: Illustrator Extremely Slow With Linked Photos I am creating some large banners at my job, and using Illustrator to create specifically shaped clipping masks. The problem is, this file is getting

@Berryessa866

Just to expand on what others have suggested. What I would do is replace the linked images with low resolution copies.

The easiest way to do this is to have all your linked images in one folder. You can then batch process the images to produce low res versions with the same filenames in a separate folder. You can do this with Photoshop, a command line tool or some other program—use whatever is convenient and easiest for you.

All you need to do then is relink the images to the correct folder, depending on which you need—Use the low res folder while you are working then relink to the full resolution images before you output your print files.

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@YK2262411

You can easily send the cropping boxes over to InDesign. Empty them from their content, and copy-paste the actual shapes into InDesign, preferably at once. There they will be shapes, which you can select and then Place images into.

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@Sims5801359

Indesign is much better with linking external files. You could re-work the item in Indesign with photos linked as PSD or layered TIFF, and import your masks from AI to PS. You can either crop each image individually, or merge all photos and use a single combined mask pasted from AI to crop your composition.

In my experience Illustrator is always slow with external links and i would avoid this situation unless specifically required.

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@Yeniel278

Create low-res versions of the photos, but keep the same names. Once you send the file to print replace the images with the full sized files.

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@Jamie315

reducing images sizes is one way.

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