Skip to main content
amaiuta1234
amaiuta1234
New Participant
October 7, 2019
Question

How to convert PDF to AI without using Illustrator?

  • October 7, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 2121 views

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!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    October 7, 2019

    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
    amaiuta1234Author
    New Participant
    October 8, 2019
    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 😞
    C
    chrisl41501719
    Participating Frequently
    October 7, 2019

    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
    amaiuta1234Author
    New Participant
    October 8, 2019
    I did have a look just now. It doesn't save .ai unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion!
    Monika Gause
    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    October 7, 2019

    CorelDRAW should be able to do this.

    amaiuta1234
    amaiuta1234Author
    New Participant
    October 7, 2019

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

    Monika Gause
    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    October 7, 2019
    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.
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices