Skip to main content
K
KaiSoul
Participant
February 3, 2020
Question

Illustrator file preview shows B&W in Finder (macOS)

  • February 3, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 6580 views

Hi, I'm having an issue with an Illustrator file, all the things in the file are in color but when I close the file and click on it to see a preview through Finder (i'm using Mac) the file appears in black and white. And when i open it in illustrator all the color is back, does anyone know how to fix this?

The left is how it looks in illustrator and the right picture is how it looks in finder.

 

 

 

{Renamed by MOD}

2 replies

strung
strung
Participant
January 9, 2023

Occasional same problem as above, consistently with cmyk files that have white objects (preview was creamy whites and dulled colors otherwise). My fix was open and resave with Illustrator 2022.

Ashutosh_Mishra
Ashutosh_Mishra
Inspiring
February 3, 2020

Hi there,

 

Thanks for reaching out. Please provide some more info like:

1. Version of Illustrator and OS.
2. Is it the only file which shows B&W preview?
3. Is this file saved on a network?

All this information will help us understand the issue and work accordingly.
You should try copying this file to a different location as well and check the preview. Let us know how it goes.

Looking forward to your response.

 

Regards,

Ashutosh

K
KaiSoulAuthor
Participant
February 4, 2020

Hello,

 

The version I use is Illustrator 2019, macOS Catalina 10.15.3 

This bug (whaterever it is) has happened to 3 files.

It is saved locally.

I tried copying to other location but i still got the bug.

 

While i was writting this i was trying out different things with the file and i found something that worked. I deleted some layers, it was stuff i wasn't really using, then saved it in the same laction as the original to compare them.

When i checked the preview it was in color.

My guess is that I was overloading the preview with too many complex designs and the program was trying to simplify what was in the file for the preview (i did not know that was possible).

 

Thank you for your concern.

    L
    Laurel Smith
    Participant
    January 20, 2021

    I found a solution that worked for me, using Illustrator 2020, saving the file as .ai.

    Make sure the layer that is selected does not have a clipping mask on it or a pattern that was created. I use a background layer with one color box on it. In the layers palette the eyeball is on the layers showing the image as I want to see the thumbnail preview. My completed pattern layer is hidden.

    In Save Options section

    check Create PDF Compatible File

    uncheck Embed ICC Profiles

    check Use Compression

    This gave me a colored thumbnail in Finder window.

    Hope this works for you too.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices