Adobe Illustrator for Windows - Why does my text have jaggies, even though it's live text?

Author

Why does my text have jaggies, even though it's live text?

Steven_Wild@adobeforums.com

2007-07-09, 6:17 am

Hi,

I've just experienced something really weird with an Illustrator (CS2) file. I created it a few days ago, and the text looked normal when I was working with it.

However, I've just opening it again and, when I'm zoomed in, all of the text looks rasterised, even though it is live editable text. The text appears jagged, and is antialiased.

I've tried shutting Illustrator down and starting again, but no luck. I've even deleted my aiprefs file, which didn't help either.

If anyone can explain what may have happened and how I can fix it, I'd be most grateful.

Cheers,

Steven

Scott Falkner

2007-07-09, 6:17 am

The text appears jagged, and is antialiased.

You probably mean "aliased". Care to post a screen shot? One possibility is that, at very large sizes, I believe Illustrator sometimes aliases text for the sake of RAM and speed.

Jacob_Bugge@adobeforums.com

2007-07-09, 6:17 am

Steven,

It sounds as if you may have View>Pixel Preview (or, less likely, Outline) ticked. If so, change to Overprint Preview.

Steven_Wild@adobeforums.com

2007-07-09, 6:17 am

Definitely anti-aliased - ie smoothed out with a gradation of tinted pixels.

The font is only about 14 point, and the PC I have is a dual core with 4 MB of RAM.

I'll post an image in a couple of hours when I get home.

Thanks,

Steven

Steven_Wild@adobeforums.com

2007-07-09, 6:25 pm

Hi Scott, Jacob,

Thanks for the advice. Jacob, you hit the nail on the head. Somehow I had it on Pixel Preview, which I never even knew existed. By some bizarre coincidence, my work computer and home computer were both set on this...

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers,

Steven

Jacob_Bugge@adobeforums.com

2007-07-09, 6:25 pm

You are welcome, Steven.

carla_n@adobeforums.com

2007-07-18, 10:21 pm

Hello,

interesting to read the above; also because the answer to my (similar) problem is not discussed yet. I do have, in one and the same simple file, a jagged line and a smooth line next to eachother. Anti-aliasing is on, and it is not in Pixel-preview-mode...
?!

I have been working on this problem whole day now and are becoming more confused. Hopefully someone can help?

Thanks already and kind regards,
Carla

Jacob_Bugge@adobeforums.com

2007-07-19, 6:21 pm

Carla,

Are both lines vector paths?

What does the View>Document Info say about each of the two lines when you tick Selection Only and Objects (options accessible through the top right arrow)?

carla_n@adobeforums.com

2007-07-19, 6:21 pm

Hello Jacob,

thanks for the reply.

I tried what you mentioned, and with both lines (both 1 path and CMYK object) the Document-info reads similar to all 'NONE'... Can I post the file here, or an image of it, to show the problem?

regards,
Carla

Jacob_Bugge@adobeforums.com

2007-07-19, 6:21 pm

Carla,

When you have an image on a website (image.extenison) on a website (yourdomain.topdomain), you can link to it by copying/writing this into your message (folders are optional, .extension may be .gif, .jpg, etc.):

<a href="http://www.yourdomain.topdomain/folder1/folder2/.../imagename.extension"><img src="http://www.yourdomain.topdomain/folder1/folder2/.../imagename.extension" alt="" border="0"></a>

To keep the forum format, please do not post images wider than 680px.

If you do not have access to a website, you may upload the image to one of the free image hosting sites, such as pixentral.com, photobucket.com, imageshack.com.

carla_n@adobeforums.com

2007-07-20, 6:20 pm

Hello again,

thanks for the tip; I have tried several times now to create a 6400% close-up of the area to make it visible in jpg or gif, but somehow a jpg-image does not seem to capture the details well enough and all looks jagged anyway.

In pdf format it shows wonderfully, but I cannot post it. And I wish .AI files could be attached...

Within one file, similar objects are either jagged or smooth, like the anti-alias does not influence the jagged line at all?!

I hope someone knows the answer to this.

kind regards,
Carla

Jacob_Bugge@adobeforums.com

2007-07-21, 6:19 pm

Carla,

If you Save for Web as GIF, setting Matte to None (just leave it if it shows white) and ticking Anti-Aliasing in the Image Size dialogue box, you should get a good difference, even at a far lower magnification.

carla_n@adobeforums.com

2007-07-21, 6:19 pm

hello Jacob,

I am happy you are trying to help me!

I have tried what you said, and made the width 680px, it ended up as the whole drawing, not a close-up. Also, it is just a simple sketch to show the differences in the lines, and not the actual artwork. Please see:

<http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1161...38ed20c83_o.gif>

No details are shown, as all lines look jagged now in this format. I made the smooth ones green, but it doesn't show... Would it perhaps be a good idea to mail you directly this file in ai-format to have a puzzle with it?

Thanks again and kind regards,
Carla

carla_n@adobeforums.com

2007-07-23, 6:20 pm

Hello again,

over the weekend I have found a small solution I think...

the problem has to do with the program Rhinoceros3 I am exporting the curves from. Apparently, when I 'unjoin' and thus 'explode' all the curves, they all do seem anti-aliased (smooth) at 6400% close-up in AI-CS.... When joined before exporting they end u
p jagged.

Still not sure why it happens now and never before with similar files!?

Kind regards,
Carla

Jacob_Bugge@adobeforums.com

2007-07-23, 6:20 pm

Carla,

Still not sure why it happens

It does seem rather strange, especially when everything seems to be formed by vector paths.

Brett Dalton

2007-07-25, 10:29 pm

A) checkyou hav'e got pixel preview on in CS (although it sounds like you dont)

b) are there a lot of point on the curve because it may be the interpolation between points is different dependin on the method your using. Ie 1 way it's joining the points with linear lines and the other with bezier curves. It could also be that illustra
tor in one case isn't seeing the vector data and importing a rastered preview for some reason (not familiar with Rhinoceros3 so just guessing)

BRETT

carla_n@adobeforums.com

2007-07-26, 6:23 pm

Hi Brett,

thanks for looking into this. Pixel preview is not on, if switched on the difference between pixels and vector is huge!

All curves and lines are vector-based, and the different looking (smooth vs jagged) lines/curves are in one file next to eachother, with anti-aliasing checked.

Your point of joining with lines or bezier curves I will investigate, in Rhino as well! Will let you know if something comes up..

Regards,
Carla