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ulf_9108
Participant
April 1, 2025
Question

Suddenly I can´t open SVG files that I created before, SVG is Invalid.

  • April 1, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 1177 views

Hello!

I recently got a new computer and reinstalled the Adobe Illustrator and other Adobe software, and now I can´t open SVG-files that I previously created and could open. And the strange thing is that in Adobe Bridge, some SVG-files does not have a thumbnail but some do. And those who do have a thumbnail, those I can open. 
I get the error message, see pictures below. I have added two files, one that dont work and one that do. The file that dont work is 20066, anbd the file that do work is 20125.

 

 

 

Please help! 🙂

 

1 reply

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 1, 2025

Did you already validate the SVG?

If the validator shows errors, you could fix them in the code (make a copy of the file before doing so)

 

You could also try and install a different version of Illustrator and try there.

 

Does the file open in Inkscape? If so, try and open it, then save it with a different name.

 

Illustrator is famous for not properly being able to open SVGs it has previously saved. SVG in Illustrator is a one-way street. You either import them (and then save them as AI) or you export them (only to never touch them again in Illustrator). Your work file should be AI, the native file format.

    U
    ulf_9108Author
    Participant
    April 1, 2025

    Well look. SVG is not a one-way street. I have been able to reopen these files before, on another computer and make adjustments to the SVG-file in Adobe Illustrator without any issues. This is a workflow we have had for over two years now. So what you are suggesting is nothing new, not a solution or anything that, if I may be frank, is viable. Since we have over 1000 illustrations now, created with export from Adobe Illustrator, and all of them have been ready to open in Illustrator, and been able to edit.

     

    And yes, I have been cheking them in validator. But the thing is that even those that can be opened in Adobe Illustrator has errors. So it has to be something else.


    So I will reinstall Adobe Illustrator and see if that works. But as a solution to this issue, it is not.

    U
    ulf_9108Author
    Participant
    April 3, 2025

    If you want vector files that are going to be good for editing within Adobe Illustrator in the future you're better off not using SVG. When artwork is saved in SVG format all sorts of things get stripped away, data compressed, etc. Any Illustrator-dependent effects and features in the artwork will get flattened/expanded. Certain effects may even break in the SVG file. SVG does not support everything Illustrator can do.

     

    The same is true for pure PDF files; PDF files are only meant to be viewed and printed, not edited further. The only exception to that is Illustrator PDF files saved with Illustrator editing capability preserved. But that only works because Illustrator data is appended to the PDF file. If that default is un-checked the resulting PDF would be a mess when re-opened in Illustrator.

     

    SVG is best used as a vector web graphics format or a specialty interchange format for unique tasks, like sending artwork to vinyl cutter using certain industry specific applications. SVG isn't so great as format to archive artwork. SVG is supposed to be a standardized graphics format, but just about every graphics application that can export/save SVG files puts its own twist on the SVG files they create. That includes Inkscape.

     

    SVG is a bad choice for any print-related work flow since it does not natively support CMYK color mode and doesn't have proper support for spot colors either.


    I understand your view, but we are working with technical communications and are using an XML editor and XML system to produce our documentations. And in that environment SVG is king, since it is based on XML. I generally dont agree with your assertions that SVG is in generall bad, it is used so much in the industry now, especially since most documentation material is being used in webb and mobile solutions nowdays. And I think it´s a bit worrying that most of you who have commented doesn´t come up with any solutions, but rather complain over a workflow and fileformat that is used extensivly in technical documentation industry. But I do appreciate your replys and I will try to make use of Adobe software as best I can.

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