Skip to main content
charlotten86139972
charlotten86139972
Inspiring
August 4, 2017
Question

Make AI file size smaller without rasterizing

  • August 4, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 7976 views

Hi,

I'm not sure how to save a smaller file size in AI, and this is stopping me from getting all my work on one page without crashing!

The only things I know about reducing file size is to have RGB colour setting or to export the artwork into a PDF etc. But I want to keep it as an AI file and keep my vectors editable, I don't want to flatten or rasterise my file.

i am currently designing a womenswear collection that needs to be 25 top designs (Mostly plain colour but there is some print swatches too).

I have just designed three printed tops and the file size has saved at 135 mb... Some of the prints are still vectors and some of them are rasterized images, if this makes a difference? :S

My colleagues file has 25 top designs and her file size is 25mb...

How has she done that? Is there a magical setting for save options?

Please help

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 8, 2017

I can think of a couple of things to check, since you are comparing your file to your colleague's.

  1. Are your images linked or embedded? Are her's linked or embedded? If the images are embedded, the file will be larger. If they are linked, the file will be smaller, but the links will be broken if the Illustrator file is sent by itself.

  2. From the panel menus for Swatches, Symbols, Styles, and Brushes, first select unused, then delete any that are unused.
M
Community Expert
MEDHAT EIDCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 7, 2017

Hi .. please check you original jpegs and PNGs file size on Photoshop first and resize all to fit your pattern size usage.

because you can't make a pattern images unless you Embed them before , and thats cause the big size files.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 4, 2017

It all depends on what exactly is in those files.

Are all your embedded images scaled down to just the size and resolution you need?

Above all this applies to the patterns

What's in those patterns? Lots of paths?

Are all paths optimized to just the number of points you need?

We will need to see those files. Or at least a screenshot, but we would need to know image resolution, number of points, how your patterns are designed etc etc

charlotten86139972
charlotten86139972Author
Inspiring
August 7, 2017

Hi Monika,

Please see a screen shot of my work.

Paths wise these shapes basic shapes drawn with pen tool. there is some clipping masks for the ribbed areas ie collar and cuffs.

The crystal lamb shape i think is a symbol as is the back neck tape, I didn't make these but don't know how to check their file size either.

The pattern swatches used are mostly jpegs and one PNG file, none of them are paths. they have all been all been rasterized to 150 ppi. I am not sure what their file size were before I dropped them into the illustrator file, maybe I should have resized the file before dropping into illustrator?

Looking at the saved swatch file, it is 21.2 MB.. This is only containing 5 colour swatches and the 5 pattern swatches.. thats quite a big file for so little isn't it? :/

My colleagues file has about 100 swatches in her swatch panel and still her file size is smaller than mine

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices