Illustrator to Photoshop help

[Nannuu]

I am trying to bring my Illustrator CS file into Photoshop CS2 and keep all of the vector attributes (or at least layers).  My Illustrator file is created in RGB.  When I try to export the AI file to a PSD it won't allow me to export as an RGB and keep the layers.  And if I choose CMYK and export it says "not enough memory" at any resolution I choose other than 72 dpi.  I have the memory for sure (2 gig ram and plenty on the HD).  Has anyone else seen this problem?  I've only found one other person with the same problem in another forum (which I can't find now) and his was never answered.  Thanks in advance if you have any ideas.

[Witchboard]

Have you tried just saving your .ai file and opening it in Photoshop and tell it the size and dpi your wanting?

[Nannuu]

Yep I have and it keeps flattening the image.  I was hoping to keep the layers.  IF nothing else I can just trace over what I'd done in Illustrator but I don't want to.

I should mention that I am horrible using Illustrator and Photoshop so I'm probably just screwing something up.  I typically use Corel but Photoshop is such a nice program I'm trying to learn to use that too.

[Witchboard]

Maybe it would be easier if you tell us what you're trying to do.  It sounds as if your wanting to combine a raster image with your vector and you want the raster image to be somewhere in between your vector layers.  If you can't get your vector in Photoshop, would it be possible to import the raster image into Illustrator?

[Nannuu]

I have an Illustrator file that is all vector (as seen in the thread below Boop CP 1):

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=51775.0

I want to bring it into Photoshop and apply effects to it.  Mostly I'd like to make the red portion look like neon.  And also redo the effects I currently have on there as I think I can do a better job in Photoshop.  But it would be much easier if I can keep the layers so I can add the effects per layer.  Or I think it would anyway.

[Witchboard]

Yes, it would be much easier in layers.  What you may have to do is export your layers individually from Illustrator and import them one at a time in Photoshop.  This seems like it may be a long way of doing it, but it may work until we find the "correct" way it should be done.

[RayB]

In my experience, it is NOT possible to retain layers when bringing an AI file into Photoshop. Sorry.

[Nannuu]

The Illustrator help file says I can and so does this tutorial:
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/17163.html

And it works exporting CMYK at 72 dpi but not RGB or any color format at a higher resolution.  I just assume I have a setting wrong somewhere that is preventing me from doing it right.

[Nannuu]

HA!  I got it.  I'd created the original vector in Corel in CMYK and didn't realize it was CMYK.  Once I changed it all to RGB it worked perfect.  Whew.

[Witchboard]

 

[RayB]

Good to know. But what version of Photoshop supports this?

[Witchboard]

his first post says he's using CS2.  I don't have Illustrator, so I can't test with CS.

[Nannuu]

From the article above is this:

"In this article I'll explain what's needed to achieve editable layers in Photoshop from your Illustrator artwork and call out some of the pitfalls to look for along the way. There is one thing to note before we get underway: Although this discussion relates to the most recent versions of Illustrator and Photoshop (10 and 7, respectively), these capabilities originally found their way into Illustrator 9 and Photoshop 6 and should be relevant to users of these versions as well."

I wouldn't know much about previous versions though, only what I have now which is AI CS and PS CS2.