Saving a large size file taking lot of time & lags while editing in Illustrator 2021 on macOS

[brooked5426748]

Let me preface this by saying I am a tech dummy - so if your instructions involve something in the depths of the code and what not, I'm gonna need a lot of instructions... 

I have a large file that I work with on a regular basis (about 75MB)  - it has many vector art pieces inside with many layers. Every time I open it illustrator notifies me that it's too much to keep the autosave on - that's fine. I've done as much as I can so far to make this file more managable (Separated into 7 smaller files, the 75MB is the smaller size. -- so the problems are: when I'm in the file, it takes forever to open, and if I click on something to move it, it is very delayed. I didn't build the file, each piece I need to work with is many many layers and I dont have the time or ability to rebuild each of these items, so far I've just delt with it, but now it's becoming a time sucking problem. Having to edit one of these items takes very long because it lags so much moving objects, and then saving the document takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes - making doing my job really hard since I can't continue working in illusrator until the save is complete. 

Smaller files don't take as long. I'm just not sure if there is a 'mode' I could turn on to make thigs move more freely... I empty the trash can frequently, trying to make sure the computer itself is clear... I'm going crazy trying to figure out why my files are so difficult. There have to be artists out there who work with bigger files than this. 

Slow moving inside illustrator

Slow saving at the end (the .ai document, for future use) 

Help please! 

{Renamed by MOD}

[Monika Gause]

Which version and system is it?

What kind of hardware, especially how much RAM? What kind of harddisk?

How many objects are in the file? Effects, patterns? Transparency? raster images?

Where do you save the file? On your harddisk? In a synchronized folder?

[brooked5426748]

Version system, as in, Illustrator version? 2021

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, mid 2014)

Processor: 2.2 GHz Quad Core Intel Core i7

Memory: 16GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

How do I find out how many objects? None of the things I've looked up have worked. 

How do I see how many effects or patterns have been used? I have not used either (but I didn't build the intial document, I have since copy/pasted and changed them according to various needs) Not sure much is rasterized either because that tends to make me unable to edit it if I need to go back to it. There ARE gradients on a lot of things. And I would gladly flatten them as long as they kept their current look... they are branded items, so they are very particular if it "looks different" than it should... even if my computer is moving at a snails pace... 

As for where it saves, in a folder in a folder on my desktop. I used to save it in a folder in my documents but had a computer issue and just forgot to go back to that-- would that even make ANY kind of a difference? It's not going anywhere externally if that is what you are asking. 

Does that help at all? 

[Monika Gause]

You can find out the number of object with the Document info panel. Set it to "Objects" in the panel menu.

When tehre are a lot of objects, then 16 GB is not that much RAM. Saving to the local disk is the fastest and safest way to save. The 2014 Macbook might no longer be the fastest computer (I have one of those as well).

There is still a lot of free space on the disk? Or does the file barely fit?

What also slows down saving: Illustrator likes to find a printer when searching for one. It searches a printer every time it opens or saves a file.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out. I would request you to share the information asked above by @Monika Gause.

In addition to the question asked above, I would also request you to share a few more details:

• These 75MB files you have mentioned were they saving quickly in the earlier versions of Illustrator?
• When did this start happening? Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently.
• Could you also share the document with us? You can upload it to the Creative Cloud (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/share.html) and share the download link.
• Are you using Time Machine on your Mac? If yes, try disabling it and see if that helps.

You may also try the suggestions shared on this page (https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/resolve-slow-performance-and-unexpected-behavior-of-indesign...).

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,
Anshul Saini

[brooked5426748]

https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/7b435b89-e440-4841-6f9b-51d6c17bf443

I've never done that (The above) before so hopefully that worked -- 

To attempt to answer your question - 

No, to my knowledge they never saved promptly. I got the art from someone else when I was hired, so they were always relitivly large files, I just tried to make sub files in an effort to make it more managable, but it still moves very slowly, and it effects the timing of my whole process. 

No, no changes to my system. no big ones at least - this is a problem i have just delt with for a long time, it's not sudden because of any recent changes. 

No updates (been avoiding big sur because after accidentally downloading it, it messed up my entiere computer and i had to un-install and go back to a hard drive version of my computer just to get it working again. 

No, I don't use time machine either. My work has an extrenal server we save files to (Filezilla).

Let me know if the document shared. 

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing the details. I copied all your assets on my Illustrator document, tried to follow your workflow as you mentioned, and didn't encounter any issues. I would like to know if you have performed the troubleshooting steps. If yes, how did Illustrator performed after performing them?

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[brooked5426748]

When you say copy my workflow- you mean just kinda tinkered around in there a little bit? Any attempt at picking one of the items (dispenser) up it lags like crazy and then saving takes forever. 

What troubleshooting steps can I take? I am not sure what/how to do that, that's how I ended up on this thread- Aside from updating my programs when adobe/cloud prompts me to, I haven't really done anything inside the bones of the application. Is that what you meant?

[Anshul_Saini]

I copied all your assets then I moved them around in Artboard. Shrink and scaled them. And also, saving didn't take much time. You may share an actual .AI file with all the assets, objects, images in it (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/share.htm), and I will try to perform the actions as you have mentioned again.

And for troubleshooting steps, you may visit this page (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/resolve-slow-performance-and-unexpected-behaviors-in-illu...). If you are having difficulties performing them, I would suggest you to take help from someone with technical knowledge. If you don't know someone with technical knowledge, let me know I will try to help you out.

Also, we have recently released an update for Illustrator 2021 (v 25.4.1), which contains some stability fixes. If you are not already on v25.4.1, then we recommend you to update to the latest version and share your observation with us.

Regards,

Anshul Saini