How to Save a Photoshop File as an AI
Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool for creating and manipulating images, but sometimes you may also need to export your work in a different file format, such as Adobe Illustrator (AI). AI files are commonly used for vector graphics and can be easily scaled without losing quality. If you’re wondering how to save your Photoshop file as an AI, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do just that.
Step 1: Open Your Photoshop File
First, open the Photoshop file that you want to save as an AI. Make sure that your design is complete and ready for conversion, as any changes you make after exporting to AI may not translate perfectly.
Step 2: Convert Your Layers to Smart Objects
Before saving your file as an AI, it’s a good idea to convert your layers to smart objects. This will preserve the scalability and editability of your layers when you import the file into Illustrator. To do this, select all the layers in your Photoshop file and right-click, then choose “Convert to Smart Object.”
Step 3: Export as PDF
Now, go to the File menu, select “Export,” and then choose “Export As.” In the Export As dialog box, choose “PDF” as the file format. This is because AI files are not directly supported by Photoshop for export, but Illustrator can open PDF files.
Step 4: Adjust the PDF Settings
In the PDF settings, you can adjust various options such as the quality, compression, and compatibility. For the best results when importing into Illustrator, it’s recommended to select “High Quality Print” as the Adobe PDF preset, and make sure the “Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities” checkbox is unchecked.
Step 5: Save the PDF File
Once you’ve adjusted the settings, click “Save” to export your Photoshop file as a PDF. Choose a location on your computer to save the file, and then click “Save” again. Your Photoshop file is now saved in PDF format.
Step 6: Open the PDF in Illustrator
Open Adobe Illustrator and go to the File menu, select “Open,” and then locate and select the PDF file that you just saved from Photoshop. Click “Open” to import the PDF file into Illustrator.
Step 7: Save as AI
Once your file is open in Illustrator, go to the File menu, select “Save As,” and then choose “Adobe Illustrator” as the file type. Choose a location on your computer to save the AI file, give it a name, and then click “Save.” Your Photoshop file is now saved as an AI file.
In conclusion, while Photoshop doesn’t have a direct “Save As AI” option, you can still save your Photoshop file as an AI by exporting it to a PDF and then opening and saving it in Illustrator. By following these simple steps, you can seamlessly convert your Photoshop design into an Adobe Illustrator file, ready to be further edited or used in vector-based projects.
