Exporting SVG with Layers

[kb1570984]

In the version of Illustrator prior to the 2023 update I was able to export an SVG with layers from Illustrator, which included both hidden and visible layers, using the 'export as' settings. Since the 2023 update most of the settings are gone, including the setting I used to export the layers: 'Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities.'

   

Is there another was to save out an SVG that contains visable and hidden layers?

[Monika Gause]

What that option (Preserve Illustrator editing capabilities) does, is save a complete AI file into the SVG file. So basically it's 2 in 1. So when you open it agaion in Illustrator (same version), then Illustrator uses the AI file. But when you open it in any other application, it will open the SVG part and when saving, it will delete the AI part.

Basically for SVG, this is a very dangerous thing to do. For Illustrator SVG is just an export format. You cannot do roundtrips with it, you cannot save an SVG, edit it (add interactivity or styling to it in Inkscape or the like) and then expect this to be redable or preserved when opening again in Illustrator.

For SVG you have to adjust your workflow when working with Illustrator. Your work file should always be an AI file. When you're done and handing off the file, send an SVG. In case you need to edit it, use the AI file again and lose everything that has been done in the SVG.

[kb1570984]

But this isn't an issue of saving a working file, my working files are all saved in AI, that's not what I need the file for. The layered SVG file is something I need to hand over to a programmer, it's the type of format they've requested that they can work from and we've used before to great success. Trust me no danger was involved it all worked flawlessly.

[Monika Gause]

If the collaborator asks for an SVG file with embedded AI file, then actually they are using the AI file, so why not send it to them in  the first place? II don't understand why they are asking for that SVG with ambedded AI kind of file. It doesn't make a lot of sense and probably that's why the option has been abandoned. The older option of saving as SVG produced old SVG code so it has been replaced by the new one (which has been in "Save for screens" for a while now).

If your collaborator wants a structured SVG file, then you have to structure it. SVG does not support layers: https://alignedleft.com/tutorials/d3/an-svg-primer