator adds extra boxes around the drawing with no easy way to get rid of them.

You can click release mask, then ungroup then manually delete each mask but we are placing hundreds of items and this takes forever.

There must be a simple solution to stop this?

[Monika Gause]

Exactly how are you placing exactly what?

Can you please show screenshots?

[John Mensinger]

Illustrator doesn't add a mask to placed objects. What is the source of the items you're placing? Please detail the exact steps you're performing.

[SJRiegel]

I have not seen this behavior. Are you placing, or pasting from other applications?

If you are placing and seeing this, what is the format and source of the images you are placing?

[defaultuxur86aeed3j]

I'm placing illustrator files xyz.ai usin file -> place

When I place theres a mask as you can see and this adds two extra boxes I don't want.

[defaultuxur86aeed3j]

note that I moved the boxes so you can see them as they're all on top of each other

[Ton Frederiks]

If you place an Illustrator file embedded it will place the PDF version, which causes all effects to be expanded and layers to be lost and additional clipping paths as a bonus.

Copy and paste with Paste Remembers Layers is a better option.

[defaultuxur86aeed3j]

Hi,

    thanks for the explanation, copy and pasting is not a practical solution for me, I'm actually using a script to place the items and copy and pasting would take far too long.

[jane-e]

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@defaultuxur86aeed3j wrote:

I'm actually using a script to place the items and copy and pasting would take far too long.

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For testing purposes, can you start a new file, then choose File > Place to see if you still get the extra "boxes"?

• File > Place puts an image into the document. It is not editable in the new file and it may or may not be linked to the original file, depending on what was selected.
• Copy and paste puts editable paths into the new file.

What do you see in the Layers panel before and after you run the script?

Jane

[defaultuxur86aeed3j]

Yes, still get the extra boxes if doing it manually or via script. all placed files are .ai and created in the same program.

Thanks

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Maybe your script can do a copy and paste.

You can also add your vote here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/450...

[Kurt Gold]

You may create a simple action that would delete all clipping paths in one shot.