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bexgrimwood
Participant
May 16, 2017
Question

Shapes moving apart when Illustrator file is saved?

  • May 16, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 1264 views

I'm having an issue with my Illustrator files.

If something is made of multiple shapes that are put together, they appear perfect in Illustrator. There's no gaps between the shapes.

When I place this as an ai. file into InDesign, gaps appear between each of the individual shapes. If I save my ai. file as a pdf, the gaps appear on the pdf aswell.

This is not purely with images I have created - I was sent the logo for a company as an ai. file to use it on the letterhead I was designing and the issue occured when I placed that into InDesign aswell.

This is zoomed in on my image in Illustrator. This is zoomed in on it once I've placed it in InDesign.

I'm not copy and pasting, I am saving the file and then placing it into InDesign. Or saving as a pdf and just opening the pdf to check the quality.

The issue is definitely the shapes moving apart slightly, as if I overlap the shapes in Illustrator I don't have a problem. I tried using this a solution, but then needed to reduce the transparency on something which made the overlaps visible so this didn't work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2017

The shapes are not moving apart.

This is a live paint, right?

In Illustrator it's a live object

In the PDF it's expanded automatically (also in the PDF part of the AI file)

When expanded those are separate shapes. And then Anti-aliasing kicks in and renders those fine lines.

Usually this shouldn't be visible when you're offset printing it.

Some other print methods might show it. Depends on technique and what happens in prepress.

    B
    bexgrimwoodAuthor
    Participant
    May 16, 2017

    Hi, thank you for your response.

    I'm pretty new to Illustrator and the file I'm working on is for a client - if this is an issue that might not show up in print how do I handle that when sending the file to the client for proof?

    Just send it and explain that the lines between shapes won't be there once it's printed?

    Thanks!

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 16, 2017

    You will need to make sure if they actually don't print.

    From my experience they don't, but it depends on your printing process, so please consult with the printing service.

    As for how to explain this to the client: you will have to find a way. Depends on your clients and on the way you present stuff to them.

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