Web Design » Photoshop » Can You Open an AI File in Photoshop?

Can You Open an AI File in Photoshop?

Last updated on December 6, 2022 @ 3:00 am

If you have ever wondered if you can open an AI file in Photoshop, the answer is yes! You can open AI files in Photoshop by going to File > Open and then selecting the file from your computer.

But first, you need to export your AI files to PSD format. To do this, go to Illustrator, and click File>Export.

Make sure AI files exported to PSD

Once you have opened the file, you will see all of the vector layers that make up the image. You can then edit these layers just like any other layer in Photoshop.

AI layers becomes editable in PSD

If you want to edit the vector shapes themselves, you will need to use the Pen tool. With the Pen tool, you can click on any point on a vector shape and move it to another location.

Pen tool vector selection

Make sure to right-click, select Make Selection, and create Layer Mask first before moving your selected object.

Moving the pot object

You can also add new points to a vector shape or delete existing points. To learn more about how to use the Pen tool, check out this tutorial.

Edit Pen tool's anchor points

So, now you know that you can open AI files in Photoshop and edit them just like any other image. If you need to edit the vector shapes themselves, you will need to use the Pen tool. With the Pen tool, you can easily click and drag any point on a vector shape to another location.

PRO TIP: If you are trying to open an AI file in Photoshop, you may receive an error message. This is because AI files are not compatible with Photoshop. If you continue to try to open the file, it may cause damage to your computer or data.
Dale Leydon

Dale Leydon

Sysadmin turned Javascript developer. Owner of 20+ apps graveyard, and a couple of successful ones.