saved project

[Elle98]

I'm new to Illustrator so I'm taking a Skillshare class to learn.  In the class he is asking for us to save projects and then at later times reopen those projects to change/add to them.  The problem I'm having is that when I save a project and then reopen and try to make any changes, even if it's just selecting the art work portion, it won't let me.  It drag the background with it and won't let me select just the art work. I've tried unlocking all layers so I don't believe that's what the problem is.  I think it's probably a really simple answer or something I'm doing wrong when I save proects.  Can anyone help?

[Monika Gause]

Looks like saving does not really work.

What kind of file format do you save?

Where do you save? To your internal harddisk?

If "Save in background" turned off in the preferences > File handling? If not, please turn it off.

[Elle98]

I've been "saving as" to the cloud and my desktop and also "exporting as" both in PNG.  In the class he suggested the webp but when I try to save in that format it won't open at all.  It does appear to be saving in those places as I can open them up.  I just can't edit anything. I don't even see an option where it says "save in background" eeek.  

[Elle98]

Actually I did just find the "save in background".  I should make sure it's off correct?  I attached a screenshot.

[Monika Gause]

Yes. Turn Save in background off.

In order to have an editable file, you need to save as .AI (Adobe Illustrator). Everything else is not suitable for editing.

[Elle98]

Thank you. I'll try that.

[Elle98]

Can I ask one last question? So, if I still want to work on a project I should NOT export it but instead just save to ai? And only export it when I'm completed? 

[Monika Gause]

You can export it while you work at it, but always keep the AI file and only use the AI file for editing. Until you are done in AI and maybe need to switch to another app, because Illustrator cannot do that step.

[Elle98]

Thank you so much!

[Monika Gause]

You're welcome. 

Saving the right thing is so important.