Inkscape for Adobe Illustrator users - Revision history

Nathanal: /* To Save Files in Inkscape for Use with Adobe Illustrator and vice versa */ Fix broken link anchor

2020-09-17T13:58:09Z

To Save Files in Inkscape for Use with Adobe Illustrator and vice versa: Fix broken link anchor

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:58, 17 September 2020
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	As Inkscape has one incompatible feature, flowed text, you need to convert all flowed text to normal text using Text -> Convert to text, before you save to SVG (or to 'Plain SVG', if you don't need to edit the file with Inkscape again).		As Inkscape has one incompatible feature, flowed text, you need to convert all flowed text to normal text using Text -> Convert to text, before you save to SVG (or to 'Plain SVG', if you don't need to edit the file with Inkscape again).

	If you export an SVG file from AI, edit it in Inkscape, and then open it again with AI, you may notice that your changes to the file seem lost. This is because AI saves the picture twice inside the SVG file: once as real SVG, for SVG viewers to use, and once in AI's own, binary format, which AI uses when it opens the file. Inkscape only changes the 'real' SVG code, and AI does not notice these changes, as it only looks at the binary contents when that exists. You need to delete that from the file manually, before you use it with AI again, or when exporting from AI, uncheck "Preserve Adobe Illustrator Editing" and "Optimize for Adobe SVG viewer" (see [https://inkscape.org~~/en~~/learn/faq/#~~Inkscape_edits_to_an_SVG_file,_which_was_originally_created_in_Adobe_Illustrator,_are_lost_when_importing_back_into_AI~~ FAQ]).		If you export an SVG file from AI, edit it in Inkscape, and then open it again with AI, you may notice that your changes to the file seem lost. This is because AI saves the picture twice inside the SVG file: once as real SVG, for SVG viewers to use, and once in AI's own, binary format, which AI uses when it opens the file. Inkscape only changes the 'real' SVG code, and AI does not notice these changes, as it only looks at the binary contents when that exists. You need to delete that from the file manually, before you use it with AI again, or when exporting from AI, uncheck "Preserve Adobe Illustrator Editing" and "Optimize for Adobe SVG viewer" (see [https://inkscape.org/learn/faq/#inkscape-edits-svg-file-which-was-originally-created-adobe-illustrator-are-lost-when-importing-back-ai FAQ]).

	= Terminology =		= Terminology =

Nathanal: /* Formats */ Update broken link

2020-09-17T13:56:28Z

Formats: Update broken link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:56, 17 September 2020
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	=Formats=		=Formats=

	Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [~~http~~://~~wiki.~~inkscape.org/~~wiki~~/~~index.php~~/~~Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ~~#~~I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21~~ one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.		Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [https://inkscape.org/learn/faq/#inkscape-edits-svg-file-which-was-originally-created-adobe-illustrator-are-lost-when-importing-back-ai one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.

	=To Save Files in Inkscape for Use with Adobe Illustrator and vice versa=		=To Save Files in Inkscape for Use with Adobe Illustrator and vice versa=

Moini: /* To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows */ Updated / Rewritten for Inkscape > 0.46 and AI > 10

2015-04-13T21:57:15Z

To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows: Updated / Rewritten for Inkscape > 0.46 and AI > 10

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:57, 13 April 2015
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	Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ#I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21 one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.		Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ#I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21 one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.

	=To Save ~~Illustrator~~ Files in Inkscape for ~~Windows~~=		=To Save Files in Inkscape for Use with Adobe Illustrator and vice versa=
	[http://www.werockyourweb.com/install-ghostscript-windows-and-gimp This post on We Rock Your Web is for GIMP, but works equally to create save-as-.ai options in Inkscape for Windows.]		<!-- OLD TEXT: [http://www.werockyourweb.com/install-ghostscript-windows-and-gimp This post on We Rock Your Web is for GIMP, but works equally to create save-as-.ai options in Inkscape for Windows.]

	[http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm You also need to add the location of the GS executable to the PATH, as detailed on this page.]		[http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm You also need to add the location of the GS executable to the PATH, as detailed on this page.]

	Another way(tested on 0.48.3) that achieves good compatibility but drops some stuff on the way(like converting text to paths) is to save it as PDF and then export as EPS from Acrobat X. Illustrator safely opens this and saves as *.AI. Which is safely opened in Expression Blend 4.		Another way(tested on 0.48.3) that achieves good compatibility but drops some stuff on the way(like converting text to paths) is to save it as PDF and then export as EPS from Acrobat X. Illustrator safely opens this and saves as *.AI. Which is safely opened in Expression Blend 4.-->

			Earlier versions of Inkscape (up to 0.46) supported export to the .ai file format. This required the installation of Ghostscript, and didn't always work well. Since version 10, AI can import SVG directly, so this detour is no longer necessary and support for it has been removed from Inkscape.

			As Inkscape has one incompatible feature, flowed text, you need to convert all flowed text to normal text using Text -> Convert to text, before you save to SVG (or to 'Plain SVG', if you don't need to edit the file with Inkscape again).

			If you export an SVG file from AI, edit it in Inkscape, and then open it again with AI, you may notice that your changes to the file seem lost. This is because AI saves the picture twice inside the SVG file: once as real SVG, for SVG viewers to use, and once in AI's own, binary format, which AI uses when it opens the file. Inkscape only changes the 'real' SVG code, and AI does not notice these changes, as it only looks at the binary contents when that exists. You need to delete that from the file manually, before you use it with AI again, or when exporting from AI, uncheck "Preserve Adobe Illustrator Editing" and "Optimize for Adobe SVG viewer" (see [https://inkscape.org/en/learn/faq/#Inkscape_edits_to_an_SVG_file,_which_was_originally_created_in_Adobe_Illustrator,_are_lost_when_importing_back_into_AI FAQ]).

	= Terminology =		= Terminology =

Dany0 at 20:07, 6 April 2012

2012-04-06T20:07:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:07, 6 April 2012
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	[http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm You also need to add the location of the GS executable to the PATH, as detailed on this page.]		[http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm You also need to add the location of the GS executable to the PATH, as detailed on this page.]

			Another way(tested on 0.48.3) that achieves good compatibility but drops some stuff on the way(like converting text to paths) is to save it as PDF and then export as EPS from Acrobat X. Illustrator safely opens this and saves as *.AI. Which is safely opened in Expression Blend 4.

	= Terminology =		= Terminology =

Inkscapeuser: /* To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows */

2011-09-09T11:16:06Z

To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:16, 9 September 2011
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	=To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows=		=To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows=
	[http://www.werockyourweb.com/install-ghostscript-windows-and-gimp This post on We Rock Your Web is for GIMP, but works equally to create save-as-.ai options in Inkscape for Windows.]		[http://www.werockyourweb.com/install-ghostscript-windows-and-gimp This post on We Rock Your Web is for GIMP, but works equally to create save-as-.ai options in Inkscape for Windows.]

			[http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm You also need to add the location of the GS executable to the PATH, as detailed on this page.]

	= Terminology =		= Terminology =

Inkscapeuser at 10:51, 9 September 2011

2011-09-09T10:51:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:51, 9 September 2011
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	Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ#I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21 one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.		Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ#I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21 one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.

			=To Save Illustrator Files in Inkscape for Windows=
			[http://www.werockyourweb.com/install-ghostscript-windows-and-gimp This post on We Rock Your Web is for GIMP, but works equally to create save-as-.ai options in Inkscape for Windows.]

	= Terminology =		= Terminology =

Pajarico: /* Things Inkscape can do that Illustrator cannot: */

2009-08-14T17:02:28Z

Things Inkscape can do that Illustrator cannot:

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 14 August 2009
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	* Keys to move/rotate/scale by screen pixels		* Keys to move/rotate/scale by screen pixels
	* Shapes as objects		* Shapes as objects
	* Edit gradients with handles on-canvas		* Edit gradients with handles on-canvas (CS4 added this feature)
	* Edit nodes with keyboard		* Edit nodes with keyboard
	* One-click paint bucket fill		* One-click paint bucket fill
	* Color painting over objects		* Color painting over objects (CS4 added this feature with the name ''Blob brush'')

	= Hand Tool : Navigating the Canvas =		= Hand Tool : Navigating the Canvas =

Brandon: Updated name of command for Inkscape 0.46

2009-01-14T20:21:27Z

Updated name of command for Inkscape 0.46

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 14 January 2009
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	= Text Boxes =		= Text Boxes =

	In Text tool, when you click on the canvas, you created simple (non-flowed, i.e. not wrapping) text. If you click a drag, you create a text box (called "flowed text") where text will wrap automatically. You can also flow text into an arbitrary shape by the 'Flow ~~Text~~ into ~~Shape~~' command.		In Text tool, when you click on the canvas, you created simple (non-flowed, i.e. not wrapping) text. If you click a drag, you create a text box (called "flowed text") where text will wrap automatically. You can also flow text into an arbitrary shape by the 'Flow into Frame' command under the 'Text' menu.

	= Guides =		= Guides =

Bbb: /* Bloat, Pinch etc. */

2007-09-13T22:12:34Z

Bloat, Pinch etc.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 13 September 2007
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	Unlike Inkscape, an object with gradient applied always displays the gradient line with all the stops, right on canvas, where you can drag the stops, color them, etc. No need to redraw the gradient anew if you want to slightly change direction.		Unlike Inkscape, an object with gradient applied always displays the gradient line with all the stops, right on canvas, where you can drag the stops, color them, etc. No need to redraw the gradient anew if you want to slightly change direction.

	= Bloat, ~~Pinch~~ etc. =		= Warp, Twirl, Pucker, Bloat, etc. =

	These Illustrator tools are analogous to the various modes of Inkscape's Tweak tool.		These Illustrator tools are analogous to the various modes of Inkscape's Tweak tool.

Bbb: /* Formats */

2007-09-12T21:33:31Z

Formats

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 12 September 2007
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	=Formats=		=Formats=

	Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [[http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ#I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21 \|one issue to be aware of]]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.		Illustrator can import Inkscape SVG and export SVG which Inkscape usually opens without problems (there's [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_Wiki:FAQ#I_exported_an_SVG_file_from_Adobe_Illustrator.2C_edited_it_in_Inkscape.2C_and_imported_back_to_AI.2C_but_there_my_changes_are_lost.21 one issue to be aware of]). Conversely, Inkscape opens Adobe's AI (since version 9) and PDF files (with some limitations: gradient meshes are approximated by lattices of small paths, and transparency modes don't work). Inkscape can also export its documents as PDF.

	= Terminology =		= Terminology =