This issue is affecting multiple users in our environment with the following setups:

Hardware: Apple Mac Studio (M1 and M2)

OS: macOS Sequoia (and possibly the prior macOS version – behavior appears on machines that have not yet updated as well)

Adobe Illustrator (desktop): 30.0 (2026 release)

For the time being, we have reverted back to Illustrator 2025 where the same workflow works correctly.

Basically:

When we save .ai files with large artboards from Illustrator 30.0 (2026) and then open those files in our printer RIP software (Onyx), the artwork does not come in at the correct size. Instead, it appears at roughly 1/10th of the intended scale. This can also be replicated by opening the files in Acrobat.

The same files saved as PDF from Illustrator 2026 open at the correct size in the RIP, and .ai files saved from Illustrator 2025 also open at the correct scale. This suggests the problem is specific to the Illustrator 2026 .ai format for large artboards.

Steps to reproduce:

On a Mac Studio (M1 or M2) running macOS Sequoia, open Adobe Illustrator 30.0 (2026).

Create a new document with a large artboard (52x300).

Add some content.

Save the file as a native .ai file (Illustrator 2026 default format).

Open the saved .ai file in Onyx (RIP software) or Adobe Acrobat.

Compare the size reported by Acrobat or Onyx (or measured within the RIP) to the original artboard / artwork dimensions in Illustrator.

For comparison:

From the same Illustrator 2026 document, Save As → PDF with default or standard print settings.

Open the PDF in Onyx or Acrobat and check the size.

Repeat the same test using Adobe Illustrator 2025, saving an .ai file with the same artboard dimensions, and open that .ai in Onyx or Acrobat.

Expected result:

The .ai file saved from Illustrator 30.0 (2026) should open in Acrobat and Onyx at the exact same scale and dimensions as defined in the Illustrator document (matching the large artboard size).

The size reported in the RIP should match the Illustrator artboard (just as it does with Illustrator 2025 .ai files and 2026 PDFs).

Actual result:

Illustrator 30.0 (2026) .ai files with large artboards open in Acrobat and Onyx at approximately 1/10th of the correct scale.

The same artwork:

Opens at the correct scale as a PDF exported from Illustrator 2026.

Opens at the correct scale when saved as .ai from Illustrator 2025.

So the incorrect scaling appears specific to 2026 .ai files + large artboards.

Scope / notes:

Issue has been reproduced by multiple users in our environment, all on M1/M2 Mac Studios.

Affected OS: macOS Sequoia (and likely the previous macOS version on some machines; behavior appears consistent across both).

The common factor is Illustrator 30.0 (2026) + large artboard .ai.

PDF workflow works fine, as does Illustrator 2025, which is our current workaround, but we prefer to send native .ai files to the RIP, and we use the large artboards extensively.

I would upload example files, but .ai files are apparently an invalid file type to upload here.