Why is it so difficult to select PNGs

[Ed.allanby]

I have a PNG with a transparent BG and it is very difficult to select / move / scale etc. I've found that if i zoom in and select the very centre of the image works as a workaround but it is very time consuming going this everytime.

Anyone got any adeas?

[Makerman111111]

Bump. Also happens here. Either have to select the very edge of the bounding box around the image (which is INVISIBLE mind you because its got a transparent background) or the center. Adobe needs to rewrite the entire program from scratch this is absolutely embarassing to have this and the other new crashing issues that just appear for no reason every couple months. The software is actually unusable and the only reason we still use it is because all of our previous packaging files are saved in it.

[Ed.allanby]

The pain is real

[Ton Frederiks]

I cannot replicate this on a Mac.

What System are you using?

What Illustrator version?

Is your Document Color Mode CMYK or RGB?

[Ed.allanby]

I am using

Ai 29.2.1
Sonoma 14.4

[Ton Frederiks]

Actually I can replicate it, did not think it would affect images.

Turn Off in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display: Object Selection by Path Only

[Ed.allanby]

Thanks Tom,

Unfortunately this did not help for me (It was already unchecked)

[Ton Frederiks]

Looks like my system, difference is I use Sonoma 14.7.3

Restarting the machine is the first thing I would do

Then after exporting settings: Edit > My Settings > Export Settings

and saving a copy of the preferences; Reset the Preferences:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html

[Mike_Gondek]

Try using the nonlossy .psd format for transparency instead. Does that work better?

[Makerman111111]

I was having the issue specifically with psd files yesterday, didnt even try png like OP did

[Ed.allanby · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

For anyone who needs a workaround to this problem - I've found a decent solution. If you draw a vector shape underneath your transparent image and then group the two objects. Selection should work. (Image help explain this)

*Obs this isn't perfect for file management / print etc. but in my case it saved me throwing my laptop out the window