Combining two .AI files

[petelaw]

So I have 2 .ai files I have created.

I would like to 'import' one into the other.

I found when I tried to either drag from one Artboard ( its own file) onto another and also "place" that file onto the other I loose coloring.

I saved one as an .eps and then placed it, and it seemed to be ok.

Is this the best practice to save as an eps first then place that??

Thanks

[tromboniator]

In what way do you lose coloring? Does the fill or stroke just vanish, or does it change to something else? Do you have appearances (fills, blending modes) attached to layers in either document?

No, there should be no reason that .eps be involved at all.

Peter

[petelaw]

here is a sample of what I get when it is dragged from one .ai to another or "place" another .ai into the first .ai I created

https://pasteboard.co/I0My94G.png

[Monika Gause]

Looks like the files are different color modes: one is RGB, the other CMYK.

[jane-e]

petelaw  wrote

I saved one as an .eps and then placed it, and it seemed to be ok. Is this the best practice to save as an eps first then place that?

Hi Pete,

Adding to what has been said:

Peter is correct that that there is never a reason for .eps to be involved. You can place an Illustrator file into another Illustrator file directly.

However, when you place an Illustrator file into another Illustrator file, it comes in as an image, not as individual editable paths. Unless that’s what you want, don’t do that either. Instead, copy and paste or drag and drop.

If you copy and paste and want the layers to come in, enable Paste Remembers Layers from the Layers panel menu.

~ Jane

[petelaw]

Thanks Jane, Monika and Peter

Your right I was using one as RGB and one as CMYK
Changed both Artboards to RGB ( like original)

And now Placing one ai into another works with changing the  Paste Remembers Layers

However if I still just select all layers and drag into another artboard ( new file) I still seem to loose a layer even tho it is selected and one of the layers to drag across.

I know it is hard to 'suggest a fix" when you dont have the full file, (Which I can supply) but Placing it seems to work now anyway which is a start.

I thank you all for your help

Pete

[Monika Gause]

petelaw  schrieb

However if I still just select all layers and drag into another artboard ( new file) I still seem to loose a layer even tho it is selected and one of the layers to drag across.

Terminology is important here.

Is it really a layer? Or an object?

Can you show the layer panel before and after? (Not just the layer in the panel, but the objects inside it)

[petelaw]

Sorry yes still learning all the bits.

So I would select ( drag cursor over everything) which selects all the layers.
And the dots are beside every layer and sublayers

What is an Object?

And can I show the layer panel
If I understand the layer panel on the right side of the screen where all layers etc are listed..
On the first item all are there, but on the dragged to item, one layer ( that was selected ) is missing

[jane-e]

petelaw  wrote

What is an Object?

Hi Pete,

An "object" is loosely defined as "anything you can click on", so it can be a path or a group, etc. There is a menu called "Object" that has commands such as Group, Rotate, Scale, Lock — all the things you can do to an "object". Does that help?

[Monika Gause]

petelaw  schrieb

And can I show the layer panel

It would be important to show it to us.

Take a screenshot and upload it to the forum.

[petelaw · Accepted solution]

Sorry I never got back to you.

I realised I was creating a file in RGB and as it was going to print I needed CMYK so have to 'recreate' some of the work..
So far so good.

For now I thank you all and will continue on and see how I go.
Til Next time..

Have a great day

Pete