Unable to copy/paste from photoshop to illustrator

[soli90]

Hello,

I am unable to copy/cut then paste shapes, vector images, and raster images from Photoshop to Illustrator. However, I have no problem copy/pasting from Illustrator to Photoshop.

The export clipboard preference is enabled in Photoshop. 

Thanks for the help!

[Eugenio.NYC]

Sorry to hear about your experience, maybe if you try to reset the preferences will work, here are the instructions:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

[christinah24777951]

Having the same problem even after resetting all preferences on both applications. Did you ever find the solution to this problem? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Pasting pixel images into vector oriented applications is, in my opinion, an imprudent approach. 

What exactly are you copying (selected area, Layer, paths, …)? 

Could you please post screenshots from both programs with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

[christinah24777951]

I am copying the full layer into illustrator. I was hoping to "paint" around the image. I am more comfortable using illustrator and vectors than working in photoshop. That is why I am trying to copy it over into a new canvas. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

My recommendation: Just don’t do such a thing! (Edit: Meaning pasting pixel content in Illustrator instead of properly placing it.) 

Place the image propely, that way it exists as a file of its own and can be edited in Photoshop further if necessary without having to unembed. 

If you insist on this approach have you tried Select All (cmd-A), then copying (cmd-C)? 

[Tiya5E88]

This is not what we are asking for, and we don't really care about best practices, as there are use cases where a simple copy and paste will suffice. Is there a way to copy/paste from photoshop to illustrator or not?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

 we don't really care about best practices, 

That’s too bad, but I can’t deny that »work« sometimes seems to come down to »having to do work badly« because one is not given the time etc. to do it well. 

Is there a way to copy/paste from photoshop to illustrator or not?

There is. 

Please provide a meaningful description (including screenshots with all the pertinent Panels visible) that might allow others to reproduce the issue. 

What is the »Export Clipboard«-Preferences setting, what are the image’s Color Mode and Bit Depth, did you select before copying, …? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

@Tiya5E88 , will you please provide meaningful information to enable one to pinpoint the reason for your problem? 

[Kaloyan Kolev]

Has anyone managed to solve this frustrating issue?

I've searched extensively online and tried every possible solution I could find. Here's what I've done so far:

• Adjusted all the options in Illustrator's Clipboard Handling menu.
• Checked and unchecked the Export Clipboard option in Photoshop's preferences.
• Reset the preferences for both Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Investigated whether any other software might be interfering with the Windows clipboard.
• Completely reinstalled both programs.
• Updated my graphics drivers.
  
  

Despite all of this, the copy-paste function from Photoshop to Illustrator still doesn’t work.

After further testing, I realized the issue isn't limited to Photoshop and Illustrator. It also occurs between Photoshop and Adobe XD. Based on this, I concluded that the problem likely lies within Photoshop itself.

Because I can successfully copy-paste between Illustrator and XD, and vice versa. However, I cannot paste anything copied from Photoshop—whether it’s text, shapes, or images—into either program.

If anyone has found a solution, please share!

[Aleke]

Hi @LilTrendy, one way to do this is to save your Photoshop file as a .PSD or .EPS. Then, you can use this method to place the file into Illustrator while preserving all the data. Let me know if this helps!

Thanks!

Alek

[Kaloyan Kolev]

Hi Alek,

While this may work, it doesn’t resolve the obvious issue that I and others are trying to explain here—let alone provide a convenient workflow for small adjustments between Photoshop and Illustrator. I just want the simple copy-and-paste function I had until yesterday, which randomly decided to stop working for some reason.

To be honest, I’m almost positive that the issue is on Adobe’s side and not caused by something I accidentally changed without realizing it. Recently, I haven’t made any changes to my PC, installed any new software, or adjusted any settings that could interfere with the clipboard. Yet, out of nowhere, the copy-paste function between Photoshop and Illustrator just stopped working.

As I mentioned in my previous message, the problem isn’t limited to Photoshop and Illustrator; it also affects Photoshop and Adobe XD. At the same time, copy-pasting between Illustrator and XD works as it always has.

Again, as I’ve already written above, I’m NOT TRYING to paste anything complex into Illustrator or Adobe XD. Photoshop simply cannot copy and paste anything—whether it’s images, shapes, text, etc.—to either of the mentioned programs. The Paste option is grayed out in the Edit menu, and pressing CTRL + V does nothing.

This is not about preserving data or anything like that. The basic copy-and-paste function just DOESN’T WORK like it did one day ago.

Thank you for your assistance.

[Aleke]

Hi @Kaloyan Kolev!

I see, did you notice this function stopped working after a Photoshop update? Could you also share your System Info? You can find it by going to Help > System Info. Just copy the text in the textbox, save it as a file, and attach it to your reply. Thanks a bunch!

Alek