Disable "save as PDF compatible" as default when saving .AI files
I do a lot of large signage projects with a lot of imported large PSD files. For years I have pulled my hair out waiting for these files to save, even though the images were linked and not embedded. I finally discovered that if I turn off save as PDF compatible when I save the AI file, it saves a lot quicker! Please turn off the save as PDF compatible default when saving. AI files that are large.
Also when turning off PDF compatibility in an AI file, it would be nice to still have a finder preview.
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Zach commented
Thanks Egor, it was really neat testing this concept by opening a saved Illustrator file in Acrobat for the first time since I started designing. I haven't found a way to use this functionality in my workflow. Illustrator does remember the setting in each file, I just want a preference option to have it off by default.
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Zach, this option embeds the copy of the artwork, saved in PDF format, as a supplementary layer. It allows to place your Ai file into applications which don't understand the native Ai format directly: Photoshop and InDesign.
I know, this feels stupid, but this decision once enabled smart objects functionality.
Yes, it bloats files. If you don’t plan to place your files anywhere — untick it on save.
Yes, Ai should remember the once unticked option, therefore this request. -
I just checked, to be accurate, it technically says "Create PDF Compatible File" now.
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I just started ticking off the "save as PDF compatible" and my file sizes reduced from over 500mb files to 3.4mb files. With 15 years of files in Dropbox, I cannot fathom the amount of storage I am wasting with these ridiculously sized files. I don't even understand what that options does. I have been using Illustrator for over 20 years and I don't know what that option does of if I have ever used it.
