As a designer, it can be frustrating when you receive an Adobe Illustrator (.ai) file but don’t have access to Illustrator itself. However, there is a workaround to open editable .ai files in Photoshop, allowing you to continue working on the designs without needing the original software. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:
1. Place the .ai file in a new Photoshop document:
– Open Photoshop and create a new document in the size and resolution that matches the .ai file.
– Go to File > Place Linked and select the .ai file from your computer. This will embed the .ai file as a smart object in the Photoshop document.
2. Edit the smart object:
– You will notice the .ai file embedded in the Photoshop document as a smart object layer. Double-click on the smart object layer’s thumbnail to open it.
3. Convert the .ai file to a smart object:
– Once the .ai file is opened, select all of its elements (Ctrl/Cmd+A) and copy them (Ctrl/Cmd+C).
– Close the .ai file without saving.
– Now, paste the copied elements into the original smart object in the Photoshop document.
4. Edit the elements in Photoshop:
– You can now edit the elements from the .ai file as individual layers within the Photoshop document. This allows you to modify and manipulate the design without needing Illustrator.
5. Save and export the edited file:
– Once you have made all the necessary modifications, save the Photoshop document in the desired format (e.g. .psd, .png, .jpeg).
– You can also export the Photoshop file back to .ai format by going to File > Export > Export As and choosing Illustrator (.ai) as the file format.
While opening editable .ai files in Photoshop without Illustrator is possible, it’s important to note that some complex vector features and effects from the original .ai file may not translate perfectly into Photoshop. Therefore, it is recommended to use Illustrator for intricate vector editing and manipulation when possible.
In conclusion, by following these steps, you can work with editable .ai files in Photoshop without the need for Adobe Illustrator. This allows designers to continue their work and collaborate with others, even in situations where Illustrator is unavailable.
