New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/td-p/14845131 10 hours ago 10 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Illustrator version: 28.7.1
but it happened also in previous versions
TOPICS
Bug
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Explore related tutorials & articles
16 Replies 16
Jump to latest reply
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845157#M419346 10 hours ago 10 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
When editing an Illustrator file, always save as .ai
A pdf is not intended for editing.
If you want to save as PDF and also need to edit the Illustrator file, save a copy or make sure that the "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities" option is checked.
Just saving as PDF without that option will remove layers and other Illustrator options.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845176#M419347 10 hours ago 10 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
We also need pdf with layers for client.
The problem does not affect all PDF files. So far I have only had 3 cases. I have been using illustrator for many years and this has never happened to me. Im always using default settings for saving as PDF
Preview
62 KB
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845209#M419348 9 hours ago 9 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I guess you mean layers in the PDF file.
These are only top layers that are converted to what is called PDF layers, but what are actually ways of grouping content: OCG, Optional Content Groups.
These will not be there when a PDF withoutIllustrator Editing Capabilities is opened.
It could be that your file has become corrupted and only the PDF part is opened.
Where do you save your files?
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845231#M419351 9 hours ago 9 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I save all files on my company's network drives.
This is definitely some bug or some problem with random pdfs
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845501#M419383 6 hours ago 6 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Illustrator does not always work well with network drives.
Try if saving local and copying the saved file to the network drive helps.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845502#M419384 6 hours ago 6 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
According to this help file "Adobe Technical Support only supports using Illustrator on a local hard disk. It's difficult to re-create or accurately identify network- and peripheral-configuration problems."
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/illustrator-support-networks-removable-media.html
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845512#M419385 6 hours ago 6 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I copied the problematic files to the local drive. Unfortunately it didn't help. If we open the same PDF with Adobe Acrobat Pro, all layers are visible. Illustrator only shows one layer
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845529#M419389 6 hours ago 6 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Illustrator only reads it's own layers from the Illustrator part of the file.
Acrobat layers are not really layers, but groups of elements (a single object could be part of many Acrobat "Layers").
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845649#M419397 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I'm not sure you understood me correctly.
The pdf file that I opened with Acrobat pro was exported from Illustrator. Later, when I opened the same file with Illustrator, all the layers were merged.
I didn't do any editing with Acrobat Pro. Some printing houses only use PDF files with layers and color profiles.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845673#M419399 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Please look at this screenshot. This is the same file (created in Illustrator and exported to PDF) opened in Acrobat and Illustrator.
Acrobat shows all the layers I have created. Illustrator shows only 1 merged layer
Preview
104 KB
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845693#M419402 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
@Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg schrieb:
Acrobat shows all the layers I have created. Illustrator shows only 1 merged layer
Acrobat layers are not the same as Illustrator layers. Illutrator cannot read PDF layers. It can only read its own layers. If you do not save your PDF "Illutrator editable" OR if saving goes wrong and the file goes corrupt, then your layers are gone.
Please watch this about Illustrator files:https://youtu.be/IpDh8Y7q8yE
Illustrator has a special way of saving native files. You should know this in order to be able to set the correct options and to recover some of your artwork when things go wrong. More info about saving files in Illustrator Saving safely: http://vektorgarten.de/illustrator-saving-safely.html ...
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845711#M419404 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Now you are teaching me how to save pdf files....
I'm doing this for 10 years working as graphic designer, Everyhting works fine until last month.
I just trying to tell you that Illustrator corrupts files that it had previously exported
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845717#M419405 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
That is because something went wrong when saving the file.
The Illustrator layers were converted to Acrobat "Layers", Optional Content Groups.
But when the file was reopened in Illustrator, the PDF part was opened. Either because the file was saved without Illustrator Editing Capabilities or because the file became corrupted when saved over a network.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Arkadiusz Jas32409061u0tg AUTHOR
New Here ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845734#M419406 4 hours ago 4 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Let me put it to you in a different way.
The PDF I was opening is from 2022 (created by Illustrator 2022). When I opened it a year ago with the Illustrator 2023 version, everything was fine.
This pdf has not been modified.
It's not a matter of wrong file saving.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14845742#M419408 3 hours ago 3 hours ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
If Illustrator doesn't find an AI file inside the PDF, it will open the PDF. And Illustrator cannot use PDF layers. Illustrator can only use its own layers.
What happened to your disk all these years? Wouldn't be the first file I've seen to get corrupted. Yes, this includes my own files. Copying them from one drive to another can corrupt them as can a recovery operation. And a lot of other things.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
Community Expert ,
/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-flattens-existing-layers-when-opened-pdf/m-p/14846050#M419426 33m ago 33m ago
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
LATEST
Monika described exactly what could have happened. Anyway, you are openin somehow the pdf part and not the .ai part.
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more