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Participant
May 22, 2012
Question

Converting layered psd file to vector?

  • May 22, 2012
  • 8 replies
  • 246717 views

I need to convert a layered psd file to a vector file but have never used illustrator (cs5). Could someone please help me with the steps I need to accomplish this? It is a logo I've created that is all white on a transparent background. I'm on a mac, OS 10.7.4

Thanks for your help!!

8 replies

Gleeful_perspectiveB82C
Participant
August 17, 2018

You can export SVG file! After import into illustrator!

TajhWaps
Participant
February 3, 2018

Open the psd file in ilustrator and simply convert to object. It is best to open all layers in photoshop. some elements might be missing and therefore recreated in illustrator but the majority of your image should be there. If some layers are stuck together, try to fix it in photoshop or illustrator. If you fix it in photoshop you must open and convert to object again after saving the psd. If you correct anything in illustrator you wont have to close it, therefore you can just fix it and export it as a png (recommended)

gibsonion
Known Participant
August 19, 2018

Will a CC photoshop file open in Illustrator CS5 though? I can't remember if I'd tried this already and had an issue with compatibility.

Participant
July 26, 2016

This video is the best resource that I have found to address the issue. In photoshop I make sure I separate layers into folders based on color.

1- shift+command click each layer box

follow video

Converting a Photoshop File to Adobe IllustratorVector File.mp4 - YouTube

Inspiring
May 20, 2015

I'm having issues importing the PSD into Illio.

The file imports with layers, however a few layers are merged onto one layer while others are fine. All layers are not within any folders. The ones that are merging are smart objects (vector) as well as a rasterized layer. The type layers are exporting as layers. Any ideas?

buglegirl101
Participant
March 5, 2014

I appreciate this thread-- and I agree that it will take a ride on the learning curve to step out from behind the ease of photoshop into the world of 'pens' and 'points' in illustrator.  I've tried the short cut way, and it just doesn't work for me.  So, I'm about to dive head-first into the Lynda.com tutorials.  Seems there is just no easy way to learn illustrator in a few minutes-- so, here I go.  But, can I say with all due respect to Adobe, I MISS CORELDRAW--where the learning curve was SHORT!

gibsonion
Known Participant
June 14, 2017

I recommend trying Affinity Designer, I just bought it myself, they've got a free trial and it's on special offer at the moment for $40 lifetime fee, it's really nice to use, lacks some of the more advanced features of Illustrator for the moment like Live tracing, but they're constantly updating it and have a road map to bring the features inline with Adobe's and hopefully surpass it. The zoom level on the thing is just stupid, it's specified to allow a 10,000,000% zoom, which is totally unnecessary, but pretty cool, although the farthest I've been able to push it so far is about half that before my computer wigs out. Which is still impressive. But most importantly it works exactly how I would want Illustrator to work on an intuitive level and even more awesomely it's completely cross-compatible with Adobe files and can export as PSD & AI compatible EPS so can just be added to an Adobe central workflow.

Doug A Roberts
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 14, 2017

...lacks some of the more advanced features of Illustrator for the moment like Live tracing

they should keep it that way.

Luke Jennings
Inspiring
May 22, 2012

I would change your logo to black and tell the silkscreen person it prints in white ink. When they get a white on white file, they might be confused. If you want to keep it white, make it a spot color white (100% spot color).

You can save your layered Photoshop file as a Photoshop pdf, this will convert your type to outlines when you open it in Illustrator. Use Press Quality and preserve photoshop editing capabilities on. You can re-open this file in Photoshop to edit it, but once it is opened and saved in Illustrator, you won't be able to open it in Photoshop again as a vector file. Actually, just send the Photoshop PDF, there is really no need to open the PDF in Illustrator at all, unless you wanted to add to it.

Inspiring
May 22, 2012

If it is all white on a transparent background that is is simple in Photoshop select the white Select>Color Range or witht he magic wand if itis all white this should be fairly easy.

the Go to the Path Panel and from the flyout select Make Working Path  and then from the same flyout menu Choose S aave path and give it a name

then go to File>Export>Paths to Illustrator

You can either then open or placethe resulting document in Illustrator

In Illusrator you will have to fill the paths with wwhite and make the paths that make up a shape with a whole in it into a compound path select them both and Command or Control 8

jstewgAuthor
Participant
May 22, 2012

How should I handle the text layers? I created them on a path. Will those paths be exported (with the text) to Illustrator if I don't do anything to them?

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 22, 2012

In Photoshop you could convert the text to vector shape layers. Those will be exported as paths.

And no: there is no simple solution for the beginner. Think about giving the T-Shirt folks a few bucks and have them make it for you.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 22, 2012

Which steps to take depends on the nature of your logo.

Get aquainted with the pen tool, the shape tools, the pathfinder panel, how to convert stokes to shapes and much more. The manual is a good starting point.

Don't expect that you will be able to accomplish this task with just a few steps.

And BTW: did you by chance already create shape layers in Photoshop? Then you could open the PSD in Illustrator and convert your shape layers to objects.

jstewgAuthor
Participant
May 22, 2012

Yes, I already created the layers in Photoshop. I have to send the logo to be screen printed for some tee shirts, so unfortunately, I don't have much time to learn all the tools, etc. in Illustrator. I was hoping for some fairly easy suggestions for a novice like me. Thank you!

Inspiring
May 22, 2012

In Photoshop go to Type>Create Paths and the type will be clean outlines adn you can export the typ path along witht he other paths