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Inspiring
February 21, 2019
Question

Linked vs. embedded images in PDF [branched]

  • February 21, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 5776 views

I found this post looking for answers to another (similar) issue. I thought I'd add some additional input.

Make sure that your images are linked and not embedded. The compression options in the save dialog does no good for embedded images; those options only apply to linked images.

[Branched from Convert&compress .ai file to a small .pdf ]

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    1 reply

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 21, 2019

    billys9362937  schrieb

    I found this post looking for answers to another (similar) issue. I thought I'd add some additional input.

    Make sure that your images are linked and not embedded. The compression options in the save dialog does no good for embedded images; those options only apply to linked images.

    In a PDF all images are embedded.

    AmdivalAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 21, 2019

    Not all of the images are embedded, only the compressed versions of the images are embedded for purposes of viewing the pdf. If you open a pdf in illustrator, illustrator looks for the linked images.

    You can test this out by saving as pdf with Illustrator, then deleting (or moving) the linked images. If Illustrator cannot find the image, the image will be missing.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 21, 2019

    When you consider a PDF as a container for Illustrator edits, you might have linked images. But this is purely an Illustrator thing. The PDF part as viewed by every other app in the world uses the images in the file, which ARE embedded for all other purposes: viewing, printing, editing, etc. These images might be compressed or subsampled according to your PDF creation settings.

    Yes, this can mean an Illustrator PDF contains linked images and copies of the images as well.

    No, Illustrator can't use those copies of the images if the links are lost.


    https://forums.adobe.com/people/Test+Screen+Name  schrieb


    No, Illustrator can't use those copies of the images if the links are lost.

    You will need to know how to get them out of the PDF.