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mike.theinsidetrackinc
Known Participant
March 4, 2020
Answered

Illustrator seems to be converting vectors into bitmaps?

  • March 4, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 1493 views

I'm using AI 24.0 with Catalina. I wanted to create a red dot pattern (similar to a half tone) to fill a shape. I created a red circle 1/16" diamter and inscribed it into a box that was .03" wider on all sides. I set the stroke color to "none" on the box and centered them on each other. I dragged that to the swatches and it made a great looking swatch. It filled the shape and looked exactly as I wanted. When I zoomed in, however, I was shocked to see the tell-tale symtom of a bitmap file: "jaggies." What gives? AI is supposed to be a vector application. If I wanted a bitmap file I'd go to Photoshop. Am I just looking at a preview image or does AI convert my vector circles into bitmap images?

MHBrown

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ton Frederiks

There is a Color Halftone effect applied to the "swoosh shape" group.

If you remove the effect in the Appearance panel, the pattern looks fine.

4 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 4, 2020

Good to hear that helped.

 

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 4, 2020

There is a Color Halftone effect applied to the "swoosh shape" group.

If you remove the effect in the Appearance panel, the pattern looks fine.

M
mike.theinsidetrackincAuthor
Known Participant
March 4, 2020

Thank you!

Mike

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 4, 2020

Is Pixel Preview turned on perhaps?

If not, can you share an .ai example of this problem?

M
mike.theinsidetrackincAuthor
Known Participant
March 4, 2020

Thanks, Ton, but my Pixel Preview is not on. I can share a sample file where the swatch works in a simple square, but becomes a bitmap when placed in a different shape. Go here to download a small test file:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rn22bmmsyix4pur/Test%20file%20for%20swatch%20bug.ai?dl=0

 

Mike

John Mensinger
Community Expert
John MensingerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 4, 2020

Whether it's rendering raster images or vector graphics, your display is inescapably pixel based, and a 1/16" diamter ellipse on an Illustrator artboard would be realized with very few pixels. How far in are you zooming and why?

 

The important thing is whether the pattern gets rasterized in an undesirable way upon output.

M
mike.theinsidetrackincAuthor
Known Participant
March 4, 2020

Hmmm...thank you very much for your help, but I can't say as I agree with your reasoning there, John. Regardless as to how far I zoom in on screen, a vector image of an elipse or any other shape will maintain its geometry. Even a 1/16" diameter circle is still a circle. When I zoom in on it (before turning it into a swatch, that is) it stays round--even at 6,400%. I can make it twice the size of a basketball on my screen at that scale and it is completely smooth. No stair step jaggies. When it is converted into a swatch the circles become little groupes of squares and are now clearly bitmaps. My display is pixel based, but Illustrator is not suppoed to be. With a vector file I don't have to worry about the eventual RIP, assuming I'm printing anything.

Mike

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