Importing files into Illustrator maintaining layer information

[aliwesterman123]

Hoping to get an answer to this, I've been asked to convert some normalised pdf files into Illustrator files but when I open the converted files all of the Layer information disappears. This information is integral to the files so we need to maintain this information into illustrator.

Is there a way to do this? (I've tried .ps .eps and pdf)

Thanks for any help

Ali

[Jacob Bugge]

Ali,

If the source files were created as AI files saved as AI with PDF Compatible File ticked (giving a double file with both an AI and a PDF part), you can just copy the Layers and Paste them into the same Layers in the target files (with Paste Remembers Layers ticked in both files). This would preserve everything in the artwork because you could use the original AI part of the file).

If the source files were created as AI files saved as PDF with Illustrator Editing Capabilities ticked (giving a double file with both a PDF and an AI part), you can just copy the Layers and Paste them into the same Layers in the target files (with Paste Remembers Layers ticked in both files). This would preserve (some of the properties in) the artwork because you could use the moderated AI part of the file).

If the source files were created as AI files saved as PDF without Illustrator Editing Capabilities ticked, you have lost the opportunity/opportunities mentioned above, and your best option would be to ask for the original AI files.

If the source files were created as something other then AI, there may be little to do.

[Monika Gause]

With PDF it's not possible. PDF layers is something different than Illustrator layers.

Which application do you use to create the files?

[Mike_Gondek]

Can you psot a sample of the .pdf files using dropbox, google drive or similar.

The normalization process, may have wiped out the layers, but can be tricky, as there are many way to save a .pdf and the layers may exist in either the .ai or .pdf half of the file.

Many people miss this option in Acrobat.

There is so much more I could write, so best to review a copy of your file(s).

[meganchi]

Unfortunately, Illustrator is not a PDF editor.

The only way I know where PDF layers would show up in Illustrator is, as others above have stated, when saving a PDF from Illustrator, "Preserve Illustrator editing capabilities" is selected.

It sounds like that option may not have been selected when creating the PDF in the first place. Therefore, I do not think the layers are going to appear when opening the PDF back into Illustrator.

[marliton]

Hi. You need to check if after the normalize process, the layers are maintained or are flattened.

On the other hand, Illustrator can open many PDF files but sometimes, you lose elements because the internal structure of that two files is different. For maintaining all Illustrator features in a PDF file you need to create the PDF saving in Illustrator with "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities" option checked.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Ali,

Thanks for reaching out. As everyone else mentioned, this totally depends on how the files were created initially. You can refer to these help articles for more details:

How to import artwork files in Illustrator

How to import Adobe PDF files in Illustrator

Could you please share a sample file you that you are trying to import? Maybe we can suggest a workaround.

Regards,

Srishti

[aliwesterman123]

Thanks to all of the helpful messages and actions.

I've now managed to create these files successfully by creating the files using a compatibility switch within the conversion software.

Thanks to all 

[Monika Gause]

aliwesterman123  schrieb

Thanks to all of the helpful messages and actions.

I've now managed to create these files successfully by creating the files using a compatibility switch within the conversion software.

Thanks to all 

Thank you for the feedback.

Can you please tell us slightly more about that process? That will help others.

[ACa]

Hello there, 

Sorry to re-open this thread, but I'm facing the same issue. 

I exported (published) a PDF from Archicad, opened it in adobe acrobat and have acces to the layers structure.

Although, When I import (place) this in Illustrator, the layer structure isn't maintained....

I've seen many post but can't find the answer.

Help would be greatly appreciated 🙂

Regards, 

-Charles C.

 

[Larry G. Schneider]

You might try turning off the layers leaving only one visible and then printing a new version of the file for each layer. Second, reassemble them in AI in a new file with appropriate layers. Place your flattened first and lock, then place each new file in order.

[ACa]

@Larry G. Schneider , 

This is what I saw in other posts, although, it isn't a viable solution as I'm working with more then 30 layers and have an iterative process between archicad and illustrator.

Other alternatives less time consuming 🙂 ?

Regards, 

-CC

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

What happens if you export from Archicad to DWG, and then open that in Illustrator?

[ACa]

Same thing.

[ACa]

Anyone have ideas / script ?  Developpers any solutions ?

Regards, 

-CC

[c4sszzz]

2 years late but i had the exact problem and spent 30 minutes trying to figure it out - what worked for me was instead of trying to export the layers i went to organise the pages and extracted each page (mine was a multiple artboard problem). i opened the extracted pdfs on illustrator and the original layers were all there!!!

[user3756666]

Could you describe how you extracted the layers?? I have a map and i need the certain layers as a layer in illustrator....

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @user3756666

Thanks for reaching out! Could you share more details about the artwork you're trying to create/ edit? Are you looking to merge multiple layers into one? If so, here’s how you can do that:

:link: How to work with layers in Illustrator

Hope it helps!

Regards,

Srishti