Super large raster image not showing up in Illustrator file

[JoSchro]

I am working on a layout in Illustrator for a large wall (around 40 feet long by 12 feet tall) and I'm using a raster image for the wall graphic. I had to up-rez an image substantially to get it to the sufficient PPI (about 450" square at 100 ppi). When I place the image in Illustrator, it does not appear. I tried a PSB and it doesn't show up at all, and a JPG looks like it is blank. What can I do to make the image show up in my Illustrator file? Or is there a certain placed image size that is too big for illustrator to handle? 

Thank you in advance for any information.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @JoSchro,

Thanks for reaching out. Would you mind checking if Illustrator behaves this way with all large raster images? Also, try pressing the Ctrl/Cmd + E keys on your keyboard when the file is open to see if it helps.

If not, kindly share more details, like the OS/Illustrator version, screenshots of the problem, and a public link to a sample file after uploading it to Dropbox/Google Drive/etc., so we can investigate this further.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[JoSchro]

Hi Anubhav,

Thank you for your response. Ctrl/Cmd + E does not work.

Here is a folder with some screenshots. It includes what the art should look like (with the 6K image placed in the file), then what happens when I place the huge raster JPG, 446.5" x 446.5" at 100 ppi. It disappears from the Artboard view and from the thumbnail in the Links panel.

https://ibm.box.com/s/zbk813qonq3rn538egc5qt95tjv1bl0y

I'm using Mac, Sonoma 14.6.1., and Illustrator 2024, and it says my version of Illustrator is up to date.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @JoSchro,

Thanks for sharing the details. Would you mind sharing a public link to a sample AI/JPEG file after uploading it to Dropbox/Google Drive/etc. so we can check it on our end?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[JoSchro]

Hi, here is the packaged Illustrator file. The first Artboard has the 6K image, the second Artboard has the uprezed graphic that is not showing up.

https://ibm.box.com/s/d1ffdqk7fltokh3c7cro94ic8xml7wbv

Thank you in advance.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @JoSchro,

Thanks for your patience. I tried relinking the JPEG from the Links panel, but the problem persisted. I then opened the JPEG in Photoshop and saved it as a PSB. Then, I opened the Links panel in Illustrator and replaced the JPEG link with the PSB, which worked.

Could you try the same and let me know if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[JoSchro]

I already tried relinking to the PSB previously and it did not show up at all. I tried what you suggested, placing the up-rezzed JPG, then relinking to the PSB, but the PSB still did not show up. It doesn't replace the image at all, so the JPG remains, even after I relink to the PSB.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @JoSchro,

Thanks for the confirmation. Are the files stored on a network/removable drive or a cloud-synced folder like Google Drive/Dropbox/etc.? If yes, kindly move it to a local directory, like the desktop, to see if it helps. Also, try copying the contents of the AI file to a new file and then retry linking the JPEG with a PSB and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[JoSchro]

Hello, all files are on my Desktop. I started with a fresh template file, had the up-rezzed JPG image in the file, tried replacing with PSB, but still it would not replace/relink, even with the relink command, and the JPG remained in the file. When I try going to Place the PSB (not relink), it still does not show up in the file.

[JoSchro]

The large JPG and PSB shows up in Photoshop, but not Illustrator. Is this a glitch in Illustrator?

[Ton Frederiks]

It may be the amount of RAM in your machine, but a  5,66 gigabyte image (the jpeg gets uncompressed by Illustrator) is maybe too much to handle. If you split it in smaller parts, does that work?

[Anubhav M]

Hello @JoSchro,

It seems that it could be due to some other issue. Would you mind trying to manually reset Illustrator's preferences and checking if it helps:

For macOS

• Close all Adobe applications.

• Go to the following locations

• ~/Library/Caches

• ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe

• ~/Library/Preferences

• Rename Adobe Illustrator, com.adobe.illustrator and Adobe Illustrator 28 Settings folders to Adobe Illustrator.old, com.adobe.illustrator.old and Adobe Illustrator 28 Settings.old

• Launch Illustrator from the Creative Cloud.

Note: Location starting with this "~" sign indicates the User Library, which is hidden. So, you need to copy & paste the exact path in spotlight search or from Finder Menu > Go > Go to Folder > Paste the location in the dialog box like this:

For Windows

- Close all Adobe applications.

- Go to Location C:\Users\%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe

- Rename Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Illustrator 28 Settings folders to Adobe Illustrator.old and Adobe Illustrator - 28 Settings.old

- Relaunch Illustrator from Creative Cloud

Disclaimer: Please note that renaming preferences folders will remove all the custom settings, and Illustrator will launch with default settings. You can also save a backup of the folders in case you want to. The location is mentioned above.


Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[JoSchro]

I did all of that, renaming all of that stuff, and the same thing happened. The JPG showed a blank box, and the PSB would not place at all.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @JoSchro,

Sorry to hear that. I've sent you a DM. Kindly check.

Thanks,
Anubhav