1. How to Save a File in Affinity Designer as an Ai File

1. How to Save a File in Affinity Designer as an Ai File

When working with design initiatives, it’s usually essential to export information in numerous codecs to satisfy particular necessities or collaborate with others. On the earth of vector graphics, Affinity Designer and Adobe Illustrator are two extensively used software program purposes. You probably have created a design in Affinity Designer and wish to put it aside as an Adobe Illustrator (AI) file, this text will information you thru the method seamlessly. Comply with the steps outlined under to make sure your design is exported efficiently and retains its integrity.

Earlier than continuing with the export course of, it’s essential to know that Affinity Designer and Adobe Illustrator use totally different file codecs natively. Affinity Designer’s native format is .afdesign, whereas Adobe Illustrator makes use of the .ai format. To avoid wasting your Affinity Designer file as an AI file, you will have to make use of the export performance throughout the software program. Upon getting opened your design in Affinity Designer, navigate to the “File” menu situated within the top-left nook of the appliance window. From the drop-down menu, choose the “Export” possibility. This can open the “Export” dialog field, the place you may specify the settings for exporting your file.

Throughout the “Export” dialog field, you’ll discover numerous choices to customise the export course of. Within the “Format” part, you will note a drop-down menu the place you may choose the file format you need to export to. Find the “Adobe Illustrator (*.ai)” possibility and click on on it to pick it. Moreover, you may specify the artboard you need to export by deciding on it from the “Artboards” drop-down menu. You probably have a number of artboards in your design, you may select to export all of them or simply the chosen ones. Upon getting configured the specified settings, click on on the “Export” button to provoke the export course of. Affinity Designer will then generate an AI file primarily based in your specs, which you need to use in Adobe Illustrator or different purposes that assist the AI file format.

Understanding the File Format Variations Between Affinity Designer and Adobe Illustrator

Affinity Designer and Adobe Illustrator are two industry-leading vector graphic design purposes. Whereas they share many similarities, in addition they have some key variations of their native file codecs.

Affinity Designer’s .afdesign Format

Affinity Designer makes use of its personal proprietary .afdesign file format. This format is tailor-made particularly to the appliance’s wants and gives a variety of benefits, together with:

  • Optimized for Affinity Designer: The .afdesign format is designed to take full benefit of Affinity Designer’s distinctive options and workflow. It helps a spread of layer varieties, mixing modes, and results that aren’t accessible in different codecs.
  • Environment friendly storage: The .afdesign format is extremely environment friendly, permitting for big and complicated information to be saved in a compact measurement. This makes it excellent for sharing and collaborating on initiatives.
  • Backward compatibility: Affinity Designer information are backward suitable, which means that older variations of the appliance can open information created in newer variations. This ensures that your designs will at all times be accessible.

Adobe Illustrator’s .ai Format

Adobe Illustrator makes use of the .ai format, which is a widely known {industry} normal. This format has been round for many years and is supported by a variety of software program purposes.

  • Business normal: The .ai format is the de facto normal for vector graphics, making it straightforward to share and collaborate with different designers who use Adobe Illustrator or suitable software program.
  • Compatibility: The .ai format is suitable with a variety of third-party plugins and extensions, offering designers with entry to an unlimited library of extra options.
  • File measurement: The .ai format can lead to bigger file sizes in comparison with Affinity Designer’s .afdesign format, particularly for advanced designs with quite a few layers and results.

Desk: Comparability of Affinity Designer .afdesign and Adobe Illustrator .ai Codecs

Function Affinity Designer .afdesign Adobe Illustrator .ai
File optimization Optimized for Affinity Designer Extensively supported {industry} normal
File measurement Compact May be bigger for advanced designs
Backward compatibility Sure Sure
Plugin assist Restricted to Affinity Designer plugins Big selection of plugins accessible

Getting ready Your Affinity Designer File for AI Export

To make sure a profitable export to the AI format, it is essential to take the next preparatory steps:

Optimizing Your File Construction

Affinity Designer permits for a number of layers and artboards inside a single file. Nevertheless, AI information can solely assist a single artboard. Due to this fact, it is important to flatten your design right into a single layer and delete any unused artboards earlier than exporting. Merely choose all the weather in your design, copy them, and paste those you want over onto the brand new artboard. Choose all of those components and click on “Layer” on the highest toolbar. Choose “Flatten”.

Moreover, think about eradicating any pointless components, similar to hidden layers or unused objects. This can reduce the file measurement and guarantee a smoother export course of.

Within the following desk, discover a checklist of particular issues for optimizing your Affinity Designer file construction:

Ingredient

Advice

Layers

Flatten right into a single layer

Artboards

Delete unused artboards

Hidden components

Take away or conceal earlier than exporting

Exporting to AI Format with the “File > Export” Possibility

Step 1: Put together the Affinity Designer Doc

Be certain that your Affinity Designer doc is prepared for exporting to AI format. All layers and components needs to be of their desired positions and visibility. Contemplate eradicating any pointless components to reduce file measurement.

Step 2: Entry the Export Menu

Go to the “File” menu on the high of the Affinity Designer window. Hover over the “Export” possibility and choose “AI” (Adobe Illustrator) from the submenu.

Step 3: Configure Export Settings

Within the Export dialog field, take note of the next settings:

Setting Rationalization
Artboard Choose the particular artboard you need to export, or select “All” to export all artboards.
Export As Select between “Choice” to export solely chosen objects or “Doc” to export your entire doc.
Preset Choose a predefined export preset or create a customized preset with particular settings.
Compression Configure the compression stage for photographs embedded within the AI file. Increased compression reduces file measurement however could have an effect on picture high quality.
File Title Specify the title and vacation spot folder for the exported AI file.

Step 4: Superior Choices (Non-compulsory)

Click on the “Extra Choices” button to entry extra export settings similar to:

  • Coloration Mode (RGB, CMYK, Grayscale)
  • Picture DPI
  • Font Embedding
  • Protect Gradient Meshes
  • Export Feedback

Step 5: Export the AI File

Upon getting configured the export settings, click on the “Export” button to save lots of the doc as an AI file. Affinity Designer will generate the file on the specified location.

Configuring Export Settings for Optimum Compatibility

To make sure most compatibility with Adobe Illustrator, it is essential to configure the export settings meticulously. Listed below are the important thing facets to contemplate:

DPI and Decision

The decision and DPI (dots per inch) of the exported AI file play an important position in sustaining picture high quality. For print-ready paperwork, a decision of 300 DPI or larger is really useful to protect high-quality particulars and keep away from pixelation.

Objective Really helpful Decision (DPI)
Excessive-quality print 300 or larger
Net and display screen use 72

Coloration Format

The colour format you choose impacts the compatibility and accuracy of colours exported to Adobe Illustrator. For the very best compatibility, select “CMYK” as the colour mode, because it aligns with the colour area utilized by Illustrator and printing presses.

Compression

Relying in your meant use, you might want to regulate the compression settings to optimize file measurement and high quality. For prime-resolution print information, use “No compression” to keep away from any degradation in picture high quality. For internet or smaller information, “ZIP” or “JPEG” compression can cut back file measurement with out sacrificing vital high quality.

Layers and Objects

When exporting to AI, it is important to contemplate the group and construction of your Affinity Designer file. To make sure compatibility, it is best to flatten all layers and convert textual content to outlines to keep away from any potential points with fonts or textual content formatting. Moreover, making certain that each one objects are grouped and labeled appropriately can simplify the method of working with the file in Adobe Illustrator.

Optimizing Layers and Objects for AI Import

To make sure a seamless import into Adobe Illustrator, it is essential to optimize your Affinity Designer layers and objects.

Layers

Keep a well-organized layer construction, with layers named clearly and logically grouped. This can translate nicely into AI’s layers panel.

Objects

Broaden all compound objects and ungroup all teams to keep away from potential compatibility points. Be certain that objects are correctly aligned and positioned.

Strokes

Convert strokes into fills each time potential, as AI would not immediately assist strokes. Choose the stroke object, right-click, and select “Broaden Stroke”.

Mixing Modes

Remember that mixing modes could not import completely into AI. Contemplate flattening layers with mixing modes or manually re-creating the results in AI.

Textual content

Export textual content as outlines to make sure font compatibility. Choose the textual content, go to “Kind” > “Create Outlines”, and select “Convert to Curves”.

Affinity Designer Function Really helpful Optimization
Compound Objects Broaden
Teams Ungroup
Strokes Broaden or convert to fills
Mixing Modes Flatten or re-create in AI
Textual content Convert to outlines

Embedding Fonts to Stop Font Substitutions

Embedding fonts in your AI file ensures that the fonts utilized in your design shall be retained when the file is opened on one other pc. This prevents any undesirable font substitutions that would alter the looks of your design.

To embed fonts in Affinity Designer:

  1. Choose the textual content or objects containing the fonts you need to embed.
  2. Navigate to the “Font” menu and choose “Generate Font Glyphs.”
  3. Within the “Generate Font Glyphs” dialog field, be certain that the “Embed Fonts” checkbox is chosen.
  4. Select the specified settings for embedding, similar to TrueType or OpenType.
  5. Click on “Generate” to embed the fonts into the AI file.
  6. When saving the AI file, choose the “Embody Fonts” choice to protect the embedded fonts.

Observe:

  • Embedding fonts can improve the file measurement of your AI file.
  • In case you are sharing your AI file with somebody who doesn’t have the identical fonts put in on their pc, embedding the fonts ensures that they’ll view and edit your design as meant.
  • You’ll be able to selectively embed solely the fonts which might be utilized in your design to reduce file measurement.

Exporting as AI in Affinity Designer

1. Open your Affinity Designer doc.
2. Go to File > Export.
3. Within the Export dialog field, choose AI because the file format.
4. Set the specified export choices, such because the decision and colour area.
5. Click on Export.

Resolving Frequent Points Throughout AI Export

File not opening in Adobe Illustrator

Be certain that you are utilizing a suitable model of Adobe Illustrator. Affinity Designer’s AI export is optimized for Illustrator CS6 or later.

Lacking or distorted objects

Confirm that each one objects are correctly outlined earlier than exporting. Convert textual content to outlines (Layer > Geometry > Convert to Curves) and develop any appearances or symbols.

Incorrect colours

Be certain that the right colour area is chosen within the Export dialog field. Additionally, examine in case your Illustrator settings match the colour mode of the exported file.

Gradients or results not exported correctly

Some gradients or results might not be supported in AI. Attempt utilizing easier gradients or rasterizing the affected objects earlier than exporting.

Fonts not embedded

If you wish to embed fonts, choose “Embed All Fonts” within the Export dialog field. Observe that this will likely improve the file measurement.

File measurement too massive

Cut back the decision or take away pointless components from the doc to lower the file measurement. Think about using a lossy compression format, similar to JPEG, for rasterized photographs.

Different points

If you happen to encounter another points, attempt exporting to a special file format, similar to PDF or SVG, after which opening it in Illustrator.

Verifying Import Success in Adobe Illustrator

Checking the Layers Panel

Within the Layers panel, be certain that every layer from the Affinity Designer file seems as a separate layer in Adobe Illustrator.

Inspecting the Art work

Zoom in on the paintings and thoroughly study it for any distortions, lacking components, or colour inaccuracies. Be certain that the general composition and design stay intact.

Utilizing Transparency Instruments

Apply transparency results to things throughout the paintings. Confirm that the transparency settings are precisely transferred and that objects mix seamlessly with the background.

Exporting and Reopening

Export the paintings from Adobe Illustrator as an AI file. Then, reopen the AI file in Adobe Illustrator to make sure that all components stay current and unmodified.

Checking Hyperlinks

If the Affinity Designer file contained linked photographs or graphics, examine if they’ve been efficiently imported into Adobe Illustrator. Be certain that all hyperlinks are legitimate and that the pictures show accurately.

Customized Objects and Results

Look at any customized objects or results utilized in Affinity Designer. Confirm that they’ve been precisely translated into Adobe Illustrator’s equal options.

Textual content Formatting

Evaluate the textual content formatting within the imported paintings to the unique Affinity Designer file. Be certain that fonts, sizes, and different textual content attributes have been preserved.

Desk: Extra Issues for Verifying Import Success

Ingredient Verification Technique
Mixing Modes Apply numerous mixing modes to things and examine if the results are precisely reproduced.
Clipping Masks Look at objects with clipping masks to make sure that they’ve been imported accurately and that the masking results are intact.
Results and Filters Apply extra results or filters to the paintings in Adobe Illustrator and examine the outcomes to the unique Affinity Designer file.

Exporting Affinity Designer Recordsdata to AI Format

To avoid wasting a file from Affinity Designer in AI format, observe these steps:

  1. Open the Affinity Designer file you need to convert.
  2. Click on on the File menu.
  3. Choose Export.
  4. Within the Export dialog field, choose AI from the Format drop-down menu.
  5. Select the specified export settings and click on on the Export button.

Different Strategies for Changing Affinity Designer Recordsdata to AI

Utilizing Adobe Illustrator

You probably have Adobe Illustrator put in, you need to use it to open and save Affinity Designer information in AI format. To do that, observe these steps:

  1. Open Adobe Illustrator.
  2. Click on on the File menu.
  3. Choose Open.
  4. Within the Open dialog field, choose the Affinity Designer file you need to convert.
  5. Click on on the Open button.
  6. As soon as the file is open in Illustrator, click on on the File menu once more.
  7. Choose Save As.
  8. Within the Save As dialog field, choose AI from the Format drop-down menu.
  9. Select the specified export settings and click on on the Save button.

Utilizing an On-line Converter

There are a number of on-line converters that can be utilized to transform Affinity Designer information to AI format. To make use of a web based converter, observe these steps:

  1. Go to a web based converter web site.
  2. Click on on the Select File button.
  3. Choose the Affinity Designer file you need to convert.
  4. Click on on the Convert button.
  5. As soon as the conversion is full, click on on the Obtain button to save lots of the AI file.

Suggestions for Changing Affinity Designer Recordsdata to AI

Listed below are a couple of ideas for changing Affinity Designer information to AI:

  • Guarantee that the textual content in your Affinity Designer file is transformed to outlines earlier than exporting. This can forestall the textual content from turning into distorted when it’s opened in Illustrator.
  • Use the Export Preview function in Affinity Designer to see how your file will look earlier than exporting it.
  • In case you are having hassle changing a specific file, attempt utilizing a special technique, similar to utilizing Adobe Illustrator or a web based converter.

Troubleshooting Suggestions for Failed AI Conversions

Guarantee Compatibility

Confirm that Affinity Designer’s model helps exporting to the AI format and that your AI-receiving software program can import the most recent AI model.

Examine File Permissions

Guarantee you may have write permissions for the folder the place the AI file shall be saved.

Disable {Hardware} Acceleration

Some graphics playing cards expertise compatibility points with Affinity Designer’s AI export. Attempt disabling {hardware} acceleration in this system’s preferences.

Use a Totally different Coloration Profile

Swap to a special colour profile in Affinity Designer, as sure profiles might not be suitable with AI. Think about using ‘Generic RGB’ or ‘Generic CMYK’.

Simplify Art work

Complicated paintings with quite a few layers and results could fail to export to AI. Attempt simplifying your design by lowering layers and eradicating intricate components.

Keep away from Particular Characters

File names containing particular characters (e.g., @, #, %) may cause export points. Rename the file utilizing solely letters and numbers.

Clear Cache

Affinity Designer’s cache can typically accumulate corrupted knowledge. Clear the cache to resolve any export issues.

Restart Affinity Designer

Closing and reopening Affinity Designer can remove momentary glitches which will hinder AI exports.

Replace Affinity Designer

Set up the most recent model of Affinity Designer, as software program updates usually embody fixes for export-related points.

Contact Help

If the above options fail, contact Affinity Designer’s assist staff. They will present customized steering and technical help.

Troubleshooting Tip Particulars
Guarantee Compatibility Confirm model compatibility between Affinity Designer and AI-receiving software program.

Disable {Hardware} Acceleration Disable graphics card acceleration in Affinity Designer preferences.

Use a Totally different Coloration Profile Swap to a suitable colour profile, similar to ‘Generic RGB’ or ‘Generic CMYK’.

Simplify Art work Cut back layers and take away intricate components to boost exportability.

Keep away from Particular Characters Use solely letters and numbers in file names to stop export errors.

Save File in Affinity Designer as AI File

Saving a file in Affinity Designer as an AI file permits you to share it with customers who’ve Adobe Illustrator or different packages that assist AI file format. This is a step-by-step information on the right way to do it:

  1. Open your file in Affinity Designer.
  2. Go to File > Export.
  3. Choose AI because the file kind.
  4. Select the specified export settings. You’ll be able to modify the raster decision, colour profile, and different choices in accordance with your wants.
  5. Click on Export.

Folks Additionally Ask About Save File in Affinity Designer as AI File

Can I edit an AI file saved from Affinity Designer in Illustrator?

Sure, you may edit an AI file saved from Affinity Designer in Illustrator with no points.

How do I protect layers when exporting to AI file?

To protect layers when exporting to an AI file, choose the “Protect Layers” possibility within the export settings.

Is there any technique to convert a PDF file to AI file in Affinity Designer?

Affinity Designer doesn’t have a direct function to transform PDF information to AI information. Nevertheless, you may open the PDF file in Affinity Designer after which export it as an AI file.