Place images showing up blank when saving as pdf from Illustatrator 2020

[cindyd64135077]

I have encountered a new issue that I have never experienced before and I cant seem to correct.. hoping someone here has a solution as its urgent..

for the last 2 days, anytime I output an illustrator file into pdf -- my placed images (with alpha masks) show up as just white shapes in my PDF messing up all my hard work.. I have tried various different settings, I have even installed new updates hoping it was a bug that would be corrected.. I quit and restarted,... Im still having this issue and I really really need to correct it as i need to send these files out asap.. 

Does anyone have advice..?? pretty please

[Ton Frederiks]

Which PDF version do you use?

What application do you use to view the PDF?

[cindyd64135077]

I am using a Mac (cataline 10.15.7) .. Adobe Illustrator 2021, I have just updated -it was producing same error in Illustrator 2020; I am using Adobe DC 20.0

[cindyd64135077]

To view the teh PDF's I also use adobe, buit its also shows the file is messed up (white shapes insyead of my placed images) when i view in preview

[Ton Frederiks]

Viewing in Acrobat should give a reliable impression.

What Preset / Standard / Acrobat Compatibility version do you use when  saving the PDF?

What kind of images? Does the transparency come from the file or do you create Opacity masks in Illustrator?

[cindyd64135077]

I have tried a variety of presets - custom ones i have used for years but i am getting the same reults on standard presets as well - High quality Print for example.. 

The alpha masks are created in photo shop -  they are tiff files -- to transparancy is done in file.. these images also have illustrator drop shadow effect 

im not sure why its a problem suddenly 

[cindyd64135077 · Accepted solution]

Oohh my goodness - I think I finally fixed it.. 

I unistalled illustrator completely from my system - and cleared the preference.. I reinstalled the 2020 version, 

i am also noticing some of pdf settings are no longer behaving as they did -- ie/ compatibility settings, and some of the general option.. save to say now that Ive finally got it sorted and my images are showing up- thank gosh!!!

Thank you for your help anyways 🙂

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you found the solution!