Skip to main content
loisg72248825
loisg72248825
Participating Frequently
May 4, 2018
Question

Transferring files between Photoshop and Illustrator

  • May 4, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 489 views

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding transferring a large file between Photoshop and Illustrator. I've been drawing a very large 1930s map on Illustrator and need to paint the sea in. I've opened the ai. file in Photoshop to do so and painted a section in. I've then saved the file as a psd. and reopened it in Illustrator to see if it is still editable (as i'm working for a designer who might change their mind on the map layout so I need it to remain editable.) I've tried painting the sea in on Illustrator using the blob brush tool but that's not as accurate and i'm worried that it's making my file massive. Can anyone suggest the best way going forward? Can I paint the sea on Photoshop and then just transfer that layer over to Illustrator? I've not had any experience transferring files between software and im a bit stuck!

Many thanks for all your help,

Lois

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 4, 2018

Apart from your second question, I'm wondering how exactly you are going to "paint the sea".

Are you looking for some plain filled areas? Or some nifty textures that would require using a raster application?

If the former, I would take a look at the Shape Builder tool or Live Paint, both available in recent versions of Illustrator.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 4, 2018

Just paint the sea. In a separate file, just as large as you need it to be. Place this in your Illustrator file.

After opening in Photoshop and saving as whatever, your file will be no longer fully editable in Illustrator.

loisg72248825
loisg72248825Author
Participating Frequently
May 4, 2018

Thank you so much for your quick reply! I've been playing around and that seems to be the best way that i've found too. Could I ask one other questions? On Illustrator when I move an object, it's jumping quite far away, so it's not lining up as it should be, if that makes sense? It's like it snapping to a particular object or part of the canvas. It was fine this morning and I haven't changed anything, as far as i'm aware.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 4, 2018

How far?

There might just be Snap to pixel or Snap to grid turned on in the View menu.

Turn those off and try again.

If it doesn't help, it might be something more serious.

In case you can't remember your last computer restart, that might also be a good idea.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices