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Christ-Guard
Christ-Guard
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Reading Illustrator files without Illustrator installed (Mac)

Feb 2, 2012 2:13 PM

Hey Guys,

    My company has a problem, we recently aquired all of the artwork ever done for us, but many of the files were not saved with "PDF Compatiability" or what not, so they can not be previewed without Illistrator. Is there any software that can be used to view these files for cheaper than $500? We just want to see them to be able to name and archive them. If not, anyone know of a cheap place to pick up an older version? We only have one mac, its a G4 so CS5 wont work (I think, from what I have read it only works on intels). Any help would be greatly apreciated!

8331 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: Tom Usrey, Feb 3, 2012 2:18 PM
 
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  • Navarro Parker
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    1. Navarro Parker,
    Feb 2, 2012 3:33 PM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    Do you have InDesign? Photoshop? Premiere? After Effects? They can open .AI files -- at least enough for your to view them.

     

    Maybe even Adobe PageMaker? Not sure about the Acrobat Pro app reading AI files. I know Acrobat Reader cannot. But I assume any relatively recent Adobe app will be able to view AI files.

     

    Oh, i know -- BRIDGE! You gotta have Adobe Bridge, right?

     

    Also, you can download a 30 day demo of any of the Creative Suites.  That'll let you at least view your files.

     
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  • Monika Gause
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    2. Monika Gause,
    Feb 2, 2012 3:34 PM   in reply to Navarro Parker
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    Bridge can't view files without PDF compatibility.

     

    Were the files created in CS5? Then you won't be able to view them in lower versions.

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    3. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Feb 2, 2012 5:53 PM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    Why nt just buy the windows version of the Illustrator?

     

    It will open the fies even if they were created on the Mac. The files themselves work on both platforms regardless of whatplatform they were created in!

     
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  • Mylenium
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    4. Mylenium,
    Feb 3, 2012 1:17 AM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    AI's file format is proprietary and undocumented (to the public, that is). Therefore nobody could create a viewer or whatever. However, CorelDraw claims they are able to read such files as they seem to have reverse-engineered everything. That's your only glimemr of hope outside the Adobe universe. All other apps only support the legacy AI 88 format, which is a whole different beast entirely... The rest of the answers you already got - you wil ldefinitely need some version of AI, at least for a while. If bouying is not an option, consider a subscription...

     

    Mylenium

     
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  • Monika Gause
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    5. Monika Gause,
    Feb 3, 2012 4:52 AM   in reply to Mylenium
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    I have seen some Corel Draw X5 conversions of one of my files and those look pretty good. Draw X5 can read Illustrator CS4. Of course there are still objects that just can't be converted to corresponding Corel Draw objects, but anything simple should work, even meshes. I wouldn't rely on text being exactly the same layout.

     
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  • Jaakko M
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    6. Jaakko M,
    Feb 3, 2012 5:47 AM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    How about SneakPeek Pro? http://www.code-line.com/software/sneakpeekpro/. There is allso free 15-day demo.

     
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  • Christ-Guard
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    7. Christ-Guard,
    Feb 3, 2012 8:27 AM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    Thanks guys for all the help! I am looking into Corel now, SneakPeek pro only works with PDFed files, and is meant to show you what the file look like while browsing in the "Open" dialog box (I believe)

     

    I found out today that all of the files were made in CS3 (Yea for outsourcing to Canada? ) so that may make things easier. ANyone know where I can snag CS3 for a good price?

     
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  • RenéG
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    9. RenéG,
    Feb 3, 2012 12:10 PM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    Or you could try the Adobe CS subscription plan:  http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/cssubscription.html

     

    $45/month for Illustrator

     
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  • Tom Usrey
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    10. Tom Usrey,
    Feb 3, 2012 2:18 PM   in reply to Christ-Guard
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    Why can't you just Place them in another application (something you might have, like Microsoft Word)?

     
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