How To Use An Image To Create An Ai Template In Inkscape

As a graphic designer who primarily uses open up source software for the bulk of his piece of work, information technology's not uncommon for me to run across cross-platform compatibility bug when it comes to transferring source files between myself and clients, particularly when it comes to opening and saving AI files with Inkscape.

Seeing as how Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard when information technology comes to vector design, clients sometimes send over AI files (Adobe Illustrator extension ending in .ai) which poses a trouble for Inkscape users because we typically don't have a copy of Illustrator readily bachelor to use.

Proprietary Software

Since.ai is a proprietary format of Adobe, our options for cross-platform use as Inkscape users are quite limited. For a while I was using online file conversion sites. This method was unreliable and unsafe though, and paying a monthly subscription for Illustrator CC solely for the purpose of occasionally opening and creating AI files isn't a practical utilise of funds.

Fortunately, both Inkscape and Illustrator have evolved over the years, and there are at present very elementary and effective ways to both create and open AI files with Inkscape, which I'll be covering in this post.

Opening AI Files With Inkscape

Open AI Files Inkscape

There are various unlike types of Illustrator formats, and if yous're having problems opening an AI file with Inkscape, the first step is to make up one's mind what version AI file you're working with. Simply considering the file ends with the .ai extension, it doesn't mean it's actually structured in the same format as other AI files. Older releases of Illustrator used different file structures ranging from the more recent Illustrator CC all the way downwardly to version three.0.

Illustrator allows you to relieve files in legacy formats.

Adobe Illustrator eight.0 Format and Beneath

AI files rendered with Illustrator 8.0 and beneath are created using the older PostScript format. This includes Illustrator versions viii.0, 3.0, and anything else that existed before then.

Unfortunately, Inkscape isn't capable of opening PostScript formats when you're running the application on Windows or Mac because the installation packages for those environments practice not have Ghostscript included. Ghostscript is what's needed for Inkscape to open up those older AI files, and you'll need to install it if you'd similar to do and so.

Earlier you lot install Ghostscript, be certain to change the extension of the AI file you're trying to open up from .ai to .eps by renaming it. Once you've washed that, watch the following video for footstep-by-footstep instructions on how to install Ghostscript and configure it to piece of work with Inkscape.

A special thanks to Open Source Bug on Youtube for making this helpful video. Hither'southward the link to download Ghostscript every bit referenced: https://ghostscript.com/download/gsdnld.html

Adobe Illustrator 9.0 Format and To a higher place

Most newer AI formats open but fine with Inkscape. That's because newer versions of Illustrator accept abased the outdated PostScript format and instead utilise PDF (even though the file notwithstanding ends with the .ai extension.) These formats include versions 9, ten, and CS through CS6.

As we all know by at present, Inkscape handles PDF files without a hitch, therefore newer AI files should work just as well. In well-nigh cases, you can simply open up up a new document and click and drag the AI file straight onto the canvas and it will import the aforementioned way a traditional PDF file would. If for whatever reason that doesn't piece of work, only change the file's extension from .ai to .pdf by renaming it, so endeavour information technology once again.

Cheque out my post on making Inkscape's interface nighttime if y'all'd like to practise so yourself.

Potential Problems

Regardless of what kind of AI format you're working with, information technology'due south possible that you only won't exist able to open the file considering it contains the proprietary lawmaking for Adobe Illustrator. In this example you won't be able to open the file with anything other than Illustrator, whether it'south modeled after the PostScript or the PDF format.

Another thing to take into consideration is that whenever yous open a file with an application other than that in which information technology was created, at that place's likely going to be backdrop that get lost in translation. This is the unfortunate nature of working cantankerous-platform, and it extends far beyond Inkscape and Illustrator.

For example, text objects that weren't converted to curves earlier saving the AI file likely won't translate well once you open up them with Inkscape. The same can be said for other features and extensions within Illustrator that aren't present in Inkscape. Sometimes AI files just don't translate the way they're supposed to when opened with Inkscape, and unfortunately in that location isn't much that tin exist washed about it. In an ideal world, you would open the AI file with Illustrator first, then save information technology as an SVG earlier opening it with Inkscape.

Save As AI With Inkscape

Save as AI with Inkscape

If you lot've encountered a customer or colleague who needs a copy of whatsoever you've been working on in Inkscape, but they're requesting it in AI format, you're in luck. This is actually quite simple.

Although Inkscape doesn't allow you to straight save files in AI format, y'all tin just save information technology in PDF format, and so change the extension from .pdf to .ai by renaming information technology. This will transform it into a makeshift Illustrator file and the person on the receiving end won't know the difference.

Of class SVG, EPS and PDF files will open with Illustrator only too, just sometimes it's easier to merely requite someone what they asked for than information technology is to explain that there'due south virtually no divergence.

The but downside to doing this is that you lot need to be conscientious well-nigh properties getting lost in translation one time the file is opened with Illustrator. It is highly advised that you brand sure your design does not contain whatsoever clips, masks, filters, blurs, have any objects with opacity less than 100%, and all text objects are converted to paths before you salve your PDF file with Inkscape. These are all elements that will not be recognized past Illustrator once opened.

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