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Reduce ai file size with many copies of same embedded image

Explorer ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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I have ai file, that contains many copies of same embedded image (i need embedded image, not linked). So I embed into documen only one image, and make many copies of it. As result, I have very large ai file fize.


How can I reduce ai file size via store same embedded image only one time into ai file?

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Expert , Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

I just found that there is a difference between a Static and a Dynamic Symbol.

If you select the Symbol and choose Symbol Options... from the Symbol panel menu you can change the symbol from the default Dynamic Symbol to a Static Symbol.

All the link items will disappear and the file will be much smaller when saved.

That also explains why CS6 behaved different, Dynamic Symbols did not exist then.

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Murz,

How about dragging it to the Symbols palette and taking it from there (literally)?

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Explorer ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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I already use this file as symbol, but this not help with reducing file size. So I have document, that contains instances of one symbol, that contain embedded image.

But every new instance of symbol (link to symbol is kept active) increasing total file size, also in Links panel I see separate file for each symbol instance.

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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MurzNN  schrieb

But every new instance of symbol (link to symbol is kept active) increasing total file size, also in Links panel I see separate file for each symbol instance.

That shouldn't be the case.

Also it's not clear what exactly you're doing. You might be doing it wrong or Illustrator is misbehaving.

Also: just in case when you save the AI file with embedded PDF, then all images will be embedded in the PDF automatically.

It would help when you show screenshots.

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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I think Illustrator is misbehaving, it adds an item in the Links panel for every time the image symbol is used.

I tried an older version (CS6) and nothing appears in the Links panel when a symbol is used.

Also a difference in filesize: CS6: 6 MB for 10 symbols, CC2019: 115,6 MB

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Explorer ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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How to reproduce this problem in any Illustrator instance:

1. Create clean AI file with A4 page.

2. Place any pixel image (with size ~10 mb) embedded to this page. Save file, it will have size about ~10 mb)

3. Make this image as symbol and remove object from page.

4. Place symbol to page one time.

5. Save file. File size will be, eg, ~10 mb.

6. Now place same symbol to page more 4 times, total will be 5 images on page.

7. Save file and check size - it will be increased to ~50 mb.

As result, you will have ai file, containing only 5 copies of one image, with ~50 mb size instead of ~10 mb!

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Murz,

It may be time to voice it here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/

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Explorer ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Voted and added link to this thread/

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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I just found that there is a difference between a Static and a Dynamic Symbol.

If you select the Symbol and choose Symbol Options... from the Symbol panel menu you can change the symbol from the default Dynamic Symbol to a Static Symbol.

All the link items will disappear and the file will be much smaller when saved.

That also explains why CS6 behaved different, Dynamic Symbols did not exist then.

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Explorer ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Yeath!!! Thanks!

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Community Expert ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Hi,

Is the image pixel image?

If so reducing the overall Illustrator file size would be difficult.

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Explorer ,
Mar 18, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

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Yes, image is pixel image. But why Illustrator save each copy of same pixel image separately in file, even if all instances are into one symbol?

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