P: How to export to SVG from Photoshop?

[TomH07]

I have a PS file that has text that I converted to a shape, plus another shape. I want to convert that to an SVG file, but, when I use the Explort As dialog, the only export file options are GIF, PNG and JPG. If I do Save As, the only options are Photoshop, Large Document Format, Photoshop PDF, and TIFF. 

I searched the help system, there's nothing there that I can find. Did they remove SVG export from Photoshop?? I sure hope not. I have Photoshop 22.4.3. 

[jane-e]

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@Reiner Schmeinck wrote:

unfortunately does not work.

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"Does not work" is vague.

Are your specs the same as the OP's: MacBook Air (M1, 2020); 11.3.1 (20E241) ? If not, what are they? Are you using Rosetta? What version of PS? What happens when it "does not work"?

~ Jane

[Reiner Schmeinck]

"Doesn't work" is vague?

It is simply tiring to ask the same questions over and over again and give the same answers to a problem that has existed for months. SVG saving does not work with Mac M1 and Big Sur 11.5.1! The last working version is 22.3.1. everything after that can't save SVG.

[jane-e]

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@Reiner Schmeinck wrote:

"It is simply tiring to ask the same questions over and over again."

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Thank you for letting us know this, as I see now that you've started three topics on this issue in addition to adding to this one. The way to avoid asking the same questions over and over again is to not post on four separate threads.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/new-update-can-t-save-as-svg-through-photoshop-20...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/photoshop-22-4-2-what-a-desaster/m-p/12137486

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/22-4-3/m-p/12187822

In your first post you were told by Adobe Staff that the product team is aware of the issue and is looking for a fix. You were also given this link:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-for-apple-silicon.html

~ Jane

Forum volunteer

[Jeff Arola]

That's an issue with M1 native photoshop.

If you run photoshop using Rosetta and ensure Preferences > Tech Preview > Optimized Export As is unchecked, then you can export SVG as explained in this adobe KB:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-for-apple-silicon.html#native-known-issues

[Lucas_SE]

Thank you for the reply.

I was aware of the M1 issue, but what's curious is that it works fine on v22.3.1.

For now, I'll just skip updates until this is fixed, since it runs much smoother without Rosetta.

Thanks anyway.

[Lawrence R]

Hi well it's an issue with 22.4.2 on the PC and yes I have the prefs checked and unchecked

the SVG option is not on the list when I uncheck the option in prefs the thing doesn't run at all ?????????

[jane-e]

@Lawrence R 

Please clarify:

• Which preference did you check and uncheck?
• Which command are you using to try to save in .svg?
• What does "the thing doesn't run at all" mean?

~ Jane

[Delamont]

I had the same problem. For me, going from jpg to svg, the image was a simple black and transparent line drawing.  All you have to do it make sure the colour is in RGB! 

IT HAS TO BE IN RGB COLOUR: Image > Mode > RGB Colour

I'm assuming you know the rest about creating paths etc before Export As.

Unbelievable, I just wasted 2 hours on this and the answer was so easy after reading a tutorial on how to do it in Inkscape and then it came to me.

Good luck! 

[Kukurykus]

'low usage'? The length of this and other threads proves it's quite the contrary.

[J E L]

I agree. The best answer is still this: Under Preferences > Export, enable Use legacy “Export As”. Quit and relaunch Photoshop. Select File > Export > Export As...

[D Fosse]

There is only one problem with this: getting vector output from Photoshop is really hard. Most of the time it's still pixels - and so PNG is a better choice.

The SVG format makes a whole lot more sense in Illustrator.

A lot of people think that saving to SVG is all it takes to magically produce vector content. Maybe it's a good idea to not encourage that misunderstanding too much...

[J E L]

I don't disagree with you there, @D Fosse. But that wasn't the original question, which now has 32.5K views and 140 replies.

[jane-e]

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@D Fosse wrote:

The SVG format makes a whole lot more sense in Illustrator.

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Agree, if the file is created as vector in Illustrator.

The Help page linked to in the answer marked correct says,

"SVGs can be handled better in vector apps like Illustrator and XD, since Photoshop is primarily pixel-based work. Open your PSD in Adobe XD or Illustrator and use their export as SVG functionality."

This doesn't make any sense to me. I don't see how opening a raster Photoshop file in Illustrator and then exporting will help with the functionality of the SVG at all. A raster image does not magically gain anchor points when opened in a vector application.

A lot of folks were using the Photoshop export to SVG and seemed to be quite happy with it.

Jane

[Kukurykus]

Maybe not everyone is so strict about results of .svg produced by Photoshop 🙂

[wende60]

Sorry but you are wrong. All you need do do is to create a path. And in the past I run into different use cases to turn a PS file into a svg.

Of course this is nothing you usually do with a image. But PS is not only a photographer tool. And the way, Adobe is slightly either removing stuff or updates basic stuff like "safe as" by simply ruining it, is anoying.

[D Fosse]

Sorry but you are wrong. All you need do do is to create a path.

By @wende60

Yeah, you can make a path - but any fill or stroke will be pixels. A PNG would serve exactly the same purpose.

[jane-e]

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@wende60 wrote:

"Adobe ... updates basic stuff like "safe as" by simply ruining it, is anoying."

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If you mean "Save a Copy", it was driven by changes Apple made to the API and left Adobe to fix at their end.

https://petapixel.com/2021/05/18/photoshops-save-as-function-has-changed-on-mac-heres-why/ 

~ Jane

[D Fosse]

Yes, everybody should read that. But even though this goes a long way to set the record straight, they are still missing an important part of the equation. The piece starts:

"Rather than continuing to act as it has across applications on all computers for decades, Adobe altered the basic functionality and has left users baffled"

In fact, this ability to save directly to jpeg was introduced in Photoshop CS5, with much fanfare. In CS4 and earlier, you couldn't save to jpeg at all, if the file had layers/16 bit depth etc. That's right! It wasn't possible at all! First you had to flatten/convert/anything it took to satisfy the jpeg spec.

Not only that. No other application on the planet can save directly if the file has properties not supported in the target format. Affinity, anyone? You have to go through a full Export. Save won't do it there either!

So all these people ranting either have short memories, or haven't tried other software, or both. This was an extraordinary hack, and I bet they regret that now. If they hadn't done anuthing back then, just let everything work as it always had, everybody would be blissfully ignorant and happy.

[Kukurykus]

The system doesn't like your post. It is hidden in Threaded view (and 'Earliest' Linear). You can access it now only from first post of 'Latest' Linear view: I cannot see my reply in the forum.

[wende60]

What should it tell Adobe, that many users go back to both, legacy export and legacy save as. Seems that the Abo pricing leads to a lot of "improvements" that ruin a solid software. Pls Adobe, stop it.
Here some needed improvement for you: PS is not able to update a PS file on a Synology NAS (Mac, BigSur). This is a real challange for you devs!

[@MsParkerazzi]

This worked for me but when I attempted to open that svg file in my vinyl cutter, it does not recognize it.

[D Fosse]

Probably because it has raster content, which is what Photoshop generally outputs whatever the file format.

If you need a vector file, just saving to svg won't help you if it's raster data. Then you could just as well save to png. If you need a vector file, save out vector data from a vector application like Illustrator.

[apuzikov]

@D Fosse  you are absolutely correct - correct application for correct job.

But for some of us this is a hobby, one that does not bring extra income to justify spending extra for the Adobe Illustrator upgrade package.

Some of us actually just need a pass (for vinyl cutters or lasers) not whole fill, as it is mentioned in the above post.
Ability to use Photoshop to create that pass, although difficult, but exists.

And People prefer to use application that they already have and know, vs. application that they need to start paying extra for.

I can guarantee that if AI was part of Photog Package - you would not have thread that long.

[Nancy OShea]

@apuzikov 

Inkscape is a free vector app.

[apuzikov]

You are correct, there are plenty of the apps that will do job as good or better, but they all will require initial investment of time to learn how to use them. Photoshop I already know.
All we are asking from Adobe is not to get rid of the functionality that so many of us already using.

Alex