How to exclude visible layers from export

[Knubbi]

Is there a way to exclude layers from export?

Certain layers are only used as visual guides and should be visible but not exported.

Application: We create tray bar icons and use a bitmap image of the Windows tray as a visual guidance:

However, the layer option lack an option to be "excluded from export":

Any idea, except toggling layer visibility over and over again?

[Doug A Roberts]

make them into template layers. i don't know the german translation.

[Knubbi]

Doesn't work. Template layers seem also to be exported if set visible.

[Doug A Roberts]

how are you exporting things, and to what file type?

[Knubbi]

File > Export > Export for displays

[Doug A Roberts · Accepted solution]

seems like a bug/oversight. exporting to PNG, using either Export for Screens or Export As, template layers are included.

JPEGs seem to work correctly in both; template layers are excluded

non-printing has no effect on export, to raster files at least.

the old Save for Web dialog seems to work correctly for both JPEG and PNG (template layers are excluded).

[Knubbi]

Thanks, will issue a bug report.

[petrchutny]

I see that this issue is still not resolved, just tried exporting a PNG with template layer used and it was included… any updates on other methods that might work?

[jane-e]

What happens when you make the layer non-printing?

Also, confirm that the objects are actually on the correct layers.

Can you just turn off visibility when you export to an image?

[MikeGondek]

What are you abel to do different to the items that you do not want to export.

1. Lock what you do tho want to export
2. Select All
3. File >> Export Selected

Setting the layers to not print will work only for .PDF if you change this setting to visible layers, and meal the layers you want hidden to no print. Yes this work son .pdf the stein is not labeled well.

You could then run a batch action in Photoshop to convert .pdf to bitmapped format you like.

[Red Point]

I am using Illustrator 2023. If you want to see a layer on your canvas but don't want it to show when you print then try this (which worked for me): 

1) Double Click Layer (you should then see "Layer Options"

2.) Uncheck "Print". 

If you also don't want to see your layer when exporting file (to screen), then I would try this (which also worked fine for me): 

1) Double Click Layer (you should then see "Layer Options"
2.) Check "Templates". Make sure "Dim Images" is unchecked.

This will make layer non-printable and also will not export layer. 

In German this would be "Vorlage" (Template) and "Drucken" (Print) and "Bilder abblenden auf"  (Dim Images).

Hope that helps. 

NOTE: There is a bug in Illustrator when checking "Templates" and unchecking "Dim Images". For some reason, when you reopen the "Layer Option" dialoque, it will have "Dim Images" checked again and set to 50%. It keeps bouncing back. But it does seem to keep the layer visibility at 100%. You can also set Dim to 100%, that will work as well.