Issue: Object dimensions become huge after reopening a file, affecting tools and workflow

[GUILHERME34091322erss]

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing a serious issue in Illustrator.

When I create a new document, everything works fine: objects display at the correct size on the artboard, and their dimensions in the Properties/Transform panel are accurate.

But after I save the file, close Illustrator, and reopen the same document, the objects still look visually correct on the artboard. However, in the Properties/Transform panel their dimensions suddenly become extremely large.

The problem is that once this happens, all Illustrator tools (transform, align, distribute, scaling, etc.) start following these incorrect giant dimensions, which makes it impossible to keep working normally in the same file. It also affects zoom and scroll performance, which become very slow or freeze.

So visually the artwork looks right, but Illustrator is treating it as if it were scaled to enormous values.

Has anyone else faced this? Could it be a units/scale mismatch or a known bug in how Illustrator handles saved files? Any workaround or fix would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Kerwane5CED]

I'm using Windows 11. I've rolled back to Illustrator 29.6.1, 29.6 and 29.5.1 and the issue is the same. I even tried uninstalling illustrator and reinstalling it. It was fixed, but when I restarted the computer, the issue was the same. Unfortunately, this forum only allows me 47MB of video upload for me to show me going through that entire process

[Akshaya98A2]

Thanks for sharing the video. As per the video and narration in it, looks like units for the document did not change. Can you confirm that - you started in inches and the application did not change that? Only the dimensions changed after saving and reopening the file? Is that correct?

Also, were you using any other Illustrator build along with 29.7.1. By other build, I mean Pre Release build or Beta build and this file was either opened in them or saved in them?

[gin3d]

If Adobe employees want to examine damaged file there is one. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @gin3d,

Sorry to hear you're still having trouble with this. Could you share a link to  a sample file along with a small screen recording of your exact workflow and the problem, so I can check it with the team?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[gin3d]

problematic file 

[Akshaya98A2]

Thanks for sharing the file, we will investigate the issue with this file.

[caro_mm]

Hello @Anubhav M here I upload my 'problematic file' too. I was doing a storyboard for After Effect, the sizes I created was in the beginning 1920 x 1080, all went well , next days when I re opened it was these weird sizes.. I thought I messed up, or that I had many png's.. but then I had the same on another file... so my intuition tells me is something regarding UNITS / RULES / ARTWORK , it also changes the whole sizes, it gets so crazy that you can even make copy paste to start a new file brand new cause it tells this message ' out of canvas bla bla' so it is a bummer cause it gets unreliable.. I love Illustrator and  know it a lot, was happy with the arwork changes but then this...I send all the specification in case it might help detecting where is the problem. I send the file as well FILE LINK > https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/70n0jy1l4xzg1p8x4h7nd/PROBLEMATIC_FILE_CARO_MM.zip?rlkey=5niww4zatesm...

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[caro_mm]

Hello Hello I have the same problem, you can see more in the link . I tried the new Illustrator update, also tried the beta / Same problem. I have OS  / Sequoia 15.6.1

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Here my post https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/rules-and-viewing-illustration-problems/m-p/1...

[gin3d]

Same problem her on may work Macbook pro, had to remake my work several times in new document due to this issue as i had to deliver correct banner size in pixels. Have to save workfile versions constatantly hoping for this issue not accur. Tried to uninstall and reinstall illustrator with no success. Never experienced this problem on my home PC windows 10. 

Problemtic mac - MacOS 15.4.1 (24E263) Illustrator 29.7.1.

[Jonathan264011577cz9]

Im having the same issue on mac, latest illustrator is installed

[GUILHERME34091322erss]

Hi everyone!

I wanted to give you an update on the issue I reported earlier.

I uninstalled Illustrator, updated my Mac to the latest OS version, and then reinstalled Illustrator. Since then, the problem hasn’t happened again with any new documents I create — everything seems to be working normally now.

However, the files that were already affected before remain corrupted. When I reopen them, the same dimension issues persist, so unfortunately the fix only applies to new files, not the old ones.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions shared here!

[caro_mm]

... yeah I updated system.. too. Is a bummer to start over complex files... The  funny thing is that befor opening , in the preview of the files, everything. looks good, then when I open it it moved all the graphics away of the artworks... / Ok somehow was good to find users with same problem.. But I have this feeling of not working in a releable app.. that is not good.

[reinko]

This problem started yesterday and the MacOS update solution + reinstall Illustrator also seems to be working for me. 

Interestingly, I retrieved several versions of the file and after every save it had increased the artboard size more.

0. 1920px wide (original) 

1. 137911.4184px 

2. 809591.1044px

3. 904085.9651px

I was able to recover my artwork from the first save by scaling it down to 1,39219799%. It will not paste in place, but that's manageable.

The file had 49 artboards, most of them almost empty, and the same thing happened to each one. I have these files available but will not share them on the wider internet, so if an Adobe employee would like to research them, please contact me directly. 

[reinko]

Next day after system update and Illustrator re-install, I'm having the same problem.
The file I repaired yesterday is corrupted again. This is getting to be very frustrating. 

[Ton Frederiks]

As I understand it, you kept using the file that had the problem, but scaled the content to the correct size?

If so, it looks like a permanently corrupted file and copying the content into a fresh document may be the best way to save your work. It is a nasty problem.

[reinko]

Let me clarify: I scaled the content in version 1 (artboard width 137911.4184px) and pasted the content into version 0 (document that had not yet been corrupted). This morning it is corrupted.

[Ton Frederiks]

OK.  Thanks for the clarification.

[reinko]

A few days ago I reported that this upgrade / reinstall hadn't fixed the issue; I think the bug was in my particular file. After starting with a new file, I haven't had any issues. So my advice is to update the system update re-install Illustrator. I'm running MacOS Sequoia 15.6.1 (24G90) on an M1 with Adobe Illustrator 29.8. 

[Ket_]

Just dropping a note to say that I have also been experiencing this problem for a few weeks, and it's incredibly frustrating! Spending a lot of time copying artwork across to new file saves at the moment. I'm hoping to troubleshoot later this week using the suggestions here, but eager to hear if there is an official fix for this from Adobe. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Ket_,

I'm sorry to hear you're having similar trouble with Illustrator. Could you confirm the version of the OS/Illustrator installed and share a link to a sample file along with a small screen recording of your exact workflow and the problem, so I can check it with the team?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Akshaya98A2]

Can you share a file with this issue?

[Ch0c0lat3_C00k13]

I am experiencing the same issue on a Mac.
MacOS:   15.5 (24F74)
Illustrator:   29.7.1

[Akshaya98A2]

Plese share a file if possible.

[Sean Dicken]

I tried to attach an ai file, but it's not letting me, says the extension doesn't match the file type. Can I zip it? Or can I email it somewhere?

[Ton Frederiks]

To attach it to a post,  you can rename the extension from .ai to .pdf or save the file as PDF with Illustrator editing checked.