issue with large file size and scanned fabric swatches from PS

[maddierose]

I am working with lots of CAD designs with scanned, hi res fabric swatches from PS dropped into the drawings almost all the time. Consequently those final AI drawings with the fabric drop-ins are ending up having VERY large, and unmanageable file sizes and when they then have to be put several on page for a complete color story board, it just gets ridiculous. I have done the whole "Delete Unused" for all the different palattes but still doesnt' really do it and with my CAD's that only have solid color drop ins, the file size is normal which makes me think it has to be the PS swatches that I am dropping in. Any suggestions on how to fix this other than going back, changing the resolution on the original scanned fabric and basically doing the whole garment over again?

[Fakie]

The only thing i can hint towards is go back to photoshop ( sorry I know you don't want to ) and make an action for reducing their size, far easier than doing each one by hand. Other than that, sorry, no :(

[bmann]

Once you drop the ps images in and have them scaled to the size you want you can go to object > rasterize and downsample them to 300 or 150 or whatever. Then when you save as AI, uncheck the "Create PDF Compatible File". Those two things will reduce the file size. Especially if you downsample a lot. :D

Also, if you place the files as links instead of embedding them you can really reduce the file size by quite a bit. An AI file with a 12.5 MB PSD Embedded was 25 MB, whereas when I placed it as a link the file was 1.3 MB.