Ai2Psd v4.0

Description

The Ai2Psd script may help to prepare vector layers for export from AI to PSD file.

Export

Object	Support	Format
Basic shapes	YES	Editable
Path shapes	YES	Editable
Groups	YES	Editable
Text	YES	Editable
Fills	YES	Editable
Clipping Paths	YES	Editable
Gradients	NO	Rasterized
Strokes	NO	Rasterized
Filter Effects	NO	Clear

P.S. Some layers in the PSD could get merged randomly...in Adobe CC 2023 there's still no reliable way to control it. We tried!

Warning
You must have the Layers panel shown and expanded on the screen for the script to work properly.

The script makes changes to the opened file, so it is better to copy and run it.

You can't rerun the script on a file that has already been processed. First, use File → Revert to revert to the previously saved state.

Blog Article

En: How to export an Illustrator file into a vector layered Photoshop file
Ru: Экспортируем векторные слои из AI в PSD

System Requirements

Should work with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later.
The script has been tested on Illustrator CS6 (Windows 7), Illustrator CC 2017-2023 (Windows 10, Mac OS).

News

March 2023
Version 4.0:

• New UI with batch export
• Minor improvements

October 2020
Version 3.0:

• Algorithm issues fixed
• Saving custom path names
• Russian localization

How to run script

Variant 1 — Install

1. Download archive and unzip. All scripts are in the folder jsx
2. Place Ai2Psd.jsx in the Illustrator Scripts folder:
   • OS X: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator [vers.]/Presets.localized/en_GB/Scripts
   • Windows (32 bit): C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [vers.]\Presets\en_GB\Scripts\
   • Windows (64 bit): C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [vers.] (64 Bit)\Presets\en_GB\Scripts\
3. Restart Illustrator

Variant 2 — Drag & Drop

Drag and drop the script file (JS or JSX) onto the tabs of Illustrator documents. If you drag it to the area of the open document, the script may not work correctly (Adobe bug).

Variant 3 — Use extension

I recommend the Scripshon Trees panel. In it you can specify which folder your script files are stored in.

Warning
To run scripts via the F1-F15 hotkeys, users add them to the Actions panel. Don't add Ai2Psd to the Action, it will cause Illustrator to freeze.

How to use Ai2Psd

1. Open document(s) in Adobe Illustrator or go next step
2. Choose File → Scripts → Ai2Psd
3. Choose settings
4. Click the Export button
5. Wait for completion

Note
If the Ai document is not saved, the PSD is exported to the desktop.

Note
On low-spec computers, I recommend switching Illustrator to full screen mode to speed up the script.

Car Vectors by Vecteezy

Document Optimization

Strokes

If you want to save the vector stroke in the PSD, then you have to select the object and use Object → Path → Outline Stroke.

Similar paths

If you have a large group of small objects, e.g. hair brush draws, fur or outlined text, it'd be better for the to combine such elements into the Compound Path with Object → Compound Path → Make before the script is executed.

Note
Meshes, objects with a gradient fill or Spot color, pattern, various strokes can't be left as vectors after the export, but they will be separate raster layers in the PSD file.

Testimonials

• Mateusz Nowak: “Thanks for Ai-to-Psd script!”
• Dilyana Aleksandrova: “ai to psd saved my ass at work man, thank you for sharing it!”
• Weyn Cueva: “This is amazing! I’ve been looking for something similar because I work more in Photoshop. Thank you.”
• Maggie Stilwell: “This is awesome! A great timesaver. Thank you for sharing it.”
• datenshi_blue: “It is a great script, i downloaded it to and i love it”
• Michael Helmrich: "This is really powerful! Thank you for sharing"

Donate

You can support my work on new scripts via Buymeacoffee, Tinkoff, ЮMoney, Donatty, DonatePay.

Changelog

Version	Notes
v4.0	Added UI with batch export. Minor improvements.
v3.0	Algorithm issues fixed. Added: Saving custom path names, Russian localization.
v2.3	Minor issues fixed.
v2.2	Added progress bar and timer.
v2.1	Fixed unlock and order of objects issue.
v2.0	The script doesn't need to load the helper Action file.
v1.3	Fixed Overprint issue.
v1.2	Improved preformance.
v1.1	The script unlocks visible layers & objects before and the do the rest.
v1.0	Initial Version.

Contribute

This script is in active development.
Found a bug? Please submit a new issues on GitHub.

Contact

Email [email protected]

Co-author

Radmir Kashaev: GitHub

License

Ai-to-Psd is licensed under the MIT licence.
See the included LICENSE file for more details.