Illustrator SVG Import Problem - Please Help

[Naperone]

Hello,

I have been having this problem with Illustrator recently where SVG files can be imported into Illustrator, however once inside on the canvas they are .. incomplete? (Photos Attached). I have tried all ways of importing them that I know to see if that had anything to so with it (Opening .svg in illustrator then moving to target canvas, using 'Place' function) and I see no change. I know that the actual files are not incomplete, as Preview, Chrome, Safari, and Inkscape can open them fully. This has happened before and after the new update, and I have tried on a different Mac with an older version of Illustrator. Please help.

Thanks

(Left = SVG in Illustrator, Right = SVG in Preview)

[Monika Gause]

In Preview you could export them as a PDF. I would try that route. If it doesn't work, open them in Inkscape and export from there as a PDF.

[Naperone]

Thanks for the reply. While exporting to a PDF then importing does work in displaying the whole file, the paths are no longer editable vectors, which was the goal for this project. Also, I have now tried to import to Inkscape (reads well), export as SVG, then import into Illustrator, but still no cigar.

[Monika Gause]

What do you mean "They are no longer editable vectors"?

[Naperone]

When I said "They are no longer editable vectors" I had meant that I could not edit them like I can a path I have generated with the line tool. Whether this is out of my own ineptitude or the nature of a PDF, I'm not sure. But, that's what I meant. Is there a way to edit them while in PDF format?

[Naperone]

UPDATE: I can edit the paths if I open the PDF in Illustrator (as opposed to inserting the PDF), but I am faced with the same missing paths problem (however this is not seen when the PDF is inserted).

[Monika Gause]

You into outline mode. Are there paths?

If there are, then your problem is not missing paths, but rather some grouping or clipping masks. ALso: the file needs to be embedded when you place it.

[Naperone]

Outline Mode is not selected in Document Setup, and there are no paths where the missing ones should be. I've attached the .svg to this reply so that you don't have to deal with vicariously solving this, if that helps any.

layer4.svg - Google Drive

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

That thing has roughly 50 billion anchor points. Even Inkscape had difficulties selecting stuff in it.

Optimize the file and then try again.

[Naperone]

Simplified in Inkscape a couple times (crtl L) and the import to Illustrator is successful! Thank You!

[John Mensinger]

For what my editorializing may be worth, I suspect we'll soon be saying the same thing about Illustrator and SVG that is repeatedly posted here about non-Illustrator PDF: "Illustrator is not a general-purpose SVG editor." It's a rather similar scenario; SVG's come from a variety of sources, with almost any kind of content, and a varied array of possible format-specific properties. So like PDF, although Illustrator can open them, when they are not of Illustrator origin, there can be no guarantee of fidelity.

[sorenw64146368]

Also, drag n drop does not work. Instead Illustrator opens the file in a new tab...

[Monika Gause]

You can't place SVG files via Drag and drop.

Use File > Place