unable to edit layers panel in photoshop

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
August 13, 2025
1 reply
271 views

I have a drawing in illustrator that I want to keep in the exact same dimensions in photoshop. (eg 16mm in ai is 16mm in ps). So I exported from illustrator as a save as web and opened the file in photoshop, but found that I'm unable to edit in the layers panel. Can't even add a new layer. Is there a fix or alternative way to do this?

Windows

Correct answer M-H

PNG is a rastor graphic format and doesnt support layers - literally the opposite of illustrator.

To edit illustrator layers you need to export it in a format which supports it e.g psd. Its available in "Export As..." and you might need to release your clipping paths/objects before you export.

"Save for web" its not really an option for any further editing, can you guess what is it for?:P

Ged_Traynor

Community Expert

@Charlotte39002488wbaq why don't you export it as a PSD from Illustrator, also the reason why you can't add layers is because it's an Index layer, go to Image > Mode and change it to RGB Colour

Alternatively, you can just unlock the Index layer

C

Charlotte39002488wbaqAuthor

Participant

But save as web doesn't have photoshop format as an option, and i dont know whether if i export as photoshop format the dimensions will be the same. Also, i already tried clicking the lock multiple times before posting in this forum. It cannot toggle between locked and unlocked.

M

M-HCorrect answer

Inspiring

PNG is a rastor graphic format and doesnt support layers - literally the opposite of illustrator.

To edit illustrator layers you need to export it in a format which supports it e.g psd. Its available in "Export As..." and you might need to release your clipping paths/objects before you export.

"Save for web" its not really an option for any further editing, can you guess what is it for?:P

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