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illustrator flattens existing layers when opened (pdf)

New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Illustrator version: 28.7.1

 

but it happened also in previous versions

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Adobe
Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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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.

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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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

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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I guess you mean layers in the PDF file.

These are only top layers that are converted to what is called PDF layers, but what are actually ways of grouping content: OCG, Optional Content Groups. 

These will not be there when a PDF without Illustrator Editing Capabilities is opened.

It could be that your file has become corrupted and only the PDF part is opened.

Where do you save your files?

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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I save all files on my company's network drives.

This is definitely some bug or some problem with random pdfs

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Illustrator does not always work well with network drives.

Try if saving local and copying the saved file to the network drive helps.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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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

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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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

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Illustrator only reads it's own layers from the Illustrator part of the file.

Acrobat layers are not really layers, but groups of elements (a single object could be part of many Acrobat "Layers").

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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I'm not sure you understood me correctly.
The pdf file that I opened with Acrobat pro was exported from Illustrator. Later, when I opened the same file with Illustrator, all the layers were merged.
I didn't do any editing with Acrobat Pro. Some printing houses only use PDF files with layers and color profiles.

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Please look at this screenshot. This is the same file (created in Illustrator and exported to PDF) opened in Acrobat and Illustrator.
Acrobat shows all the layers I have created. Illustrator shows only 1 merged layer

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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@Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg  schrieb:


Acrobat shows all the layers I have created. Illustrator shows only 1 merged layer


 

Acrobat layers are not the same as Illustrator layers. Illutrator cannot read PDF layers. It can only read its own layers. If you do not save your PDF "Illutrator editable" OR if saving goes wrong and the file goes corrupt, then your layers are gone.

 

Please watch this about Illustrator files: https://youtu.be/IpDh8Y7q8yE 

Illustrator has a special way of saving native files. You should know this in order to be able to set the correct options and to recover some of your artwork when things go wrong. More info about saving files in Illustrator Saving safely: http://vektorgarten.de/illustrator-saving-safely.html ...

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Now you are teaching me how to save pdf files....

I'm doing this for 10 years working as graphic designer, Everyhting works fine until last month.

I just trying to tell you that Illustrator corrupts files that it had previously exported

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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That is because something went wrong when saving the file.

The Illustrator layers were converted to Acrobat "Layers", Optional Content Groups.

But when the file was reopened in Illustrator, the PDF part was opened. Either because the file was saved without Illustrator Editing Capabilities or because the file became corrupted when saved over a network.

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New Here ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Let me put it to you in a different way.
The PDF I was opening is from 2022 (created by Illustrator 2022). When I opened it a year ago with the Illustrator 2023 version, everything was fine.
This pdf has not been modified.
It's not a matter of wrong file saving.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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If Illustrator doesn't find an AI file inside the PDF, it will open the PDF. And Illustrator cannot use PDF layers. Illustrator can only use its own layers.

 

What happened to your disk all these years? Wouldn't be the first file I've seen to get corrupted. Yes, this includes my own files. Copying them from one drive to another can corrupt them as can a recovery operation. And a lot of other things.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 06, 2024 Sep 06, 2024

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Monika described exactly what could have happened. Anyway, you are openin somehow the pdf part and not the .ai part.

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