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File size while using assets in complex vector illustration


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Hello,

I’m working on a large illustration to be printed 3 x 4 meters. The overall lay-out will contain 100 to 150 illustrations. Some medium complex (say character-design and props) and some more basic. I work in the desktop and iPad apps. 
Where possible I will use symbols for repeated use and keeping the files size down. 
Keeping the file size down, will possibly be the challenge. It seems that Designer is doing this well. My compliments for that. I tried this in Illustrator, but whatever optimizing I try, the file size is just too large and the performance is sluggish. 

I noticed one thing I just want to check before proceeding. When I import a batch of illustrations (examples uploaded) through the assets panel, the file size seems to be quite small. 
When I drag 16 of such illustrations (turned into assets) onto the canvas, it seems to only take up a few mb. But when I look at the original files I created them in, they should amount to around 10 or 15 mb. 
Could you please explain how this works? And will turning 150 illustrations into assets cause any performance issues? 
The illustrations/assets will be vector only, no effects or transparency an a few gradients. 
 

Thanks in advance

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Edited by JanPeeters
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First thing I need to say here is that I’ve not really worked with the assets panel. That said, given no one else has chipped in (it is a Sunday evening here in the UK, I don’t know your location).

Are these assets linked rather than embedded? This would potentially explain the file size you’re seeing. ‘Assets’ often behave this way, though that doesn’t guarantee they work the same way in Affinity.

If they are linked, the only issue I could anticipate is when you come to package it all up for printing. Then, something might drop out. I’d be tempted to explore that a bit to see what happens to the file size.

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@ProDesigner thanks for your response. I think I figured it out. When placed as an assets you only place the paths and shapes in the illustration. The original files they’re created in contain all the extra data concerning the document settings etc. That’s why you see a difference in size. When you copy and paste - in stead of first saving the illustration as an asset - the size is the same. You don’t need to turn them into assets first, although it may be handy. The same happens in Illustrator it seems. I’m now leaning towards Illustrator again because it has many time saving productivity features and I will have less stress when it comes to sending it to the printer. Unless things just don’t work of course and I spent hours trying to figure out why. Which is not uncommon working with Adobe … Just need to learn fast. I do love Designer though! It’s just more fun to use. I’m based in The Netherlands btw. 

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