Expert: Ken Black - 10/31/2008

Question
QUESTION:  "Hi im a graphic design. so this is the situation im working on 10 files in illustrator cs and they all have the same logo. currently when i change the logo i have to go through every drawings an update it, ie copy paste.  is there a way to have a link (like in autocad - xref) where there is a master logo file. i just place it in each file and if i adjust the master logo file it updates everywhere? any advice. i use autocad and we use xrefs all the time - ie we have a toilet and 300 different drawings with a master xref file for just the toilet so when i update the toilet it updates everywhere. im looking for the same thing in illustrator?  thanks in advance  Matty"

ANSWER: Hi Matty,

I am not readily aware of any xref capabilities within Illustrator. I recommend checking into creating a script that might help. You can find more information about scripting Illustrator here:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/illustrator/

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Are symbols like xrefs? like can i create a symbol and it updates everywhere? and can i edit a symbol after its made?
thanks ken

Answer
While symbols link to the symbols palette, the information for them is stored within the document itself. In other words, it cannot be edited so as to effect change within other documents. If your graphic was already defined as a symbol you could:

Drag your new logo or graphic into your symbols palette.

Select the symbol instance on the artboard.

Select a new symbol in the Symbols palette.

Click the Replace Symbol button at the bottom of the palette (looks like two arrows).

or

Choose Replace Symbol from the Symbols palette menu.

This is not much faster than copy and paste and it of course requires that your graphic is already a symbol in each file.

You could also rasterize the graphic in photoshop, save it as a tif and then place it in your illustrator files, then if you were to update the graphic it would then replace in each file it were placed in, similarly to a layout program such as Indesign.

I am assuming that you are working with documents that are too large for a layout program. If not, I would consider building your pages in one such as Indesign or Quark Xpress, that way all graphics are placed and updating such things becomes a less cumbersome task.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com