Losing pasted clipboard in template.

[Pilcrow]

I'm using Illustrator 29.0.1. For some time, now, I've been losing pasted clipings in a template layer. I trace pasted artwork into line drawings and find that if I do certain things, the clipped artwork will become transparent. I've unccessfully been trying to find a pattern. I end up having to re-cut the artwork and re-paste it—I can't re-paste the original clipboard. I find it pretty frustrating. I've been using Illustrator since it's inception (decades ago) and think I'm pretty-well versed in using it; but, this one stumps me. Any help?

[Kurt Gold]

As per your description it is not necessarily obvious what's going on in this case.

Can you perhaps share a sample Illustrator file with a step-by-step instruction about what exactly you are doing?

[Pilcrow]

I create tactile graphics for visually-impaired students. Using textbook graphics, I trace black-and-white line drawings. If I turn on isolation mode, or turn the template layer off and back on again, I lose the clipart in the template layer. This will happen 90% the first time and 100^ eventually. It happens at other instances, too, but I'm too caught up in what I'm doing to remember exactly what I did when it happens. btw, this has been going on for a number of versions of Illustrator now, not just the latest update.

[Monika Gause]

And this happens immediately or after closing and reopening the file?

Where do you save your files?

[Pilcrow]

This happens as I am working. For example, if I go to isolation mode, the artwork in the template layer immediately turns invisible. Also, if I lock a layer, it happens (not all the time). I might add that on occasion the artwork will only be partially blocked out, which is pretty weird. That doesn't happen often.

[Pilcrow]

Perhaps these might be better examples for you.

Sorry -- I seem to not be able to attach Illustrator files to my message.

[Monika Gause]

Change the file extension to .pdf. Then you can upload them.

[Pilcrow]

That seems to do the trick.

[Monika Gause]

So it's about the template image being deleted from the file?

[Pilcrow]

The image is still there; it just becomes transparent. I know—it sounds crazy. Undo doesn't work, Restore doesn't work, closing/opening doesn't work, re-pasting the same image doesn't work—I need to recapture the image again. Am I the only one with this problem? I've been through some updates, so re-install doesn't seem to be the answer.

[Monika Gause]

Please describe exactly what you're doing, so one might try to reproduce it.

Step by step would be necessary with exact description of the object you isolate.

[Pilcrow]

This is like trying to describe an on-again/off-again car noise to a mechanic. I really can't do a step-by-step because it doesn't always produce the problem. I'm attaching a visual of when the pasted image only partially disappears. It seems to occur when I somehow adjust the template layer where the image resides, like turning it off then back on visually, or sometimes, even, turning off/on another layer. Sometimes when I close the file and later open it again, the image has become transparent. There just doesn't seem to be a pattern I can discern.

 

[Monika Gause]

And switching to CPU preview doesn't help?

[Pilcrow]

CPU preview doesn't correct it. I've neglected to mention I'm working on a Mac Mini, using Sonoma 14.5. I don't know if that makes a difference or not; just sayin'.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Pilcrow,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing a screen recording of the problem when this happens, so I can check it with the team?

Also, try running Illustrator under Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Pilcrow]

The latest incident happened this afternoon (see attached). All was fine until I locked the top Braille layter, then this happened. If you open the Sample.pdf file in Illustrator, you'll see that the pasted image in the template layer is there—it's just invisible, which is the problem.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Pilcrow,

Thanks for sharing the sample file. Would you mind also sharing the TIFF file, so I can check it with the team?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Pilcrow]

What TIFF file? Are you asking about the PNG screenshot I pasted into the template layer? It's long gone, but any screenshot produces the same thing. I'm still having the problem, btw. I get the impression you're not getting the same results that I am. Very frustrating.

[Ton Frederiks]

Sometimes when embedding a file it gets converted to a tiff file.

How do you place the image? Can you try to use File > Place...?

[Pilcrow]

I'll try using "Place." I usually use copy/paste. But, I'm not anticipating that it will work. I'll let you know.

[Pilcrow]

Sorry, but using Place didn't help. Same thing happens.

[Ton Frederiks]

In one of your earlier Illustrator PDF examples, I see an CMYK .tif image transparent CMYK. There is nothing transparent in it though.

How do you create those images? You mentioned clipped artwork, what app do you use to create the clipping?

[Ton Frederiks]

Your document is based on a very old version of Illustrator (Adobe Illustrator CS4) in 2009.

Maybe it helps to create a new document and recreate your template document in the current version?

[Pilcrow]

Tom, I'm sorry, but I don't know how you're getting AI CS4/2009. Because I need to be current with my employer, I upgrade automatically—right now at AI 29.1. As for the image I cut/paste into my template layer, they are PNG. Using a Mac, I employ Command/Shift 4 for the crosshairs and then hold the Control key and drag the area to designate my choice, which puts the image into my clipboard so I may then paste it into the template layer.

[Ton Frederiks]

Thanks for describing your workflow. The reason I asked for the details is that a similar method of capturing can change the document color profile (and maybe something else), but that is not the case with your method.

As for the version used to create your template document, you can check that in the File Info metadata.