Saving .AI to PDF/EPS

[judahbass]

When I try to save my Illustrator files as PDF or EPS I get a white/blank document instead. The ONLY workaround that actually works is exporting to TIF and then converting to PDF. For some reason the options I try (PDF and EPS) when I do a "save as" are the ones showing up blank.

I get notifications that I have artwork that needs flattening, but I can't for the life of me figure out WHICH artwork needs it. I have no idea how to isolate and identify what needs it and how to flatten it, because, to my knowledge, I have already set the "flatten transparency" option to 100% vector. What am I doing wrong?! I must be stupid or blind or both. :(

This is so frustrating!!! :mad:

Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you!:)

[judahbass]

Ok, well I was thinking a bit harder about this and I have a new possibility. I notice that when I click 'print' the dialogue box shows 3 options:
1-Visible and Printable Layers
2-Visible layers
3-All layers
When I select 3 it shows all of my artwork. When I select 1 or 2 it shows a blank document. Could this be related? If so, then what am I doing wrong and how can I fix it?

I tried a simple test of creating a single shape and saving as a PDF and it works great. When I create more complicated designs is when it gets effed up. So that is why I am slow to believe the program is the problem. It's more likely that I am the problem. lol.

Thanks everyone!

[d_tekt]

It's hard to tell without seeing the file - coud you reduce/optimise one of your TIFFs and attach it?

My hunch is it's partly to do with memory/your computer as well as Illustrator. A while ago I worked in a print bureau and we had a very complex AI file that wouldn't convert to PDF (from v10, I think). Illy couldn't render all the vectors because it ran out of memory.

We solved it by archiving files, clearing the desktop and defragging the hard drive. Then the Mac (G4) had enough scratch disk space to render the file and convert it. It could still be a Layers issue (I'm no expert on them) but the above is something else to try if all else fails.

[Scott Weichert]

Double click the layers in Illustrator and Be certain they are set to print and NOT set as templates.

Templates layers do not print.