Skip to main content
Participating Frequently
September 6, 2024
Question

illustrator flattens existing layers when opened (pdf)

  • September 6, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1511 views

Illustrator version: 28.7.1

 

but it happened also in previous versions

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 6, 2024

When editing an Illustrator file, always save as .ai

A pdf is not intended for editing.

If you want to save as PDF and also need to edit the Illustrator file, save a copy or make sure that the "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities" option is checked.

Just saving as PDF without that option will remove layers and other Illustrator options.

Participating Frequently
September 6, 2024

We also need pdf with layers for client.

The problem does not affect all PDF files. So far I have only had 3 cases. I have been using illustrator for many years and this has never happened to me. Im always using default settings for saving as PDF

Participating Frequently
September 6, 2024

According to this help file "Adobe Technical Support only supports using Illustrator on a local hard disk. It's difficult to re-create or accurately identify network- and peripheral-configuration problems."

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/illustrator-support-networks-removable-media.html


I copied the problematic files to the local drive. Unfortunately it didn't help. If we open the same PDF with Adobe Acrobat Pro, all layers are visible. Illustrator only shows one layer