Patterns not resizing in Illustrator V 29.7.1

[mini_pig]

Hello! 

I have an issue with patterns in Illustrator - I can't resize patterns within a filled shape (preferences 'transform pattern tiles' is ticked). 

If I resize the whole shape using the bounding box corners, the pattern will change while actively changing the scale, but when I release, the pattern pings back to the original size.

If I use the transform scale option, sometimes it works! But other times when the dialog box is open, the scale of the pattern changes in preview, but once I click okay, it pings back to the original scale. I hope this is clear and makes sense. 

Does anyone know if there is a bug? It's disrupting my workflow. 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @mini_pig,

I understand how disruptive it can be when patterns don't hold their scale after resizing. Since you already have the Transform Pattern Tiles option enabled, can you confirm if this is happening with all files or just specific ones? Please also try resetting Illustrator preferences once to see if that helps stabilize the behavior. Another step worth trying is toggling off GPU Performance under Preferences > Performance and then checking if the issue continues. If possible, could you share a short screen recording showing the problem along with a sample file, so I can check this more closely? Moreover, please confirm the OS you are using as well. 

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek 

[Ton Frederiks]

See here for examples:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/50334417-patter...

[LH5ECE]

this is happening to me and every designer I work with who has updated to the latest Illustrator 2025 (29.7.1)

It is  interupting all our workflows.

I am on OS Sequoia 15.6.1

none of the suggested tips above have worked to solve except the extremely slow Object>Transform>Scale and manually enter a scale.

Strangely, once the pattern has been scaled that way through Transform>Scale, if the object (with pattern swatch fill) is selected & scaled down or up +Shift with the "transform both" box ticked, it will not scale but to the new manually added scale, not the original scale of the swatch. 

It is absolutely maddening.

screenrecording attached showing it makes no difference what boxes are ticked.

I need a solution for this ASAP!

[Ton Frederiks]

Seems to happen with unstroked shapes.

As a workaround: Object > Shape > Expand Shape

[LH5ECE]

noted, appreciate the work around @Ton Frederiks ...however, I do not want to exand the shapes of the pattern, because then the pattern swatch is no longer editable, which defeats the purpose of using the swatch so it can be edited across all objects containing the fill. otherwise, its the same as building a pattern manually (like we used to do back in the day!) 🙂

my coworker found  a workaround--if you create a filled object ( a box ) NEXT to the pattern-filled object you want to scale, and grab both objects and then shift+ drag to scale, the pattern scales exactly as it's supposed to.

pattern still doesnt scale correctly when you try to do it with just the pattern-filled object.

it's exasperating !

would LOVE a fix on this adobe!

[Ton Frederiks]

@LH5ECE Object > Shape > Expand Shape does not expand the pattern, it just removes the "Shape" behaviour of the object (like the ability to add more points to a star shape). You can often use Convert to shape if you want those options back.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Lindsay5ECE, @Ton Frederiks,

I have raised this with the product team for further investigation. In the meantime, could you check if the issue happens only if there is no stroke on the object?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, @Anubhav M  it only happens with unstroked objects that have the Shape attribute.

[LH5ECE]

hi @Anubhav M 

yes Ton is correct, from my understanding now (thank you @Ton Frederiks !!)  it appears adding a stroke to the object allows the pattern scaling to happen, but without a stroke on the box, the pattern does not scale.

see screen recording.

[LH5ECE]

awesome, thank you for the tip. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped.

[fantastic_magnetism7968]

Does anyone if there is plans to fix this problem please? Just updated to 29.8.1 and still unable to scale the pattern. Adding a stroke makes no difference. 

[LH5ECE]

i also updated to 29.8.1 and still having the problem too.

<sigh>

[Ton Frederiks]

There are workarounds, it only happens with unstroked objects that have the Shape attribute..

So you can temporarely remove the stroke, scale the object and apply the stroke again.

Or, probably easier, use Object > Shape > Expand Shape, scale the object and if you want use Object > Shape > Convert to Shape again.