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jasonh95987015
Participant
February 28, 2017
Answered

Can't edit Illustrator smart objects once in Photoshop.

  • February 28, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 3906 views

I am currently working in the latest versions of AI and PS. When I drag, or copy and paste, an Illustrator vector into Photoshop it is scalable and behaves like a vector should. In the past if I want to edit that object in Illustrator, e.g. change the colours, I double click the layer and it opens up by itself in Illustrator.

Recently when I do this, it gives me a message "Could not edit original smart object because the application which created the smart object could not be launched."

This is happens on my PC. However, on my laptop, I have the same AI and PS versions and it works fine?

I have noticed on my PC that it doesn't give me the import menu of choosing whether I want a smart object, pixels etc. so maybe there's something in there that needs to be ticked or unticked? Something to do with libraries perhaps?

But I am pretty stumped and need help please!!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kevin Stohlmeyer

Try going into your file properties and 1. make sure it has a ".ai" extension and 2. Make sure the document type is associated with opening in Adobe Illustrator.

2 replies

Kevin Stohlmeyer
Community Expert
Kevin StohlmeyerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
February 28, 2017

Try going into your file properties and 1. make sure it has a ".ai" extension and 2. Make sure the document type is associated with opening in Adobe Illustrator.

J
jasonh95987015Author
Participant
March 1, 2017

Thanks kstohlmeyer1 and JJMack,

While I was waiting for responses I ended up working out that the files (while opening up in Illustrator 2017.0.2) were opening in an older version?? (2015.3). I did the 'properties' thing as kstohlmeyer1 had suggested and it worked. I changed it from "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2015\Support Files\Contents\Windows\Illustrator.exe" to Illustrator 2017.

So for anyone else having this problem, after you perform an Illustrator update, ensure that your Illustrator files are set to open up in the latest version by right clicking on an Illustrator file, choosing properties and open with whatever your latest version is.

Cheers.

    K
    Kareem23782425m2s3
    Participant
    March 28, 2022

    Hi. @jasonh95987015 
    I can't follow the steps I followed you on Mac Os 12.3

     

      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 28, 2017

      It may be a registry thing dealing with file associations.   On the machine that is failing when you double click on an .AI file like in file explorer does windows start AI up and pass the ai file?  I would think the embedded object would be an .ai file.  I do not use AI...

      I install AI on my surface pro 3 and see that .ai file are associated to  Adobe Illustrator cc 2017.

      When I double on an .ai file AI was started an passed the file however I don't know how to use AI nor do I want to learn how to use AI I do not have the time required

      When I dragged an AI file into a document in Photoshop an Open as smart object dialog opened up and I accepted.

      When I double clicked the smart object in the layers palette AI opened.

      I can also Photoshop menu File>Place Embedded to place in an .ai smart object late the open AI when double clicked.

      If you are not getting the Open as smart object dialog when you drag in an .AI file try using  menu File>Place Embedded to create the smart object layer.  See if that object will open AI when double clicked.

      JJMack
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