Bloated File size in Illustrator

I created an image in Photoshop and saved it as a jpg with medium compression. The file size is 360K. When I palce it into Illustrator the Illustrator file balloons to 3mg! Can anyone suggest a reason and a solution to this problem? Thanks much!

Reason: Illustrator works with the uncompressed image size. Understand that JPEG file data is just "gibberish" until decoded to a decompressed state for use in any application capable of dealing with raster images. Go back to Photoshop and open your .jpg image. Save it as an uncompressed TIFF and see what happens.
Solution: Make sure your image is no larger (in pixel dimensions) than needed for the intended output purpose.
Suggestion: Don't save JPEGs out of Photoshop for placing in Illustrator. Why subject your image to lossy compression when all you will be doing, most likely, is saving with more lossy compression further down the workflow? Save as .psd instead. (I'll assume you're working with relatively recent versions of AI and PS.) That way you at least maintain the ability to have AI respect transparent regions of your PS image.
Please always state your Illustrator version and OS.

Similar Messages

How to reduce file size in Illustrator CS4?

Hi!
I'm having troubles with the size of my files in Illustrator CS4, My files always ends with sizes near 100mb!
I made some tests:
Create a new doc (7x5 cm), type some text, save: 1mb
Place an image (PSD file: 12mb), save without embedding: 8mb
Embedd the psd file, save: 16mb
Delete psd image, and place JPG (2,5mb), save without embedding: 8mb
Embedd the JPG, save: 15mb
I0m using the save with compression option.
If I uncheck the compatibility with PDF, then my file goes from 15mb to 8mb, but it's too big anyway, my image is only 2,5mb!
I don't know, I think I'm doing something wrong or illustrator is the most inefficient program that I ever use.
Why if my file without the image is only 1mb, and my JPG only 2,5mb, when I put them together the .AI goes to 15mb???? that's 500% the real size of my files!
Please I need help with this.
THANKS !
enrique.

jenryp wrote:
Hi!
I'm having troubles with the size of my files in Illustrator CS4, My files always ends with sizes near 100mb!
I made some tests:
Create a new doc (7x5 cm), type some text, save: 1mb
Place an image (PSD file: 12mb), save without embedding: 8mb
Embedd the psd file, save: 16mb
Delete psd image, and place JPG (2,5mb), save without embedding: 8mb
Embedd the JPG, save: 15mb
I0m using the save with compression option.
If I uncheck the compatibility with PDF, then my file goes from 15mb to 8mb, but it's too big anyway, my image is only 2,5mb!
I don't know, I think I'm doing something wrong or illustrator is the most inefficient program that I ever use.
Why if my file without the image is only 1mb, and my JPG only 2,5mb, when I put them together the .AI goes to 15mb???? that's 500% the real size of my files!
Please I need help with this.
THANKS !
enrique.
Think about it for a minute and you might find the answer yourself? Ok perhaps it has something to do with the fact that a 2.5 mb jpeg, which is a compressed file size, is something like a 15 MB uncompressed file. I know but it is a compressed file but Illustrator has to uncompress it and make it pdf compatible turn off the pdf compatible option and see what happens.
I just tried it myself and sure enough a 4.1 jpeg place in AI makes the file 13.1 MB the uncompressed image is 15.8 MB
without pdf compatible the 4.1 mb file in AI is now a 1.1 MB file.
It makes sense to me perhaps if you think about it it might make sense to you as well.

Help Me Kill The Giant Bloated File Size Monster

Hi Folks,
I'm trying to reduce the artificially giant size of a GB2 file because it's almost impossible to get the tune to play. I've tried all the optimizing tricks but every now and then a song just needs that big I Am The Walrus production so I'll admit there's a lot going on. I say "artificially" because I know from experience with so many other programs that many times those undos and edits DON'T get trashed when you save and quit even though they should. I wish GB2 had the beautifully elegant "Save & Compact" like Flash which miraculously cleans out the file and dumps all the bad voodoo reducing files to a fraction of their bloated former selves.
In this case I was trying to reduce file by locking many tracks which I now know bloats the file even more. I found this old thread with some tips about manually trashing Freeze Files but how exactly is that done? What are files called and where are they?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1370949&#1370949
Any Mac Techs listening here? How about a Save & Compact for GarageBand!
Thanks
Robert
P.S. I do have GB3 also if there's only a fix in that version.

Hi flexmarketman - please do NOT tinker with the Media folder contents if you still wish to have a functional project. Nothing in that folder is non-essential. Non-destructive editing allows for the permanent removal only of clips that are discarded in their entirety. All remaining clips in the folder have been utilised in some degree in your project!
Best solution is to purchase an external hard drive of reasonably large capacity (make sure it has been formatted for Mac computers before you use it.
You can share the project back to a dv tape (cheapest storage method), and that can be re-imported if needs be, but it does not allow for the same flexibility of subsequent further editing as transitions etc will now be embedded in the clips. But it will remove all unwanted portions of clips so that is the positive outcome of this method.
Hope that helps.
Message was edited by: catspaw

Linking Questions cs5: Linking within the Same file, Sharing links, file size bloat

I have to make print cards for my job. Print cards being a 1 page version of the Larger package layout that the place I work manufactures. On this print card is a section for customer info on top, and the print representation on the bottom. What I've been doing is using two files. The first file is the full-scale art on one artboard, and the customer info on the second artboard, but both within one file.
On the second file, I combine the two. I still use two artboard because it's a front and back print-off. The front page (1st art board, 2nd file), is the customer info at the top (linked from the 2 art board, 1st file) and the full art shrunk to fit below (also linked). the back page (2nd art board, 2nd file) is the individual elements of the artwork, zoomed in for easier viewing. For the second page, I use masked links from the fullsize art, sized appropriately. The reason it's important that they all use links, is so if I update the art, it will update the print cards as well.
I've been trying to stream-line this process. This works ok, but the numerous links bloat the file size, and I have to email these to customers. I've started using "Flatten Transparency" on all my Print cards (2nd file) and saving it as a separate .pdf. This cuts out the links, but then all of my masked images are hiding the whole original file behind their mask. So then I started manually cropping each individual masked area, which helps, but once I've gone through this whole process, I don't think I've saved any of the time my template was supposed to save.
file://localhost/Users/troubleinthemaking/Desktop/PRINT%20MINI%20EXAMPLE.pdf
My questions are these:
Is there any way to link to elements within the same file? Like from a different artboard?
I've successfully 'Placed' an artboard from the same file, back into that file (but a different artboard), but this creates a never-ending Save/Update loop. I'd like a better way to do this.
Is there a way to have all instances of a linked file, draw from the same place? i.e. When you update a single link, all instances of that Link would update. plus this would, in theory, cut down on the file size.
Is there any way to automatically have every masked link crop itself after using the flatten transparency command?
Even if I had to select them first. I haven't had any luck selecting them all and then using the pathfinder crop tool. I've had to do each one individually.
I know this last one can't really be answered without seeing everything on my machine. I don't even know what info I'd need to give...
WHY MY FILE SIZE SO BIG!
Thanks ahead of time.
-Jefferson

Jefferson:
There's a few things you can do to make your files smaller, such as using the Action "Delete All Unused Panel Items" which will removed all unused Symbols, Graphic Styles, Brushes and Swatches from your Illustrator files. Those little items add up to bloating a file.
You also need to examine the images that you place into your Illustrator file. Any unnecessary layers or channels? Can the files be flattened before being placed in Illustrator? You can always keep a "working" Photoshop file of all that extra goobledeegook and then flatten the file and do a "Save As" and place that in the Illustrator file. And that could be a Photoshop EPS saved with a TIFF Preview and JPEG Encoding (Maximum Quality), which will save some MBs.
But, you should never sacrifice file size for quality. If these files are going to print, you should be using an FTP program to transfer the files and not email them. Email should not be used for files over 5 MB. If all you want to do is send the customer a Low Resolution PDF Proof for approval via Email, that's fine and dandy, but send the final large size files to the Printer via FTP.

How to make PDF file size smaller from an Illustrator file without changing the quality or size (length and width) of the file?

Is there a way to make a 30x42 size (40 GB) Illustrator file as a PDF but make the file smaller in size (able to email to clients) with out compromising the quality of the file or the size of the file?

If you are working in RGB you can embed a colour profile. Embed ICC Profiles is one of the Acrobat save options. It will increase files size dramatically.
When you save your pdf you can choose the compression method for placed images. Default is ZIP which is really no compression at all for pixel images. Instead you should opt for JPG compression (of varying degree according to how sensitive the images are to compression).
You should also examine the other Acrobat save options. To minimize file size you should not have any of the options checked (Preserve Illustrator Editing Capability, Embed page Thumbnails etc. etc.).
40 gigabytes for a file like the one you show is ridiculous. Did you maybe embed the placed images? If so, don’t. Keep them linked unless you really need to embed them.

Project Bloating and Repair in Premiere Pro CS6; Max Project File Size? Adobe Coders Welcome...

Greetings.
After a few browsing sessions, I haven't found direction for a specific problem within a project bloat. First and foremost; we're always backed up. I have a restoration copy of the project that I will reference herein. Check that off the list.
Numerous people have posted here and around Creative Cow with problems regarding an expanding file size using CS6; watching files go from 300mb to 2.8gb. The unfortunate problem is when the project crosses a magical line that results in an inablity to open, import, export, or access sequences contained therein. Has anyone addressed a solution to repairing Premiere CS6 save files? Reducing file bloat? I haven't seen anything (recall the FCP7 repair days... solutions existed because problems were frequent; thankfully not so bad with Adobe).
Does anyone inside the code size know the maximum project file size that Premiere can read? I created a monster... Over 200 sequences utilizing 4.5TB of footage, stretching from Red codecs to EXCam to MPEG4 and H264. And for some time, the project size was manageable. Then, it inflated. And one day, randomly stopped opening. None of the auto-saves open.
Just curious. Files aren't the problem, but the 2.8GB save file is. Machine specs // etc. are openly available if required; no bad ram, no problems with all projects (just this one beast).
Cheers,
Jon Michael Ryan

REALLY_ Mac has a history of being more stable than PC with Premier ...
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In a message dated 6/2/2013 5:50:50 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
Re: Project Bloating and Repair in Premiere Pro CS6; Max Project File
Size? Adobe Coders Welcome...
created by joe bloe premiere
(http://forums.adobe.com/people/joebloepremiere) in Premiere Pro - View the full discussion
(http://forums.adobe.com/message/5373302#5373302)

Unable to save a 'smallest size file' pdf from illustrator 5.5

We recently insalled Adobe Standard 5.5
I often save PDF files from Illustrator using the built in PDF options available from the PDF drop down menu bar when saving files. Usually I will save a visual as a 'smallest file size' or make use of the 'high quality print' option for other files etc.
Why cant I do this on CS5.5?
In addition, the colour is not acurate at all!
Please help

Hi Scott - I found the following thread on the net. So I had a look on my time machine back-ups and copied the files from there, which I then pasted into my Settings folder as you suggested.
Ta da!! All working again!
Any idea how I could restore these settings from a backup?
Thanks!
The PDF presets reside in Root/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe PDF/Settings/
After I had installed 10.6.5, 6 preset files were removed from the Settings folder. The folder tree itself remained, it was just that some of the contents of "Settings" were deleted. I have fixed the problem by copying the deleted settings files from a backup.
These are the files which were deleted:
Smallest File Size.joboptions
Press Quality.joboptions
PDFX4 2008.joboptions
PDFX3 2002.joboptions
PDFX1 2001.joboptions
High Quality Print.joboptions
These files were not deleted:
Standard.joboptions
PDFA1b 2005 RGB.joboptions
PDFA1b 2005 CMYK.joboptions
Oversized Pages.joboptions
Somebody at Adobe community support for Indesign directed me to restore these files from a backup, which solved the problem.
Re: Unable to save a 'smallest size file' pdf from illustrator 5.5

Saving png with Cut Countour in illustrator as .eps = Gigantic file size

Hi
When saving a png (size= 32mb) in illustrator, with a layer on top with a vector-path (Cut contour for a roland cutter) the .eps file ends up being 800 mb??
I tried saving only the layer with med vector path as an eps. The vector .eps ends up being 5,5 mb.
When adding the .png (32mb) on a seperate layer, and then saving as an eps. This eps (png+vector) ends up 800mb.
It is a big print ( 125cmx218cm)
Anyway to make this file-size a bit smaller?
/Rikke

You'll need to outline the text and provide the mask image.
Apart from that: looks to me like a problem with resolution. There's a structure in your exported file, but it's smoothed.
Without knowing what exactly you did step by step it's difficult to solve this problem.

Why is the illustrator file size this big?

I create a new illustrator document (Illustrator CS5 - v15.1.0), in that document I create a rectangle with the rectangle tool (fill: white; stroke: black); I save the document (.ai-format; create pdf compatible file active). The file size messures 3.2 Mb.
Why is that? It's just a simple rectangle with 4 points…

an empty illustrator document, with PDF compatibility: 1.7Mb;
an empty illustrator document, without PDF compatibility: 3.2Mb;
an empty illustrator document, without PDF compatibility; embed ICC profiles not activated: 207Kb.
So I think it might be the ICC profiles that cause these extended File sizes. However… strange that the second test is larger than the first…
nevertheless thanks!

Project file size bloats (Captivate 3)

Does anyone know what causes a project file to become disproportionately bloated? I was working on a file that was approx 200 MB, then imported some objects onto one slide from another project, and suddenly it jumped to over 300 MB (I even deleted all items in the library that weren't being used elsewhere).
I've noticed this phenomenon on more than one occassion. It seems to occur most frequently when importing objects or slides from one project to another.

Hi there
The only way that I've ever seen a file size reduction in Captivate 3 was by performing the following steps:
Open a second instance of Captivate.
Create a new blank project sized identically to the other instance.
Switching between instances, copy slides from the bloated one and paste into the fresh one.
Save the new one and the file size is reduced.
Discard the old one.
Note that you will likely need to re-establish any links you had.
Just a special note here about one of the things you tried. You said you exported to XML. I don't believe you are able to export to XML, then import from XML back into a new project. I believe the XML export works in a very similar manner to the Microsoft Word export. Only the project that exported it will be able to successfully re-import it. As I understand it, the XML export is especially designed for Captivate developers that need to localize (translate) their projects.
Cheers... Rick
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Placing photoshop eps's into Illustrator - file size

I used to place very large/high res photoshop eps files into Illustrator (as low res proxy) and it would allow my Illustrator file size to stay very small, however, once I switched to CS5 I noticed the way I was saving the eps's wouldn't show up in Illustrator, it would show as an empty box until I resaved the eps with tiff preview and jpg encoding. But this makes my Illustrator file huge which is not what I want. Does anyone that creates large scale graphics know what I'm talking about? Thanks

feddersfollies wrote:
This setup has been working for years…
Does that mean that you don't even plan to update Photoshop CS to CS6 13.0,6? That would be a grave mistake. There were many substantial bug fixes along the way.
Updating to CS 13.0.6 is completely, totally free. No expense at all.
If your issue appeared "suddenly", delete and recreate your Photoshop and your Illustrator's preferences.
But update to 13.0.6 ASAP. There's absolutely no excuse and no valid reason for staying with known buggy versions. That's just plain nonsense.
If you insist on staying with your "setup" for the reason you state, please don't bother addressing any replies to me.

CS4 Illustrator file size

I'm trying to create a beading pattern on Illustrator but in creating a "sequin" brush with a rasterised jpeg graphic, I have created what appears to be a "monster-sized" file which cannot now be edited, even to change the view. I have tried saving the file without pdf, compression on and even saved as CS3 format but still cannot now edit it at all. I think I have a CS5 suite to upgrade but don't want to lose my previous files or bother to upgrade if the problem of file size will still be there after the upgrade. Any clues? Thanks

Mac running OSX
Background image "placed" into new document
Brush created with an image file of a sequin to make texture layers in order to create a beading pattern.
Don't know how to answer your last comment, only in terms of what I want it to do, which is to create an editable file that the layers can be changed, textures altered or added to the basic image background.
Shane Davis
[email protected]

Huge File Sizes - Illustrator CS

Lately my file sizes have been absolutely huge - all I was doing earlier was creating a simple poster using a jpeg picture (800kb) and two logos (about 800kb each) and the file size managed to reach 20mb when saved as a PDF! What am I doing wrong here? Is it the pictures I'm using or the illustrator file?
Any ideas??

A guy here had this problem with an Illy file that produced a huge pdf and we haven´t solved the problem yet. It was a simple A4 ad with very little text and one normal sized linked eps image in 300 dpi.
The Illy file saved as a few KB. The linked picture was about 2 MB.
We tried produced a pdf, both straight from Illy and also by distilling an eps of the ad. The eps was about 3 MB but the resulting pdf (with the image in 300 dpi) was around 9 MB whichever way we tried to do things.
This struck us all as abnormal and we tried different methods on different machines but no-one can find what went wrong. We just send the 9 MB pdf to press and everything was o.k., but we still don't know why it was so big.
Any ideas anyone?

How to reduce illustrator CS4 file size

Hi,
How to reduce illustrator CS4 file size, the file size is alots bigger compare to art work done in indesign?

Hi
Please follow this video tutorial and you will see a small thing can reduce the file size easily. It was really helpfull for me.
How to Reduce AI Vector file size: An Adobe illustrator Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5m3TKrXE3g
My AI file size was not going under 1 MB even by deleting extras so what I did is I opened a raster small image of 100 kb with Adobe Illustrator. then deleted the image and saved the file as AI. Then I Copied the whole vector content of original AI file that was bigger then 1 MB with ctrl+c command and pasted it in the new file created with raster image. and saved it. Wow the new file size is only 137 kb now.
Thanks

Best file for importing images from Illustrator and Photoshop for small file sizes

Hello Adode consults!
I'm in the process of preparing an inDesign file for a school project -- I've already had a few harrowing experiences sending large files to the printer that are too large to process (and a very grumpy computer, etc). The end result will be a poster around 36 inches by 4 or 5 feet.
I'm wondering if there are any best practices for making sure that the files imported into InDesign are a manageable size to begin with. Should I, for instance, be saving each file as a jpeg before placing in Indesign?
Thanks!
-Katherine

No, you should not save every file as JPG before placing it in INDesign. JPG is only usefull for raster images (like photos) without any transparency in high quality.
When you place images use:
For raster images from Photoshop psd (rgb with color profile)
For raster images from Photoshop with form layers, texts or any vector element use PDF (or PDP) with layers.
For vector graphics from Illustrator use AI files or PDF.
For layouts from other InDesign projects use either the INDD itsself or export a PDF/X4.
But to the printer deliver a PDF according to their standards. E.g. when they need CMYK files export as PDF/X1a with the required output color space and the resolution they want. Produce the pdf via Export (Print).
Don't deliver open INDD. File size should for printing projects not be an issue.

Bloated File size in Illustrator

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