Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Placing a file using the Link option
ILLUSTRATOR TO NON-ADOBE PROGRAMS
When moving artwork from Illustrator to non-Adobe programs, you must decide
which objects in your artwork you want to remain as vectors, if possible, and which
you can allow to become rasterized. What you'll be able to do with your Illustrator
artwork in that other program depends both on how you prepare your Illustrator files
as well as the strengths and limitations of the program into which you'll be moving
your artwork. Parameters that you might be able to control include moving only
selected objects or the entire file; bringing Illustrator files in as paths, styled vectors,
or rasters; and bringing in images flat or with layers.
PDF is often better than EPS
If the application you're working in can place or open native .ai, native PSD, or PDF
1.4 or later formats, it's better to use those than the old standard EPS, which cannot
preserve layers, transparency, and other features.
Copy and paste/drag and drop
You may be able to preserve the vector format in programs outside the Creative Suite
if they support PostScript drag and drop behavior. In order for this to work, enable
AICB (Adobe Illustrator Clipboard) in Preferences> File Handling & Clipboard
(disabled by default). When you copy/paste or drag and drop into a raster-based
program without vector support, your artwork will be either automatically rasterized
at the resolution set in that program or from Illustrator's Document Raster Effects
Settings.
ILLUSTRATOR & ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
There are many options for moving artwork between Illustrator and Photoshop. In
many cases you can control whether you want to maintain vector data, rasterize in
part or whole, or whether to maintain layers, although those processes don't always
work as you'd expect.
Illustrator to Photoshop: Smart Objects
Illustrator art brought in as a Smart Object can be scaled, rotated, duplicated,
modified using Adjustment layers or Smart Filters, or even warped without loss of
data. Smart Objects keep the original dimensions of your artwork, so further edits in
Illustrator need to fit the original bounding box or the objects will be distorted in
Photoshop.
