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rdruhl
rdruhl
Participant
April 14, 2016
Answered

I do not have Illustrator. How do I open .ai files?

  • April 14, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 143809 views

I subscribe to Adobe Stock, because I was transferred over from Dollar Photo Club. However, I am not able to open .ai files, and I do not want to purchase Illustrator, nor do I want to subscribe to it. How can I open .ai files so that I can import them into Apple Pages?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ton Frederiks

You can also try to change the extension to .eps

Apple Preview can convert .eps to PDF

4 replies

B
Beckster8847685
Participating Frequently
June 30, 2016

I have the same issue...only I was able to open an .ai file earlier this week using PSE, but now trying to open one today and it won't open. I am a novice - what does everyone mean to just change it to .eps? I tried to just rename the file and got the same message..can't open because it's the wrong type of file.

The one I opened Tuesday was  AdobeStock_99894280.ai and the one that won't open today is AdobeStock_49626287.ai.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 30, 2016

You can't open an AI file if you don't have Illustrator.

It might work for files that have been saved with specific options, but then you actually don't open the AI file, but a PDF that is embedded into it. When a file isn't saved with the options needed, then you can't open that file.

B
Beckster8847685
Participating Frequently
June 30, 2016

Both files came straight off of StockAdobe.com - is there a way to know if they were downloaded with different options? Would that have been something on Adobe's end? I did nothing different in downloading the second file.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 15, 2016

You can also try to change the extension to .eps

Apple Preview can convert .eps to PDF

    rdruhl
    rdruhlAuthor
    Participant
    April 15, 2016

    Ton Frederiks,

    That worked. All I did was change .ai to .eps and Apple's Preview opened it! Thank you so much!

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 15, 2016

      Good to hear that worked!

      C
      cummingsrob
      Participant
      April 15, 2016

      I also have downloaded two different .ai files and neither of them open using Inkscape, GIMP, LibreOffice Draw, or Adobe Reader. I have also tried changing the extension to PDF. What gives? Is this expected if we do not choose to have Illustrator?

        rdruhl
        rdruhlAuthor
        Participant
        April 15, 2016

        I also tried Inkscape, taking the time to install it and X11 to run Inkscape, and then was disappointed that it did not open my file. I have also tried using Pixelmator, Apple Preview, Adobe Reader, ColorStrokes, Snapheal, and I am not sure what else.

        Since I came over from the Dollar Photo Club, I assumed that everything would work the same, but I keep encountering this .ai files. It is discouraging me from continuing with Adobe Stock.

          Willi Adelberger
          Community Expert
          Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          April 14, 2016

          If they are saved as default with PDF compatibility you can handle them as PDF files. Most programs will recognize them as PDF, but if not, you can exchange the extension from AI to PDF.

          rdruhl
          rdruhlAuthor
          Participant
          April 14, 2016

          Willi,

          I have tried changing it from .ai to .pdf, and it did not work. The image is this one: Praying Jesus AdobeStock_95148842.ai

          I added, "Praying Jesus," just so that I could find it on my computer for later use.

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