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Elena L.
Participating Frequently
May 4, 2024
Question

Export of vector drawing to Illustrator does not work

  • May 4, 2024
  • 6 replies
  • 2526 views

Exporting vector drawings from Fresco (iPad) to Illustrator has always been very glitchy, but lately I am having major difficulties to the point that it just does not work any more:
The option of "Open a Copy in Illustrator Desktop" stopped working completely, it just says each time "Export Failed". And when I try to open a copy of my fully vector drawing in Illustrator on iPad it converts 90% of my vector layers to one big rasterized image... only few of the vector strokes remain vector... 

Suuuper frustrating and making my workflow simply impossible.. 😞  

 

Any suggestions how to fix it please?

And what is going on with Fresco, seems its becoming more broken with each update?! 

    6 replies

    pecko77
    pecko77
    Participant
    April 16, 2025

    To follow doesn't fix anything but I do have a workaround and the info may help towards finding a solution for any Adobe staff that may read this:

     

    I recently converted from a PC (Windows 11) to a Mac Studio M4 Max. My workflow was the same as many in this thread - create in Fresco on Ipad Pro, then open the file in Illustrator for Desktop for further use. This worked seemlessly and instantly, even with large files. However - since changing desktops - when I apply the same work flow with the exact same files, I have a delay of about 3-5 minutes before Illustrator starts on the desktop. Sometimes longer. Then when I'm asked to make a selection on how I wish to convert the file, I hit enter and Illustrator crashes. Tech Support was unable to resolve the issue. I tried uninstalling CC and all apps on both devices and reinstalling them, but no success.

     

    The work around is to open the file in 'Illustator on your Ipad' rather than 'Illustrator for Desktop' in Fresco. Once it opens, close it. Now launch Illustrator for Desktop and the file should be there in 'Your Files'.

     

    Really hope this is fixed soon. This workflow was a game changer.

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      Fancy_navigator2750
      Participant
      May 12, 2025

      Thank you so much for this! I was able to save/export a .ai file using your workaround.
      Adobe: please come up with a better fix for this. it would suffice tyo just have a "save as .ai" option in fresco.

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        Marta5D94
        Participating Frequently
        February 13, 2025

        Did you end up solving the issue and if so, then how please?

         

        I was having the similar issue: I created a vector illustration in Fresco with clipping masks (in vector!) to add depth. Exported as PDF and opened in Illustrator and all layers that were vector clipping masks in Fresco were turned into images in Illustrator ( no, I did not click "flatten the artwork" when opening PDF in Illustrator)


        So I did what someone recommended in another thread: went back to Fresco, released all clipping masks (took a while as it's a very complex illustration), exported as PDF again and opened in Illustrator and went to make clipping mask on each layer that was previously a clipped vector layer in Fresco but it all got messed up and totally not a result I originally had. 

         

        I spent hours and hours creating a complex vector illustration in Fresco (the reason why I love Fresco is for it's vector capabilities) and now that I wantd to clean up the file and make it ready so my client has it ready to be printed on apparel, I have this issue! So frustrating.

        Would appreciate some assistance how to solve the issue 

        Anshul_Saini
        Community Manager
        Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        April 3, 2025

        Hi @Marta5D94,

         

        I understand your frustration. Fresco is a hybrid app that works with both vector and raster elements. However, masks in PS & Fresco behave more like raster effects, which means vector layers with masks may not convert cleanly into Illustrator. You might need to create your designs in Fresco without masks and then apply the clipping masks in Illustrator.

         

        If you need to keep your illustration fully vector in Illustrator, the best approach would be to avoid using clipping masks in Fresco. Instead:

        1. Create your base vector shapes in Fresco without masks.

        2. Export as a vector format (like PDF or use the send to Illustrator feature).

        3. Reapply the clipping masks in Illustrator.

         

        I know this isn’t ideal, but it aligns with how Illustrator handles true vector artwork.

        Best,

        Anshul Saini

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        everettep47276230
        Participating Frequently
        April 3, 2025

        That doesn't explain why Fresco won't open the file to Illustrator for Desktop at all.  Sure, I can open it in Illustrator in my iPad and then open it in desktop from the cloud, but it used to work to just send directly to desktop.  I haven't even been using any clipping masks at all, so it's definitely not that.

        It randomly started working again sometime since last May when I added a comment to this thread, but has quit working again.

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        mehaksinghal
        Participant
        January 26, 2025

        Same issue

          M
          Marta5D94
          Participating Frequently
          February 13, 2025

           

          I was having the similar issue: I created a vector illustration in Fresco with clipping masks (in vector!) to add depth. Exported as PDF and opened in Illustrator and all layers that were vector clipping masks in Fresco were turned into images in Illustrator ( no, I did not click "flatten the artwork" when opening PDF in Illustrator)


          So I did what someone recommended in another thread: went back to Fresco, released all clipping masks (took a while as it's a very complex illustration), exported as PDF again and opened in Illustrator and went to make clipping mask on each layer that was previously a clipped vector layer in Fresco but it all got messed up and totally not a result I originally had. 

           

          I spent hours and hours creating a complex vector illustration in Fresco (the reason why I love Fresco is for it's vector capabilities) and now that I wantd to clean up the file and make it ready so my client has it ready to be printed on apparel, I have this issue! So frustrating. Would appreciate some assistance how to solve the issue 

          K
          Kat22728606voxt
          Participant
          June 26, 2024

          Hi- did this get resolved ? I have had the same issue for a while. I now have to send file to iPad illustrator, then airdrop to Mac- it exports to my download file, can then be opened in desktop illustrator. It's a long way round. It was so simple before. 🤦‍♀️

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            frankg33041177
            Participant
            June 28, 2024

            Yeah - did this ever get fixed?! This is a pretty epic fail. My whole process is now broken. 

              A
              Community Manager
              Anubhav MCommunity Manager
              Community Manager
              June 28, 2024

              Hello @frankg33041177,

              We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind trying to update Fresco/OS on your device and the computer to check if it helps? Also, try signing out of Creative Cloud on your desktop and then sign back in to relaunch Illustrator and share your observations.

              Looking forward to hearing from you.

               

              Thanks,

              Anubhav

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              everettep47276230
              Participating Frequently
              May 14, 2024

              I'm having the same issue.  Vector is the reason I use Fresco rather than something like Procreate.  I use it for my business and it's very frustrating when it quits outputting to Illustrator.

                A
                Community Manager
                Anubhav MCommunity Manager
                Community Manager
                May 14, 2024

                Hello @Elena L.,

                We understand that technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind sharing a link to a sample cloud document you're having trouble with (https://adobe.ly/4bFYPxN) so that we can check it on our end?

                Note: While sharing the link, kindly change it to Public and Enable the option to Save a Copy under the Link Settings.

                Looking forward to hearing from you.

                 

                Thanks,

                Anubhav

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                lil_2104
                Participant
                November 28, 2024

                Why does adobe play like they don't know about this issue in every forum. This problem dates back to 2019 in forums and I pay money for illustrator iPad for ONE reason. Because you guys won't let people export vector files from fresco. And now I got all this line work I can't export as a vector cuz I can't get it into illustrator. This is why people pirate adobe products 

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                Elena L.Author
                Participating Frequently
                May 5, 2024

                After having a closer look, it seems that yet again the problem lies in clipping masks. It seems that latest update of Fresco "broke" the correct export of clipping masks into Illustrator and instead it rasterizes now any layer where clipping mask is present. 

                Important note here is that it was working more or less fine before version 5.0 came out. I used to be able to export vectors with clipping masks included without any major issues, but it stopped working now... again... 😞

                 

                Please fix this issue asap!

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