Adobe Community: Placing Photoshop file in Illustrator CS5

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Placing Photoshop file in Illustrator CS5 - why doesn't it work?

Jul 13, 2010 10:05 AM

I frequently place Photoshop files into Illustrator CS3 without issue.... the PS file places right into the file with transparent surroundings.

I just upgraded to CS5 and for some reason, I "Place" the Photoshop file, but nothing shows up in Illustrator. I must not have a preference set correctly.

Can you help?

Thanks.

7599 Views 31 Replies Latest reply: 8tracker, Jul 26, 2012 9:33 AM

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1. markerline,

Jul 13, 2010 10:48 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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What happens when you hit Ctrl/Cmd+Y in Illustrator?

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2. Todd-sta,

Jul 13, 2010 10:54 AM in reply to markerline

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Hi...all ctrl + Y does is change my view from wireframe to full color.

Thanks.

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3. markerline,

Jul 13, 2010 11:27 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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I'm sorry I should have clarified my earlier post:

Ctrl+Y is Windows, Cmd+Y is Mac

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4. Cheryl Graham,

Jul 13, 2010 12:54 PM in reply to markerline

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markerline wrote:

I'm sorry I should have clarified my earlier post:

Ctrl+Y is Windows, Cmd+Y is Mac
Right, and that is the shortcut to toggle between Preview and Outline modes. Not sure where you're going with that.

I just tested it and have no problem. I wonder if it has something to do with your PSD file? is "Maximize Compatibility" turned on when you save the PSD?

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5. Todd-sta,

Jul 13, 2010 1:03 PM in reply to Cheryl Graham

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Yes - maximize compatibility is set at 'always ask.'

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6. markerline,

Jul 13, 2010 1:16 PM in reply to Cheryl Graham

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Cheryl Graham wrote:

markerline wrote:

I'm sorry I should have clarified my earlier post:

Ctrl+Y is Windows, Cmd+Y is Mac
Right, and that is the shortcut to toggle between Preview and Outline modes. Not sure where you're going with that.

I just tested it and have no problem. I wonder if it has something to do with your PSD file? is "Maximize Compatibility" turned on when you save the PSD?
Cheryl, that is because the question contained that nothing shows up in Illustrator, leading me to believe that Preview mode had been turned off and the OP simply couldn't see the image although it was correctly placed into the Illustrator document. And I thought maximize compatibility had to do with interoperability between versions of Photoshop exclusively, not between Adobe applications?

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7. Todd-sta,

Jul 13, 2010 3:03 PM in reply to markerline

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No luck yet... I have tried to "place" the photoshop file into a new Illustrator file - and it still will not place it.... nothing happens....

I have tried with Maximize Photoshop compatibility both "on" and "off." No luck.

Photoshop version is CS3...does it make a difference that my illustrator is CS5 working with PS CS3?

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8. Todd-sta,

Jul 14, 2010 4:52 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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Hi good people!

If you get this post, I wanted to tell you I was able to accomplish the same task (placing a photoshop image, with transparency around the image) of placing an image from Photoshop into Illustrator CS5 by saving the Photoshop file out as a .pdf.

This allowed me to place the image into Illustrator without issue.... and kept the areas around the image extending to the image border - transparent..... (without the white box background you'd get if placing a .jpg).

So... this solution works for me.

If you discover how to simply place the original Photoshop file into Illustrator, like I used to do.... that would be great - it would save an extra step of having to save the PS file in a .pdf format.

Thanks.

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9. Todd-sta,

Jul 23, 2010 8:55 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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I take back my last post saying I had found a work-around by using a .pdf.

It works, ..... kinda.

But if you have anything that fades out to transparent.... it will show up as having a 'grey colored glow' around the edge of the transparent fade...such as in a dropshadow created in Photoshop.

So... when placing a logo with a dropshadow on top of an illustrator image.... the logo looks fine... but the fade has this funky gray glow that is around what SHOULD be the 100% transparent edge of the dropshadow fade-out.

So.... I'm still looking to be able to "PLACE" a Photoshop file successfully from PS CS3 into Illustrator CS5.

Any solutions out there???

Thanks.

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10. Matthew Laun,

Jul 23, 2010 9:17 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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Could you please post a file somewhere that demonstrates the problem? Please include both your .ai file and the placed .psd. If I can reproduce it, then I can figure out the root cause and hopefully a solution.

Sincerley,
Matthew

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11. Todd-sta,

Jul 23, 2010 9:47 AM in reply to Matthew Laun

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Hi Matthew - thanks for taking the time to check this issue out for me.

I have just uninstalled Illustrator CS5, because I need to get things done - and reverted back to CS3..... however, I did duplicate a file to demonstrate what I'm doing.

I created a sample file with a very simple, non-descript green vector shape.... then, In Photoshop, I created a yellow image that says Photoshop Placed File. I gave it a dropshadow...

I then went back to Illustrator and selected 'File/place'..... and selected the photoshop file described above. I then placed it on top of the green vector image in Illustrator CS3 and it layed on top fine - with NO white box around it as a jpg would do. PLUS, the black dropshadow fades nicely over whatever image color you place it upon.... it 'gradually' lets the vector color below it show through as the fade diminishes to 0%.

NOW - I tried to 'place' a file into Illustrator CS5 in this same manner.... and I get absolutely nothing! The Raster photoshop image doesn't even show up in Illustrator CS5. This is where I was at when I started the topic.

Any ideas??

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12. markerline,

Jul 23, 2010 5:05 PM in reply to Todd-sta

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Not sure what's going on with CS3. I can't troubleshoot it. However I can say that Photoshop CS4 to Illustrator CS5 integration works nicely. You don't have to change any PSD settings, just use a standard PSD. You can opt to link the file as you place it or embed it as you place it. Either way works with those two packages. Anyone out there have CS3 to troubleshoot?

By the way is this on Windows or on Mac platform?

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13. Todd-sta,

Jul 23, 2010 8:43 PM in reply to markerline

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Thanks!

Yeah, I'd be curious if anyone else has an issue placing Photoshop CS3 file into a Illustrator CS5 document.

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14. Wade_Zimmerman,

Jul 24, 2010 7:57 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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I don't have CS 3 loaded but I have files from July 2006-May 2008 and they all place fine so all or some of them are CS 3 as I always have the new version installed the day after the release and until this version always kept only the latest build instsalled.

I only use CS 4 because some filters I have do not work i 64bit as of yet. That is the Nik software for noise and sharpening.

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15. shutterbug1920,

Aug 1, 2010 3:44 PM in reply to Todd-sta

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I am also having the same issues. Using Photoshop CS 3 and Illustrator CS 3. When I attempted to place in illustrator from Photoshop CS2, it worked fine. I uninstalled Photoshop CS3, and and then couldn't place from Photoshop CS2. Unfortunately this is for a school design project and I definately cant afford to upgrade to Illustrator CS5 or Photoshop CS4. Any help would be appreciated.

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16. Todd-sta,

Aug 20, 2010 5:28 PM in reply to Matthew Laun

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How do I post an actual file and NOT an image...??

Thanks.

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17. Matthew Laun,

Aug 23, 2010 8:39 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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@Todd-sta,
I think the attachments feature on the forums is disabled now for some reason. Post it on Acrobat.com's file sharing service, free with your Adobe ID login, then post the link here or private message it to me.

Matthew

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18. Todd-sta,

Aug 23, 2010 1:17 PM in reply to Matthew Laun

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Matthew - I don't see where Acrobat.com's file sharing service is
free?? Looks like you have to pay for it to me.....

Where do you get a free version?

Thanks.

Todd

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19. Matthew Laun,

Aug 23, 2010 1:38 PM in reply to Todd-sta

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Todd,
Just go to Acrobat.com, and click the Sign Up button, it will automatically prompt for information to create a free account.
Or, on the pricing page, I found this text:
"Not quite sure yet? We also offer a free plan that includes: 1 online Workspace, 5 PDF conversions total, 3-person web conferencing, online office applications, and forum-based support"
That free plan link will take you directly to the sign up data entry fields.

Cheers!
Matthew

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20. Stickeroo,

Sep 20, 2010 7:23 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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Was there ever any resolution to this issue? I'm running Windows 7 64-bit, and for a while, I could place PSDs in AI files with no problem.
I had to reformat and reinstall everything, and now I'm getting the same inability to place layered PSDs in my AI files.

In fact, I discovered this by opening a previously-working AI file (with placed PSDs), and got a dialog telling me the images couldn't be located. I tried "showing" the dialog where to find them, but still got the same error message.

I just ignored all of that and relinked each image from the Links panel. That's when I got the "empty" PSDs.

I'm not sure what digital alchemy took place on my previous installation, but I miss it. I'd love to know if there's a solution. Thanks!

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21. Matthew Laun,

Sep 21, 2010 3:35 PM in reply to Stickeroo

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Post a file somewhere that I can download and use to reproduce the problem. So far, no one has provided me with an example to reproduce the issue, and my atttempts to reproduce a file as described didn't reproduce the issue.

Matthew

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22. Stickeroo,

Sep 22, 2010 5:37 AM in reply to Matthew Laun

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Here's a link to a zip file containing 1 AI file and 1 PSD. I can't place the PSD into the AI file with my current installation of CS5 (all updates installed). Thanks for taking a look!

http://www.hyperology.com/temp/temp.zip

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23. Matthew Laun,

Sep 22, 2010 3:41 PM in reply to Stickeroo

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Nothing odd about the image that I can see, and (of course) it works fine on my machine. Try these things if you haven't already:
1) Rename the Illustrator preferences file (google for details on where it lives).
2) Create a new admin user on your system, log into it, and try to place the file.

I'm betting one of those will do the trick. Let me know.

Matthew

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24. Stickeroo,

Sep 22, 2010 4:14 PM in reply to Matthew Laun

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I tried renaming the AIPrefs file (actually, it was 0 bytes initially). That didn't help. So I logged in to the administrator account and, of course, everything worked as it should there. I tried copying the AIPrefs file from the admin account and using it on my normal user account, but that didn't work.

So it works if I'm logged in as one users (administrator) but not when I'm logged in as myself (that account also has admin privileges)...any other suggestions? (Thanks for looking into it!)

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25. Stickeroo,

Sep 23, 2010 6:09 AM in reply to Stickeroo

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I haven't tried it yet, but my next step is uninstalling CS5, logging on under the administrator account, then reinstalling from there in the hope that it'll work when I log back in as myself. I have no idea why this would work, but then again, I have no idea why I can currently place PSDs into AIs from the Admin account but not from my own account, so who knows...?

Thoughts?

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26. Stickeroo,

Sep 24, 2010 5:07 AM in reply to Stickeroo

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Just for kicks, I uninstalled and reinstalled as administrator, but it didn't fix the issue...

Edit: All right, I tried right-clicking the Illustrator icon and selecting "Run as Administrator" -- and it worked! I was able to place PSDs into a AI file!

Any idea what would cause that behavior?

Edit 2: I'm using the standard UAC settings with a fresh Windows Install, if you're curious.

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27. Matthew Laun,

Sep 27, 2010 11:48 AM in reply to Stickeroo

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It sounds like there is a permissions problem with your account, and you are probably best off using the new account, and migrating data from the old one to the new one.

Specifically, the permissions are probably preventing access to the Photoshop Library, or some location where it creates it's temp file. I believe the relevant DLL is going to be in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS4\Support Files\Contents\Windows\AdobePSL.dll
and it's tem file should be in your user temp folder, for example:
C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Temp\

Matthew

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28. Todd-sta,

Oct 11, 2010 6:54 AM in reply to Matthew Laun

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This issue is crap!

Adobe has some serious problems when something as typical and routine as placing a Photoshop file (a partner Adobe product) into a new version of Illustrator is impossible, or sporatically successful..... especially when it worked without issue in previous versions.

You shouldn't have to be a computer science major to get such simple workflows to operate as expected.

Please explain to me.... in baby steps.... how one 'logs in as administrator'..... 'change permissions'..... etc.

Not everybody knows exactly how to dig into these computer setup functions.

If you're going to offer suggestions, please at least have the forethought to understand that the solutions you propose should be clearly outlined for those who aren't at your computer skill level.

Thanks.

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29. Matthew Laun,

Oct 11, 2010 9:17 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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The fact that another user profile works, makes it clear that the issue has to do with some problem with your user profile. You can either abandon the user profile, or try to fix it. Fixing it is not an easy task, but transitioning your data from one account to a new one also requires work. But let's be clear, this is an operating system issue, not a defect with Illustrator. If you need support with your operating system, you'll get better results from a forum centered around it, or by taking advantage of the OS vendor's technical support offerings.

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30. Stickeroo,

Oct 11, 2010 5:06 PM in reply to Todd-sta

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Todd,

If you're not interested in creating a new user/profile or mucking around in the guts of things, you can do what I did: just right-click the shortcut for Illustrator, click Properties, then click the Shortcut tab. Click Advanced... then check Run as Administrator and click OK.

Maybe not the most elegant solution, but certainly less hassle than screwing around when everything else works. Hope this advice helps!

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31. 8tracker,

Jul 26, 2012 9:33 AM in reply to Todd-sta

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Hey! It's me way up here in 2012.

As this is still showing up in Google searches, I thought I would reply.

We were having the same problem on a couple Macs running CS5 and traced the problem to a third party plugin, Linotype FontExplorer X Pro that we recently upgraded to. So, try deleting that or any other third party add-on.

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