Topic awaiting preservation: layer issue

I am having a recurring problem with my layers. Its really weird, so I will try the best to explain. I find that sometimes all or some of the layers in my Illustr. canvas move a few pixels to the left or right in my canvas. I am lining up several layers exactly on the outter dotted margin line. Its weird. I print out my file, walk to the printer, return to my desk and find that some of the layers have moved! I then re-position the layers, print and SAVE. Same process I do each time. . .its getting old quick. I checked the User Manual and there is no detailed explanation of the layers palette.

Any explanations? Can I lock layers?

Thanks.
- : : CRO8 : : -

What you're describing is strange indeed...Since you asked only how to lock layers...See the eyeball next to your layer (on the left side)? Look to the right of it-there's an empty box. Click that and you'll see a pencil with a slash appear. The layer is now locked. you can also set it by double clicking on the layer and selecting lock in the layer options window.

Yeah- I am aware of the empty box with the pencil/red slash- I assumed it was to protect the layer from being altered (graphically changed). We'll see if it protects from altering position. I'll be back!

OK. I clicked off pencil/red slash and it still did not stop the layers from moving. I think I finally isolated the problem. Whenever I print a file, for some reason some of my layers move in unison either to the right or left. Meaning, they ALL move either to the right or to the left! I tested this out by opening a fresh version of a finished file. Everything is aligned correctly. OK. Now I go file > print > select color printer > click OK. As soon as I click OK and the print pop-up window disappears, I CAN SEE THE LAYES MOVE! I close the file, then reopen and it apears fine.

-CRO8

I'd reinstall illustrator then because I've been using it for 5 years and I've never encountered what you describe. Locking the layers does prevent them from moving...It also might have something to do with your PPD.

OK I will reinstall. But first 2 questions:

1) what is PPD is lamens terms
2) what will happen to my existing Illustr. files when I reinstall.

I will go ahead and assume that you are running Illustrator on a PC.

I say this because it's a common occurance, and, sadly, the only solution is to reinstal. You have an ai_pref's file somewhere, so if you want to save your preferences...but I wouldn't suggest it. What AI is doing is enigmatic, indeed, and I would want to do a clean install to make sure it doesn't happen for a while.

But it will happen again.

Other than that, just make sure you back up any pertinent files you might need to manipulate later, and delete the fucker.

Sorry to be such a letdown.


s t e p h e n

Just to answer...I'm sure twitch is right...A ppd is a printer description file. It's what illustrator references to make sure that the document colors, dimensions, etc are consistent with that of the printer that you're printing to.