PDF Layers to Illustrator layers

Hi,
Is it possible to open a PDF file with layers in AI and preserve the PDF layers as layers in AI?
Is it possible to do the other way round too?
Export an AI file with layers as PDF and preserve the layer structure?
Thanks,
Priya

Because Illustrator is not a pdf editor you won't be able to open a pdf with his layers preserved without a extra plugin, Esko has a plugin that supports this and more.
Is you save a pdf as at least a 1.5 out off Illustrator, the Illustrator layers will be in the pdf.

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Layers (pdf layers to illustrator layers)

I currently am using Acrobat 7.0 Professional and Illustrator CS2, the pdf has 3 layers and I'm trying to open the file in Illustrator and retain the layers, but when I open the file it converts to one layer. Do you know how to retain the layers when importing into Illustrator CS2?
Vicky

Unless the PDF was saved with Illustrator Editing Capabilities turned on, it is not possible for you to recover the layers. In Acrobat the layers are called something else (Optional Content Groups-although they correspond to AI layers) and are not readable in AI. You will probably have reconstruct the layers.

Layered pdf opened in illustrator

Hi,
I have a question about transferring pdfs created in Autocad using Pdf Page maker plugin into Illustrator. Since there is no option for keeping Illustrator editabillity from Autocad, is it possible to open an Autocad generated layered pdf in Illustrator and retain the pdf`s layer structure.
Thanks.

PDF layers are part of an overall feature known as optional content in PDF and are conceptually very different than Illustrator layers. Since PDF optional content features in general are very much a superset of Illustrator layers (PDFMaker for PowerPoint uses optional content to handle certain slide build features, for example), there would be no easy way for Illustrator to readily pick and choose what optional content features to support and translate. As such, don't expect this to be "rectified" in any way in future Illustrator releases.
(To make things even more interesting, both PDF and Illustrator layers are very different than Photoshop layers which allow for defined interactions between layers such as masking!)
- Dov

How do I import photoshop channels as layers in Illustrator CS4?

I recently upgraded from CS2 to CS4, and now I cannot view individual channels as layers in my Illustrator layers menu. I want to be able to select one of a number of channels created in photoshop, and change the color without having to do so in Photoshop and re-import into Illustrator. Right now the imported, and embedded, photoshop image displays the original layer and a "Spot Channel" layer, but the spot channel layer cannot be broken down into each seperate spot channel that I had created in Photoshop. Is this a setting I need to change in Photoshop or Illustrator?

Save each channel out of Photoshop as a greyscale tiff. Embed each into Illy in the usual way, then colour them as you wish. Set their transparency to multiply and you can put one on top of the other to get a composite using true or false colours.
A word of warning: Some rips may have difficulty if you use this method. At any rate if you DO use it you should definitely flatten transparency before making your pdf.

Importing Illustrator layers into After effects, released to layers yet still one layer- ?

Hi,
Please bear with me as this should be a simple fix but the situation is hard to describe.
I want to import layers from Illustrator into After Effects. I need the AI layers to have their "handles" (the four corners of the object) close in around the object and not spread out to the corners of the composition. I figured out how to do this: by "releasing layers to sequence" in Illustrator and then dragging them out of the group they were all in. Then I "import as composition - retain layer sizes" into AE. When I open the illustrator composition in AE, it's layers appear in AE as separate layers and with the layer 'handles' tight around the objects (all is well). BUT here is what I want to do: I have a layer/object in Illustrator that I "image traced" to make it black but it still has some white parts to it. So I drew two black rectangles around the white parts. But now when I bring it into AE, they all appear as separate layers (the image traced object and the two rectangles) but I want those black rectangles to be literally part of the object that I image traced. In photoshop this would be akin to "flattening the layers". I can do this in AI by "merging" the layers, but if I do that I am brought back to the problem of having AE put the layer's 'handles' to the corners of the comp window and not tight around the object. Frustrating!
So I basically want to be able to paint over/cover up the white parts of my object without that creating new layers/objects.
Thanks for reading!
T

I'm not clear what you are describing. Have you actually tried other import settings in AE? There is some bug with the retain layer size stuff, but other combinations might work. Also try exporting a PDF of the artwork and using that. This may work better.
Mylenium

Illustrator layers only visible one frame

After Effects 2014.2 version 13.2.0.49
Illustrator 2014.1.1 version 18.1.1
So, I started off posting in the wrong forum (Illustrator) and with that
question, seemed to jumped that hurtle, but encountered another.
My first problem was importing an Illustrator layered image as 'Composition
- Retain layer sizes' and had to check off the sequence options as
'Illustrator/PDF/EPS Sequence' in order to keep the layers in the proper
positions (or all layers centered around individual anchor points).
Another problem I had with that was all my layers became mixed - so my
solution was to bring them into the comp in a manual order.
So, now that I have the Illustrator layers in my After Effects comp, the
layers only remain visible for one frame.
I have my comp set for a minute. I started playing with opacities and can't
get past the 'one frame visibility'.
My plans are to 'draw on' the guitar I have drawn in Illustrator, by
keyframing the layer opacities.
I have tried the Animation/Keyframe Assistant/Sequence Layers but I am
missing something.
I want to try other effects that I do not remember the specific effect name
(to draw on the guitar layers), but first I need to start with having my
layers visible for more then the one frame.
What have I missed?

Your artboard needs to include all of your artwork. That's the problem with the illustrator file you are showing.
Import as a sequence should never be checked if you are importing only one file whether it is imported as footage or a comp.
When you import as a comp you must open the comp that AE creates to keep the layers lined up.
Most people just getting started with this workflow make all three of these mistakes. The workflow is really easy. Make each object that you want to animate a separate layer, make sure all artwork fits in the your artboard and you only have one, import as a comp retaining layer sizes, then open the comp that AE creates. ALL of the layers that are in the project panel will be the size of that layer. If you are using clipping paths then the layer will be the size of the clipping mask if it extends beyond the artwork.
One last point that I failed to make. You should be creating your artwork so that it is the right size to fit in your composition at it's at rest size. In other words, if at some point in your composition you want to see the whole guitar and have it fill the screen then the strings must be thick enough to work in video. That means they must be at least 2 or 3 points wide. If you want to have the guitar fill only one quarter of the screen and your project is 1920 X 1080 then your dartboard should be set to 1920 pixels or points wide and the strings must still be at least 2 points or 2 pixels wide unless they are absolutely horizontal and vertical AND if you use thin lines or stroke values less than 3 pixels in your illustration you should have snap to pixel turned on in illustrator. Your illustration may be vector art but if there is fine detail in the illustration then it must line up with the pixel grid or it will not look good.

What is a layered structured illustrator file?

Hi,
Im currently converting some images to vector images They have asked can i provide them in a "layered structured illustrator file".
Im Relatively experienced with Illustrator and have never come across the term before im assuming they simply mean they want the ai. file with all the layers maintained?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Hi,
I have attached the image. The image was traced at first and then i manually drew over every piece of the image so yes it is manually drawn there are roughly 50-70 layers.
Thanks

Illustrator Layers are expanded when opening.

I haven't had much luck googling this, because I am not certain of the proper terminology to ask the question.
When I open a file, one or more layer are opened/expanded in the layer tab on the side of the screen. I can close the layer, make modifications, and save; but when I open it up, the layer is always opened.
It doesn't happen with every file. But on the files that do have this, it's always like this.
Any ideas? It's rathe annoying, especially with larger art files.

SOULTION WORK ARROUND HERE:
At a previous job at AARP.org, we had CS2 and went to CS4, where I first noticed this "bug."
Sometimes, we'd have a file with 10-30 web page designs in it and having to close all the Layers showinging every Sublayer drove me nuts and can take a few Annoyed minutes.
I still have this issue in CS5, and noticed it yesterday on a co-workers CS6.
So, today I decided to Google search and fonund this thread.
I've spent the last 2 hours trying to fix the issue of all Layers and Sublayers showing when opening a document and I have found a work arround.
Now, we know that Illustrator gives a unique color to items that live on seperate layers, and it also does this for Sub-layers.
It seems when you open a file with lots of layers and sub-layers, the defualt in Illustator is to show all layers.
To fix that bug they need to add a "Show/Hide Sublayers" or something.
I think they may have added "Sublayers" in CS4, and that is when this "bug" started for the users. I'm not sure.
Also, sometimes items are getting stuck inside sub-layers etc, and it becomes hard to move selected items to the front and or back using short cut commands, you have to actually go move the sub-layer. meh.
Somethings to note:
Adobe gives the user the option to "Merge Selcted Layers" but this only lets you merge layers and sub-layers that live within the same heiarchy, and you still will have lower level sub-layers, and you can't drag a sub-sub-level layer to the the sub-layer up from it.
I haven't figured out how or why all the sublayers got created, I know I never made a actual "New Sublayer"
So, if there is a process in the workflow to avoid doing that, I'll look out for it and post something in the future.
But it may have to do with working with custom symbols, pasting form layers to layers, Paste Remembers Layers being selected, copying layers, etc... I don't know.
So, here is how I cleaned up my file:
I removed all the damn sub-layers that ened up in my file somehow.
1) First make sure "Paste Remembers Layers" is NOT selcted in the Layers palette menu.
2) Select everything in a specific layer by clicking on the circle to the right of the layer name in the layers palatte or use commed-c to copy.
3) With all your content still selected, delete everything.
4) Select all the sub-layers (which are now empty), that are underneath your most top level layer.
5) Click on your top level layer, and use Shift-Command-V to Paste in Place (also found under the Edit menu).
Now, your layers will look like the used back in CS3 or CS2, you will have NO Sublayers, and after you save and re-open the document, all layers will not be open showing.
Ta-Da! This has been driving me crazy for like a year and a half. Work arround discovered.
Thought I should share.
Now, if you like using layers and naming them, then you're stuck with all layers showing upon opening a document but you can reduce what shows by going into Panel Options and checking "Show Layers Only"
This will show only your layers and sub-layers, but it can reduce you seeing all the paths and objects, etc., but when you open documents, all those layers will still be open. Got it?

Retaining Photoshop Layers in Illustrator

Trying to import a PSD file and retain its layers into Illustrator. It is coming in FLAT and I don't know why. These are a certain group of files. A different group is coming in with layers and I don't know why one is different than the other. Could something be causing my Photoshop file to be flattened even though it is layered in Photoshop? I have been racking my brain. Thank you for any help.

k santoro wrote:
> I've been using FW for years, and just recently had to
upgrade my system. The
> IT guy loaded the CS3 suite on my machine (provided by
the university I work
> at), and I was dismayed to see that FW wasn't there. Why
not? I asked, and was
> told that they're not loading FW but recommending that
people switch to
> Illustrator. I'm one of those old Corel hold-outs, and
I'm not all that
> familiar with the Adobe graphics products, so my
question may sound silly, but
> here goes. How do I edit one of my many existing png
files in Illustrator? IT
> guy said he thought layers would be retained in
Illustrator, but the program
> seems to be bringing the png in as a bitmap. What goes?
Do I have to reinstall
> FW8?
>
Sounds like they installed the Design Suite rather than the
Web Suite.
FW is only in the Web Suite. In my view, switching to AI is
not the answer.
Fireworks doesn't export to a very current version of
Illustrator, but
it imports to current AI files fairly well.
If you install FW 8, you'll be able to save files as AI
files, but I'm
not sure how much of your design will be lost in the process.
I'd
recommend installing FW8 and continue using it unless you can
convince
your Dean or Chair or Coordinator to purchase the updated FW
CS3.
Jim Babbage - .:Community MX:. & .:Adobe Community
Expert:.
Extending Knowledge, Daily
http://www.communityMX.com/
CommunityMX - Free Resources:
http://www.communitymx.com/free.cfm
.:Adobe Community Expert for Fireworks:.
news://forums.macromedia.com/macromedia.fireworks
news://forums.macromedia.com/macromedia.dreamweaver

Can you 'Link Layers' in Illustrator like in Photoshop, or only merge?

I have spent days searching for How to 'link layers' in Illustrator (similar to how you would in Photoshop).
Is this even possible,..? as it appears not.
I can merge layers.. But i only want to LINK to keep the elements separate.
Thanks for any advice,
regards, a newbie.

Ok the default swatches should open with each new document, if that are not doing so then one of two things probably is occurring!
1 you have accidentally opened the default print document deleted the swatches because you probably did not need them for wha you were working on and then did a save and overwrote the default document and now the swatches are gone.
2 You selected a custom made document profile that had now swatches, except the ones you say are there, when creating a new document and that is being defaulted as the next new document,Illustrator remembers the last document setting.

Does acrobat has any option to read pdf content objects(stamps, layers, images etc) without using pl

Does acrobat has any option to read pdf content objects(stamps, layers, images etc) without using plug-in in c#.net ?
My requirement is read a pdf file and extract all the page objects(stampls, layers and images) along with its coordinates. Is it possible to get without using plug-ins in c#.net ?
Please hlep me.

These are very different things.
JavaScript has some access to layers (called OCG). Layers are just names and have no coordinates to retrieve.
Stamps may be annotations; there is some minimal access to these too I think. It may be hard to identify what is, and is not, a stamp even with a plug-in.
Images are part of the actual page contents, and are only accessible to plug-ins.

Disappearing Illustrator Layers/Assets, AE CS5

Hey guys,
First my specs, just in case:
MAC OSX 10.6.6
AE CS5 10.0.1.19
8-Core
24 GB RAM
I'm having the strangest issues with adobe illustrator layers in my timeline... they keep disappearing at random moments during playback. Somtimes its during RAM preview, somtimes its when I'm scrubbing the timeline, but never at the same point and it doesn't seem to be consistant for which layers dissapear or appear. To be clear, the layers themselves are not disappearing in the timeline, but in my active view/camera.
There are 13 illustrator layers, all of them are 3D Layers. I have, at various points, been able to see all of my layers when they should appear on screen, so Its not an issue of a layer getting in the way of my camera and obscuring anything (i don't think). It's not an opacity issue... It seems to be something with my illustrator files and CS5. I've even tried moving the files over to a different machine, and I've tried opening up the project on a Windows box, but the problem persists. I'm truly puzzled.
Its not the biggest issue at the moment, as long as I can get a clean playback in AE for my client this evening, but I'm scared to continue working only to find that I can't render out any of my final project to broadcast.
Anyone have any clues? I'll post updates as needed.
Thanks in advance,
Dylan

I have found the genesis of our problems. I first noticed this on a project where I was using Illustrator (CS5) artwork supplied by a designer. He was using the "Film/Video" presets to make an HD formatted AI file. I liked how handy the grids and title safeties were so I kept using the preset on other projects. Thats when I started noticing artwork disappearing. I had to purge it at multiple points in my timeline just to get a render out.
When I read richardbwallace's idea to look for the second artboard and delete it, everything clicked into place. Instantly everything came back. I have a feeling that Adobe needed to add that artboard to make something in the film and video presets to work the way they do and didn't anticipate or test for this issue.
I have not checked if other presets use the same double artboard trick, but if one of them does, I bet it will cause the same problems.
tl;dr - Video and Film presets in AI add extra artboards which cause the issue.

Extracting unique identifier for illustrator layers

Hi All,
Multiple layers in an illustrator file can have the same name. So the layer name cannot be a unique identifier for layers. Is there a way to extract a unique identifier for layers through scripting? I saw that if the 'Identify Objects by' property (inside Preferences -> Units) is set to XML ID, all layer names, even identical ones are replaced by some unique ids. Can we extract these ids via scripting without manually changing the 'Identify Objects by' property. Basically, extraction of any unique identifier for illustrator layers would serve the purpose. I am really stuck with this and need help urgently. Any help would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

When I found this I noticed it changed the name of the layers in the layers pallet.
I had not had a chance to test this with code.
If "use XML ID" is turned on then you are not able to name layers the same thing.
this in turn would follow through to your script using layer.name
for existing files you would need to fix names manually or...
I am sure it would be possible to Script.
eg. export SVG file and pull the layer ID's from that and rename the document layers accordingly. (may be a little tricky for sublayers, but top level layers should be straight forward)
Then as long as "use XML ID" is left on the files would not need this run again as you cannot use duplicate layer names.

Illustrator layers inside AE

Hi everyone!
Apologies again for my lack of knowledge in this area. I have multiple layers inside Illustrator, each with the shape outlines for different words. See this thread...
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/872916
...for details (and many thanks to CarlosCanto again!).
Everything works great inside Illustrator -- all of the layers are in sequential order of how they were typed. However, once I import the Illustrator file into After Effects, all of the layers are alphabetized by the name of the layer (no longer in the order they were originally typed). I need to preserve the layer order from Illustrator inside After Effects.
If anyone could help out it would be MUCH appreciated.
Thanks!
EDIT: I'm using all CS4 products, if that helps.

Okay... I suppose that works.
I ran into another problem though. The selection boxes around all of the layers are all the size of the composition, and not the size of the words. This makes it really difficult to move the words around by hand, because they're all stacked on top of each other.
When I imported the Illustrator file I chose "Import as Composition - Cropped Layers" thinking that would do the trick. Is there any way to make the selection boxes the size of the words and not the whole composition?
Thanks!

Illustrator layers: can i maintain my layers in photoshop?

when i bring my illustrator file into photoshop
is there a way to maintain my layers?

Yes you can maintain your Illustrator layers in Photoshop.
When you export your Illustrator as PSD file, choose in the "Photoshop Export Options" windows - Write Layers. Also check mark the option - Maximum Editability

PDF Layers to Illustrator layers

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