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yash-lucid
yash-lucid
Inspiring
September 1, 2025
Question

Is there a way to import vector boards from Photosop into Illustrator?

  • September 1, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 487 views

I'm trying to import boards from PS to AI - the artboards in PS contain a mixture of vectors, and vectors from AI embedded as Smart Objects.

 

 

I have tried:

- Opening the PSD file in AI - error

- Selecting paths and selecting Export paths to illustrator - does not work

- Saving PSD as PDF and opening in Illustrator - most vectors are raster (probably because they are smart objects)

- Dragging and dropping - no luck

- Copy and pasting - no luck

 

Is there a solution? If not, is there an equivalent of Overlord plugin (AI to AE) or AEUX plugin (Figma to AE) but for PS to AI?

2 replies

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 1, 2025

Just double click the vector Smart objects in Photoshop should directly open them in Illustrator.

Since smart objects are in a kind of wrapper, they will not be vector paths when you open the PSD file in Illustrator. You would need shape layers for that to work.

Anubhav M
Community Manager
Anubhav MCommunity Manager
Community Manager
September 1, 2025

Hey @yash-lucid,

That does sound frustrating. Could you share a few more details, like which versions of your OS, Illustrator, and Photoshop you're using? A screenshot or screen recording of the error would also really help.

In the meantime, try saving your work as a PDF from Photoshop and then using Place in a new Illustrator file to see if that works.


Let me know how it goes.
Anubhav

yash-lucid
yash-lucidAuthor
Inspiring
September 1, 2025

I've attached a screen recording of the issue, apolgies for the less than perfect audio.

 

Just a thought: In the old days of Adobe Flash - there was "Break apart" feature which would un-nest a vector object to make it a directly editable vector, that feature would help if it exists to "un-smart" the vector smart objects, by making them vectors in Adobe - which show up in the Paths panel.

 

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@Monika Gause video shows why the method suggested doesn't work

yash-lucid
yash-lucidAuthor
Inspiring
September 3, 2025

Before setting up a file using such kind of methods, always make sure that it will give you the output file you need. Always. So that before making anything complex, you know that it will give you what you need. Now you are stuck.

 

Smart objects in Photoshop are like placed files, they are like sealed. Photoshop is a raster application. 


I always do - but in many cases when working with agencies, a designer will send you a file like the one I'm querying 

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