Library Syncing

[DougKatz]

I am exploring the power of the library panel and have read the help files and several forum posts. I would appreciate some basic clarification.

I gather that library syncing offers something functionally approximate to Photoshop's Smart Objects: an edit to a graphic asset in the library will be reflected in all instances of that asset on all artboards in all Illustrator files. But is this true whether or not the library syncing feature is enabled? More precisely, what functionality (if any) do the library and its assets have when the syncing feature is disabled? And what advantages does one gain by enabling it?

Thank you in advance.

[DougKatz]

And a follow-up question. If I add a graphic to the libraries panel that has an added stroke or an effect that extends beyond the artwork's shapes, when I link-place it, the graphic's edges are clipped. Am I overlooking a setting? Is this merely a screen artifact? A function of AICC 21.1.0 or Sierra 10.12.6 or the interaction? Or is it an imperfect implementation of the libraries?

[Ton Frederiks]

Hi Doug,

I see the Drop shadow clipped too, but I don't see the clipping of the stroke in your other example.

I tried to turn on the Use Preview Bounds option, but that did not make a difference.

I am using the latest version 22.0.1 (and the same OS).

You can report the cropping here:

Adobe Illustrator Feedback

[DougKatz]

Very kind of you to respond, Ton. And on a Saturday!

Since you didn't see the stroke clipping in my first example, I did some more exploring.

1. I did not see the stroke clipping when the asset was made of a SIMPLE path, Preview Bounds on or off.

2. I then added a second object, grouped both, added a thick stroke at the group level, added it to the Libraries panel. When I dragged it back out to the artboard, I saw the clipping.

3. Interestingly I did NOT see drop shadow clipping when it was applied to a single, SIMPLE object.

4. When I grouped that object (making a group of one), added a drop shadow at the group level, and added it to the Libraries panel, the linked asset pulled onto the artboard DID show the shadow clipped!

I'm tentatively guessing the clipping, if it's a general phenomenon beyond my setup, is related to GROUPS. What do you think?

Also (not to be too much of a burden) have you any insights on the first question of this post? The powers of the Libraries panel when library syncing is disabled and enabled? I'm new to these features and don't quite understand them yet.

Thanks much,

Doug

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

I don't think it's caused by a group. more caused by adding strokes to a group using the Appearance panel.

I am not sure what you mean by enabeling Library Syncing. When you place an item from a Library as Linked. it will automatically be updated when the library item is modified.

When you place the Library item as a copy it will lose the link to the Library item and will never be updated.

[DougKatz]

Yes, this much I do understand. Dragging links, option-dragging places a copy.

But there is a Creative Cloud  icon in the lower right corner of the libraries panel (at least in 21.1.0). If you hover over it, you'll see it's a toggle to enable or disable "library syncing."

On my machine, I have it disabled. Yet I can link-place an asset on multiple artboards and in multiple files and update all instances by modifying the library asset. In other words, all library assets on my machine are "synced" even with "library syncing" disabled in the libraries panel.

So I am confused about what additional resources and capabilities can be realized by toggling that panel icon to enable library syncing. I can only guess it allows multiple machines and multiple users to access the assets by placing them in the Creative Cloud. I posted the question here because I'm not sure at all sure that's it… or that that's all of it.

[Ton Frederiks]

That is not a toggle, it is meant to force update the libraries.

Edit: See Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator

[DougKatz]

Ah, I see. For updating them in the Cloud? When I click on that icon, a blue message pops up asking if I want to enable Creative Cloud File Sync. If I click "No Thanks" all the library features we've discussed continue to work locally (in the files on my machine) but none of my assets are in the Cloud (I presume for sharing and/or accessing from other devices).

Thank you, Ton, for the time and expertise.

[Ton Frederiks]

I don't get that message, because I have enabled CC File Sync.

I love that as a backup, for versioning and sometimes sharing.

[DougKatz]

You've just listed in a nutshell the answers to my original question about the powers of the libraries panel with library syncing on!

I just may enable CC File Sync now!

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that.

But I still make regular backups of my system and the CC files folder (better safe than sorry).