How to convert PDF to AI without using Illustrator?

[amaiuta1234]

I've done a search on this but couldn't find a way to do this..

I don't have a need for illustrator for desinging purposes (I use inkscape), but the laser cutter by my house only uses AI files so I need to convert. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Monika Gause]

CorelDRAW should be able to do this.

[amaiuta1234]

Thanks for the reply. I&m thinking buying Corel just for this reason is too expensive though ... 🙂

[Monika Gause]

Sure it is. AI is a proprietary file format. What kind of AI does the laser cutter require? Maybe it's the old AI, and in that case it should also take an EPS 3.

[amaiuta1234]

Nope, I need .ai as it will have to open in Illustrator (that computer that runs the laser only has that installed) and the company refuses any other format. Thank you for your reply though 🙂

[chrisl41501719]

Take a look at Lemke Software "Graphics Converter".  I do not know if they save as .ai files but it's cheap, so worth a look.

[amaiuta1234]

I did have a look just now. It doesn't save .ai unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Mike_Gondek]

Is more to this than just sending a file in .ai format to your laser engraver. You need to prepare the file with correct document color mode and path fills and stroke thickness. You may need to purchse Illustraor if you wihs to do trhsi kind of work, or compensate your laser engraver extra to prepare the file for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFK3VI7i6Eg

[amaiuta1234]

I know. I own my own laser cutter and I understand and do all that on a daily basis. Thing is, I do all my designing on Inkscape and my laser cuts with it's PDF files. I just needed a more powerful laser for some projects.... I guess there is no easy way to do it 😞