Radial Gradient Distortion When Rotating or Scaling in Illustrator 29.6

[KcC]

I don't know what the enhancements are in 29.6, but there is a bug with rotating and scaling illustrations that have gradients. Radial gradients suddenly scale drastically in a non uniform fashion when moving in rotation or scaling in constrained x or y axis.  

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[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @KcC,

Thanks for flagging this. That definitely sounds unexpected, especially if radial gradients are distorting when rotating or scaling along a single axis. 

Could you please confirm your operating system version and let me know if this is happening with all gradient-filled objects or just specific ones? If possible, a short screen recording showing the behavior would be super helpful for us to understand exactly what's going on.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek 

[KcC]

As far as we can tell, all objects with gradients, even when contained within a group. It treats the gradient as if they are masked shapes and distorts it along one axis as if the other axis was locked. 
Macbook Pro 16in 48gb ram Running on OS 15.5, same problem on coworkers computer that is on a previous OS. The problem is repeatable and does not happen when using AI < 29.6

[Kurt Gold]

I can reproduce this (mis-)behaviour in Illustrator 29.6 when scaling / rotating with the Selection tool (black arrow).

As far as I can see, it does not happen when you scale / rotate with the Scale tool / Rotate tool / Free Transform tool.

Obviously a bug.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @KcC,

Thanks for your patience. Our product was able to replicate this issue and is currently investigating it. I will update this thread as I have more info.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Anubhav

[limit_3187]

Dear Anubhav,

I hope this message finds you well.

We’re writing again on behalf of Limit Printing System regarding the Illustrator gradient transformation issue that was acknowledged and replicated by your team.

While we appreciate the initial confirmation and investigation, we haven't received any updates or timelines since your last response. This silence is increasingly concerning, especially for a professional software suite used in time-critical production environments.

As previously mentioned, this bug caused a significant production loss on our side — amounting to approximately 88,000 TRY (~$2,700 USD) — due to an inconsistency in how Illustrator handles gradient rotation across transformation methods.

We believe Adobe, as an industry leader, should show greater urgency and transparency in dealing with such workflow-breaking issues. At the very least, users deserve:

A documented explanation of the issue,

A timeline for a fix or workaround,

Clearer communication and follow-up from the product team.

We are still hoping for a resolution, but our confidence in Illustrator as a reliable professional tool has been shaken. We kindly request that this matter be escalated or given the attention it deserves.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best regards,
Limit Printing System

[Anubhav M]

Hello @limit_3187,

The product team has identified the issue and a fix for this should be available in the next release, which should be available soon. I sincerely apologize for the delay and have also asked the team to prioritize this fix.

I will update this thread as I have more info. Please feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance.

Anubhav

[limit_3187]

Issue Summary:
In the latest version of Adobe Illustrator, when I rotate an object manually by dragging from a corner (free transform), the gradient fill remains static and does not rotate with the object.

However, if I rotate the same object using the Object > Transform > Rotate… command, the gradient rotates as expected.

This inconsistency between two rotation methods is extremely dangerous because it’s not visually apparent until it's too late — especially in print workflows.

Due to this issue, a professional print job was sent to production and resulted in a loss of 88,000 TRY (approximately $2,700 USD), including paper, printing, die-cutting, and finishing costs.

---

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a shape with a gradient fill.

2. Rotate it manually using the corner handle.

3. Notice the gradient stays fixed and does not rotate.

4. Now rotate it using Object > Transform > Rotate… — this time the gradient rotates properly.

---

Expected Behavior:
Rotation behavior should be consistent regardless of the method used (manual or via panel).
Alternatively, Illustrator should provide a visible toggle or global preference setting to ensure gradients always follow object transformations.

---

System Info:

• Adobe Illustrator version: [your version here]

• Operating System: [your OS here, e.g. macOS Ventura 14.4.1]

---

I’ve been using Illustrator professionally for over 15 years and this was never an issue in previous versions.
This regression has caused substantial financial damage and undermines trust in the reliability of Illustrator for production workflows.

Please prioritize this issue and provide an update or workaround.

Thank you.

[limit_3187]

This kind of inconsistency between manual and panel-based transformations shouldn't exist in professional software. It causes real-world damage, especially in prepress and print environments.
A toggle for "Transform Gradient with Object" that works across all transformation types is urgently needed.
Adobe, please take this seriously — this is not just a UI annoyance, it cost real money.

[creative_project5FD9]

This is honestly unacceptable for professional software that costs hundreds of dollars annually.

The fact that a user lost 88,000 TRY (~$2,700 USD) due to an invisible inconsistency between two built-in transformation methods is more than just a "minor issue."

Adobe needs to take responsibility here — either by compensating affected users or ensuring this is patched immediately.

At the very least, this should be clearly documented, and a permanent fix introduced in the next update.
These kinds of workflow-breaking bugs damage trust in Illustrator as a production-grade tool.

[Ton Frederiks]

What version of Illustrator and what OS do yoy use?

I cannot reproduce that problem.

Did you try restart and resettin preferences?

[limit_3187]

I'm using Adobe Illustrator [Creative Cloud 2025 on , macOS Sequoia].

I already tried restarting and resetting preferences — no change. The issue is not related to local settings, it seems to be tied to how gradients behave during free transforms vs. panel-based rotations.

I’d be happy to share the working file if that helps with reproducing the problem. Just let me know where to send it.

[Ton Frederiks]

Which version of Illustrator 2025 are you using (see Illustrator > About Illustrator)?

I can replicate it using the bounding box corner rotation handles. Other methods (Rotate tool, Transform panel) seem to work fine.

But it only has a problem with one path.

[limit_3187]

Thanks for confirming, I appreciate your help.

Yes — that’s exactly the issue: bounding box manual rotation does not rotate the gradient, while other methods do.

Regarding the “one path” comment — I can confirm that this happens across multiple paths and documents.
In fact, I’ve already tested it on:

• Multiple files

• Multiple computers (macOS + Windows)

• Multiple Illustrator versions

• Reset preferences and clean installs

The behavior is consistent and reproducible across all of them.

This confirms it's not file-specific — it's a core transformation behavior issue, especially during manual rotation.

Thanks again for looking into this.

[Doug A Roberts]

What exact point version of Illustrator are you using? 2025 is not specific enough to test.

[limit_3187]

29.6.1

[limit_3187]

29.6.10

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @limit_3187,

Thanks so much for sharing all these details. I completely understand how serious this issue is, and I'm really sorry to hear about the impact on your project.

I also tested this on my side but couldn't reproduce the same behavior. Could you please confirm which exact version of Illustrator and OS you're using? Also, let me know if this happens only with a specific file or even with a brand new file.

It would be great if you could try the suggestions shared by the community expert, like restarting and resetting preferences (you can find more here: https://adobe.ly/4ll8YFB).

If possible, please also share a short screen recording showing your full workflow.

Looking forward to your update, so I can assist further!

Abhishek 

[limit_3187]

Hi Abhishek,

Thank you for your response and support so far.

As requested, I’ve attached both the original Illustrator file and a screen recording clearly demonstrating the issue I’m experiencing:
:link: Download link: https://we.tl/t-B3gIeNsd0v
(Link valid for 7 days via WeTransfer)

To clarify once again:

• When I rotate the object using corner handles (Free Transform Tool), the gradient does not rotate with it.

• When I use Object > Transform > Rotate, the gradient behaves as expected.

This issue is not file-specific. It also occurs in new, blank documents.

This particular project was for a well-known private university, and the gradient error went unnoticed during the design phase due to this inconsistency.
The result was a catastrophic printing failure, with 88,000 TRY (~$2,700 USD) in production losses — including premium paper, high-end printing, die cutting, and finishing.

My reputation with this client has been seriously damaged, and I fear this may jeopardize future contracts and references.
This was not a small freelance job — it was a critical branding campaign for an educational institution.

I would really appreciate it if you could escalate this issue to the Illustrator dev team for further investigation. This bug poses serious risks for professional print workflows.

Looking forward to your feedback,
Best regards,
[Your Name]

[limit_3187]

Hi @Abhishek Rao,

Thanks again for following up. I wanted to provide an update with additional evidence and details.

We’ve taken all suggested troubleshooting steps, and also performed extended testing across different environments. Here’s what we’ve done:

:white_heavy_check_mark: Reset Illustrator preferences
:white_heavy_check_mark: Tested on multiple computers with different Illustrator versions
:white_heavy_check_mark: Verified behavior on both macOS and Windows
:white_heavy_check_mark: Ensured consistent preferences/settings across machines

The issue remains consistent across all tests:

• Manual rotation via the selection tool (corner handles) causes the gradient to stay static.

• Rotation via Object > Transform > Rotate works as expected.

:link: The original .AI file and screen recording were shared previously: https://we.tl/t-B3gIeNsd0v

:paperclip: Additionally, I’ve attached screenshots from multiple machines and Illustrator versions that visually confirm the same problem.

This proves that the issue is not isolated to my system or setup, but instead appears to be a reproducible bug affecting Illustrator’s gradient behavior during manual transformation.

I’d greatly appreciate it if this could be escalated to the Illustrator engineering team for further investigation. Thank you again for your attention and support.

Kemal KAÇAR (Limit Printing  Systems, Graphic Designer)

[limit_3187]

Hi @Abhishek Rao,

After further reviewing the issue, I’d like to point out a core inconsistency in Illustrator’s design logic:

The same transformation (rotation) produces different outcomes depending on whether it’s done via the Transform panel or via manual interaction (corner handles).
That shouldn't happen in professional-grade design software — especially when both actions are meant to serve the same function.

In short:

• If rotation via panel transforms the gradient correctly,

• Then manual rotation must be expected to behave the same.

This is either a missed implementation or a UI inconsistency that has been overlooked.
Adobe must either:

• A) Remove manual rotation altogether (which is not practical), or

• B) Ensure that manual transforms also apply to gradients, just like the panel does.

Designers rely on intuitive tools. This inconsistency is silent but damaging — it behaves visually fine during design, but creates invisible errors in print production.

I strongly urge the dev team to review this from a user experience and consistency standpoint.
Please treat this as more than a bug — it’s a workflow integrity issue.

[Ton Frederiks]

The best place to report bugs is here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/

This is where the Illustrator engineering team keeps track of bugs and you will be kept informed of progress.

If you report it there, include a link to this forum post.

And when you have reported it, please post the link to the report here, so others can add their vote.

[limit_3187]

I’ve officially reported this bug to Adobe UserVoice so the Illustrator engineering team can track it directly:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/50150574-gradie...

Please upvote if this issue affects your workflow. Every vote helps raise visibility.
Thanks for the support!