Need Help with Editing a PDF in Illustrator

[Zozo2689]

Hey everyone,

I'm working on a project in Illustrator where I need to edit a PDF file since I wasn't provided with the original AI file. The problem is that the PDF is causing Illustrator to lag severely. Every time I try to select an element, I have to click multiple times to be in the right layer and be able to move it, and the program frequently freezes or becomes unresponsive. It took me 2 hours to add 2 Elements and remove some (sth that usually takes me 5 min)

Is this normal behavior, or is there something I'm missing that could make this process smoother? Any tips or advice on how to optimize working with PDFs in Illustrator would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Zoé26812107q9rb,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind trying the suggestions shared in this help article (https://adobe.ly/3MbNrPG) and letting us know if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[Monika Gause]

PDFs are a pain to edit.

Is the original file unavailable or are people just unwilling? If the latter, charge them overtime.

PDFs will have additional objects, clipping masks and whatnot.

To get them into better shape, maybe use the plugin VectorFirstAid (not free)

Please tell us more about the nature of the document.

[Zozo2689]

Hey, thank you so much the feedback.

The original file is actually unavailable because the person who created it is unwilling to share it, so I'm stuck working with the PDF.

I’ve noticed exactly what you mentioned: tons of additional objects, clipping masks, and random elements that make the whole process slow and frustrating. I’m considering the VectorFirstAid plugin, but since it's not free, and the project I'm working on is for a family friend (I'm still a Media design student), I was looking for suggestions where I wouldn't need to buy anything.

To give a bit more context, the document I'm working on is a template that displays various cabinets and kitchen components for a modular kitchen setup. The idea is for users to place these templates on the floor to design their own kitchen layouts. The original design was done by someone else, and now a family friend has asked me to clean it up—things like adding a black bar, repositioning/removing QR codes, and creating an info box.

Although these tasks aren't difficult in theory, working with a PDF file is incredibly challenging, especially since there are 50 different templates, each unique. I’m really struggling with the PDF format, and I only have two weeks to complete everything. I’m starting to wonder if I can pull this off or if he should hire a professional, though I’m not sure even they could handle the PDF easily.

Any tips on how to handle this more efficiently?

Thanks again!

[Monika Gause]

You can perhaps select all and release all the clipping groups and then select all unstroked and unfilled objects and delete them. That can be done almost automatically. BUT: some clipping masks might actually be necessary and should not be deleted.

Possibly upgrading your computer with a lot of RAM and a fast processor can help somewhat, but that is not a given.

The best solution would be to come to terms with the one person who has the source file. Maybe pay them. Or test VectorFirstAid for a couple of days and if it helps, ask your family friend to pay for the subscription. After all, you are not only their friend, they are also your friend 🙂

[Zozo2689]

thank you for the tips! I have another question: Sometimes, elements are shown to me that aren’t visible on the template itself. Is this normal? I have a feeling that this PDF might be filled with elements that shouldn’t even be there.

[Monika Gause]

Oh, wow.

Looks like those a masked.

There are a couple of possible scenarios:

1. The designer was having their whole process in the source files and then place the complete source file of an illustrated detail into the layout. This doesn't matter a lot when you are the only one working with the file and you are always working with the source file.

2. They didn't know what they were doing.

3. They did it on purpose out of spite. It belongs to the techniques that you can do when you are forced to hand over your files. 

It makes me assume that these PDFs have been created in InDesign, not in Illustrator.

[Zozo2689]

Ok thank you so much for helping me, stuff like this really helps me understand Illustrator a little bit better:).

I’ll discuss this with him and explain the situation.

Hope you have a great rest of your day<3!