Prevent astronomic file size when using multiple copies of the same embedded image
Allow copies of the same embedded image to have one source and not just copy when duplicating these images. Copy only when a change is made to a copy of the embedded image. I like to make multiple versions of some artwork that may contain a raster image embedded and when i copy that artwork it makes another copy of that unchanged embedded image along with the copied vectors, causing a significant increase in file size when that raster image is still the same. I could use linking but file management gets harder with absolute links. Either use the same info in the file for copies of images or allow relative paths of links.
Marco Afonso
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Hans commented
InDesign has this in place, and so should Illustrator :)
When you import an image file into Illustrator and copy it, it will make a new copy, instead of a new instance. If you work on a file where an image file is included multiple times, the Illustrator file itself often becomes too large.
This would never have happened if the duplicates of the image file were instances instead of copies.
It is also impossible to relink duplicates of the same image when they are copies. You have to do it manually. It's both time-consuming and outdated.
Turning the image file into a symbol is not much of help either as it still creates a new link in the links panel!
Do as in InDesign. It will help reduce file sizes and improve performance!