Symbols disappear when I make a PDF

[brianh83958198]

Hi all,

I hope you can help. I have created an illustrator document which has many symbols in it. It’s a packaging design and has logos etc appearing many times and so thought symbols would be the best solutio. However when I make a PDF of the file, ALL the symbols are gone. Nothing! I have tried various PDF setting but nothing works. The only work around that works is if I expand the symbols which kind of defeats the purpose.

Has anyone knows what’s causing this. I am up against a tight deadline and would appreciate any help....client is not a happy man.

cheers

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you provide the ai- and pdf-file for testing?

Otherwise please post meaningful screenshots (with one of the affected Symbols selected and including the pertinent Panels).

What are the exact and complete pdf settings you used?

Is the ai-file saved with pdf-compatibility and if so are the Symbols absent if you open the ai itself with Acrobat, too?

[brianh83958198]

Hi there,

I can't send files or screenshots due to confidentiality reasons.

The PDF setting were ...Smallest file size defaults and PDF/x-4:2008 default settings.

I am using CC2018,

Sierra

They are nested symbols

Cheers

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Do elements within the symbols employ overprinting and/or transparency (of any kind, including Blend Modes other than Normal, an Opacity other than 100%, Meshes, Effects, …)?

What rough number of Symbol-instances are you working with (tens or hundreds or thousands)?

I can't send files or screenshots due to confidentiality reasons.

Could you remove the sensitive elements while maintaining the problem?

[brianh83958198]

So, one set of symbols have a multiply applied to  a texture within them. The other set of symbols do not.

I have attached a screenshot that I took when I was at the office.

Something weird I just noticed. On the main panel you will see a blank space, this is where the logo should be. On the side panels there should also be this logo...HOWEVER on the side panels the textured background is part of the symbol and that is appearing.

[Monika Gause]

brianh83958198  schrieb

I am using CC2018,

Sierra

They are nested symbols

Does this also happen with symbols that are not nested and don't have advanced transparency settings?

Issues with nested symbols have been going on and off during the last years.

So please could you test if it's the nesting and report this as a bug?

http://illustrator.uservoice.com

[brianh83958198]

They are nested symbols. Some have multiply transparency and some dont

I'll report it as a bug

[c.pfaffenbichler]

They are nested symbols.

I suspect Monika Gause might be referring to Symbols-within-Symbols and you should change those to verify if that makes a difference.

HOWEVER on the side panels the textured background is part of the symbol and that is appearing.

If the logo should be white have you checked the overprint-settings?

Or, coming back to Monika Gause’s question, is the disappearing part a Symbol within the Symbol?

[Monika Gause]

Which version? Whch system?

Is this a file created in an older version?

Are there nested symbols?