: Is it possible to retain effects when saving Illustrator files for older versions? I am working in Illustrator CC, but my printer needs the files saved back to ai version 6. Doing this embeds

@Debbie163

No, there is no other way than having 2 files unless you change the way you work.

The only way you can lower your Illustrator file below version 10 and keep the same "visual effects" as on the modern version... is to unfortunately "rasterize" your effects! (menu object/rasterize)

Some transparency and blending effects can be achieved by using the pathfinder and adjusting the color of each part of your vector. That's not always an option for some designs and it can take a lot of time too. But it's a good habit though if you use transparency on logos, for example!

The other way is to change your workflow and do these effects the "good old way" in Photoshop and keep Illustrator only for vector graphics. For example, you can do the shadow of the text in Photoshop and import that shadow behind your text in Illustrator. Some designers will definitely react saying it's a dinosaur technique but technically it's a bulletproof method for any kind of RIP, old and new.

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@Nimeshi706

No. There's no way to workaround flattening which can occur when saving to legacy versions.

Older versions may not understand how new features work. Therefore Adobe determines what needs to change based on the version you are working in compared to the version you are saving to. If it were possible to leave something in tact, it remains in tact. Only those effects or features which are incompatible are expanded and/or flattened.

The only way to ensure nothing gets altered is to save to the version you are working in.

This has always been the case with most software.

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