Illustrator: BIG FILE and SLOW working…

[Idiosynn Nele]

Hi there,

I’m working for a textilecompany and I need to make a file 4000 x 4000 mm where I design sheets (linen)
1400 x 2000 mm for the sheet where I need to make a pattern by copy pasting it. The problem is: the original vector is a .ai file about 3mb.
When I copy paste it for about 20 times the file becomes big (about 50mb. what is weird because there are only vectors included).
Illustrator gives me at one moment a dialogbox where it says there is not enough memory to do this action. (I have a Mac Pro Quadcore with 4 Gb RAM… which is enough.. certainly for files of 40 mb..) I really dont understand why it becomes so slow to work…

At one moment is just turns my file into contourlines.. and I cant fix it anymore…

Anyone who had the same problem? How did you fix it?

thank you!!

[Vincent Rosati]

Maybe try turning off PDF compatibility in Edit/Preferences.
You might have to restart for this to take effect, unsure.

Maybe set a low resolution in Effect/Document Raster Effects Settings, in the documents that you are using.

Vince

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[Mike Gondek]

Try making a pattern swatch, rather than copying and pasting your pattern tile, your file will become much slimmer/quicker.

You basically draw a rectangle with no file or stroke, and send that to back. Then select your rectangle and artwork and drag this to your swatches to make a pattern swatch.