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colinheaney
Participating Frequently
February 19, 2016
Question

how do i import dxf files into AI?

  • February 19, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 59261 views

Can i import dxf files into AI CC

    4 replies

    T
    tomii42727953
    Participant
    March 9, 2018

    I just saved a file from AutoCAD 2015 for Mac using AutoCAD 2007/LT2007 DXF (*.dxf) format.

    Since it's for an Epilog laser cutter, the file only contains Polylines.

    AI opened that file perfectly.

    Then I changed the stroke weights to 0,01 mm and saved as PDF.

    Cheers!

    Tomi

    mechanicalpencil
    mechanicalpencil
    Participant
    February 22, 2016

    No actually, it doesn't work even if you try to use the sixteen year old AutoCAD filetype (2000 .dxf or .dwg) that some people recommend...

    D
    d0nut247
    Inspiring
    February 22, 2016

    it snot a pretty work around, but you could get yourself a trial copy of rhino, that works as a great in-betweener for all kinds of formats as Rhino is basically super cool and works exactly as its meant to most of the time!

    open the file, then re-export or you can print to pdf at a specified scale.

    C
    colinheaneyAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 22, 2016

    Thank you for your reply. It looks as if I will be able to use EXDXF plugin for AI

    Yours Colin

    mechanicalpencil
    mechanicalpencil
    Participant
    February 22, 2016

    Illustrator CC cannot open .dxf files, it just crashes and hangs. If you try to open .dwg files instead you get "unrecognized file type" errors. Sometimes it is possible to manipulate linework in pdfs exported from AutoCAD but you will not have proper scale or access to layer information...

    Good luck.

    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 22, 2016

    If you were to save a .dxf from Illustrator you should have no problem opening that in Illustrator. Sometimes it helps to ask the auto cad person to choose an older format for .dxf or .dwg. Communication with whomever is making that auto cad file is key, if you are doing this yourself then the problem just requires you flipping all the settings until you find what works.

    C
    colinheaneyAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 22, 2016

    Hi Mike thank you for your reply.

    It looks as if EXDXF plugin will do the job.

    Yours Colin

    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 19, 2016

    Just use the open command to the default of all readable formats. .dxf is one of the formats.

    Choose original size or 100%.

    If those are greyed out then you get to play the guessing game size of what until the Auto Cad person was working in before they saved, and that they have dimensions shows on their file.

    C
    colinheaneyAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 21, 2016

    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply. The problem is when I open the files i just get some very small text. No image at all.

    I get dxf files from different pattern makers only one of them has dxf that opens correctly. I am thinking there are different versions of dxf?

    I you can help with this I would really appreciate it.

    Yours Colin

      D
      d0nut247
      Inspiring
      February 21, 2016

      id ask them to save as dwg if you can, they seem to be more successful for me when im importing stuff.

      also check that the file you import is not just positioned away from the view, zoom right out as far as you can, and change view to outline preview, see if anything appears, just incase it is importing with no line colour?

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