How do you downgrade an Illustrator File?

To downgrade an Adobe Illustrator file to an older version, use the "Save a Copy" function and select the desired version. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Steps to Save an Illustrator File to an Older Version:

1. Open Your File: Launch Adobe Illustrator and open the file you want to downgrade.
2. Go to Save a Copy: Click on File in the menu bar, then select Save a Copy....
3. Choose a Location and File Name: Select the folder where you want to save the downgraded file and enter a file name. It's recommended to append the older version number to the file name (e.g., "MyArtwork_CS6.ai") to avoid confusion.
4. Select the Illustrator Version: In the "Format" dropdown menu (or a similar option depending on your version of Illustrator), choose the older Illustrator version you want to save to (e.g., "Adobe Illustrator CS6").
5. Click Save: Click the "Save" button.
6. Illustrator Options Dialogue Box: An "Illustrator Options" dialog box might appear. Click OK. You generally don't need to change anything in this box for a basic downgrade.

Important Considerations When Downgrading:

• Feature Compatibility: Be aware that features introduced in newer versions of Illustrator might not be fully compatible with older versions. This could result in some elements being altered, removed, or rasterized during the downsaving process. Check your artwork after saving to ensure everything appears as expected.
• Appearance Changes: Some effects, gradients, and patterns might render differently in older versions of Illustrator. Always review the downgraded file for any visual discrepancies.
• Preserving Editability: While downsaving retains the basic structure of the artwork, some advanced features specific to newer versions might become flattened or uneditable in the older version.
• Test Thoroughly: It's always a good practice to thoroughly test the downgraded file in the target Illustrator version to ensure it meets your requirements.

Example Scenario:

Let's say you created a logo in Illustrator CC 2023 and need to provide it to a client who uses Illustrator CS6. You would follow the steps above, selecting "Adobe Illustrator CS6" as the format when saving a copy. Afterwards, you should open the newly created CS6 file in Illustrator CS6 to verify that all elements of the logo are displaying correctly and are usable.