Expert: Amy - 3/26/2007

Question
hello...
i'm using illustrator 9 on a pc and i have a common-as it seems problem with my last 5-6 files that they can't be opened because they "exceeded an implementation limit"..i had this problem once or twice in the past but suddenly it appeared again and i can't understand the reason...well i opened some of them as place in another file and i can do as many changes as i want.i save these files as eps.is it ok?oh,and i always set attribute to 1200.(maybe that is irrelavant but just checking)

Answer
Hi Katerina.

I think your settings are fine. This implementation limit probably has something to do with something *in* the document. A placed file, a transparency (filter or effect like drop shadow), maybe a font, a gradient, a pattern... the list goes on and on. It is almost never the size of the file or the resolution of the images within.

You're lucky you've been able to place the files and continue to work on them. I, too, use 9 for Windows and have encountered the same problem. A couple of times I am absolutely sure it was a placed EPS graphic I had in the document. I'm sure that other times, it was a bad font.

Now are the files you are working on have something in common? A placed file? A font? Do you get the error when you save as native AI format? If you have time, you could troubleshoot your fonts. I hate doing that - it can take a long time depending on the fonts you have installed.

Other than that, try tossing your preferences file: Quit AI, locate AIprefs file on your PC and throw it away, launch AI again - it recreates itself. Maybe if it was a gradient or something, this will help.

Hope this info helps somewhat.
Amy