Illustrator file preview shows B&W in Finder (macOS)

[KaiSoul]

Hi, I'm having an issue with an Illustrator file, all the things in the file are in color but when I close the file and click on it to see a preview through Finder (i'm using Mac) the file appears in black and white. And when i open it in illustrator all the color is back, does anyone know how to fix this?

The left is how it looks in illustrator and the right picture is how it looks in finder.

Finder

Illustrator

{Renamed by MOD}

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. Please provide some more info like:

1. Version of Illustrator and OS.
2. Is it the only file which shows B&W preview?
3. Is this file saved on a network?

All this information will help us understand the issue and work accordingly.
You should try copying this file to a different location as well and check the preview. Let us know how it goes.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Ashutosh

[KaiSoul]

Hello,

The version I use is Illustrator 2019, macOS Catalina 10.15.3 

This bug (whaterever it is) has happened to 3 files.

It is saved locally.

I tried copying to other location but i still got the bug.

While i was writting this i was trying out different things with the file and i found something that worked. I deleted some layers, it was stuff i wasn't really using, then saved it in the same laction as the original to compare them.

When i checked the preview it was in color.

My guess is that I was overloading the preview with too many complex designs and the program was trying to simplify what was in the file for the preview (i did not know that was possible).

Thank you for your concern.

[Laurel Smith]

I found a solution that worked for me, using Illustrator 2020, saving the file as .ai.

Make sure the layer that is selected does not have a clipping mask on it or a pattern that was created. I use a background layer with one color box on it. In the layers palette the eyeball is on the layers showing the image as I want to see the thumbnail preview. My completed pattern layer is hidden.

In Save Options section

check Create PDF Compatible File

uncheck Embed ICC Profiles

check Use Compression

This gave me a colored thumbnail in Finder window.

Hope this works for you too.