4 Replies Latest reply: May 10, 2012 12:04 PM by Kurt Gold RSS

    Saving layer visibility as views does not work - CS5 for Windows

    jod-zeee Community Member

      I've read about it multiple places, even watched a video where it supposedly works. But when I toggle layer visibility and save as a new view, it doesn't seem to work.

       

      Here's the video: http://layersmagazine.com/illustrator-different-views.html

       

      Any ideas?

        • 1. Re: Saving layer visibility as views does not work - CS5 for Windows
          Mylenium CommunityMVP

          That video shows AI CS2 (or is it CS)? That was eons ago. The functionality simply could have changed or be busted due to some bug ever since.

           

          Mylenium

          • 2. Re: Saving layer visibility as views does not work - CS5 for Windows
            Kurt Gold Community Member

            I've not watched the video, but it should still work in AI CS5.

             

            It used to only work with main layers, not sub layers.

             

            Describe what exactly you are doing.

             

            If you're going to use sub layers, creating Layer Visibility variables (see Variables palette) would be an alternative.

            • 3. Re: Saving layer visibility as views does not work - CS5 for Windows
              jod-zeee Community Member

              I guess I'm the ever-optimist who thinks (or hopes) that functionality such as this would be improved over time, not eliminated or broken.

               

              I did read somewhere that it doesn't work with sublayers, but believe the video showed it working with them ... or at least the guy SAID it did in the video, not sure if he demonstrated it.

               

              Regardless, I did try it with just the main layers and that didn't work either.

               

              Is anyone with CS5.5 for Windows willing to give it a try and see if it works for you?

               

              I looked into the variables too, but I really didn't understand what I was supposed to do with it and the documentation didn't explain it well either so I gave up.

               

              What I'm looking for is something like layer comps in Photoshop.

               

              Thank you!

              • 4. Re: Saving layer visibility as views does not work - CS5 for Windows
                Kurt Gold Community Member

                Layer Visibility Variables – A short introduction

                 

                1. Open a new document and name Layer 1 "Cyan"

                 

                2. Add three main layers and name them "Magenta", "Yellow" and "Black"

                 

                3. On each layer draw a shape and colour it according to the Layer's name.

                 

                4. Save the file as "My_first_Variables.ai"

                 

                5. Target Layer "Cyan" (click the circle at the right hand of the Layer's name)

                 

                6. At the bottom of the Variables Palette click the Make Visibility Dynamic button

                 

                Now you've created your first Layers Visibility Variable. Continue with

                 

                7. Target Layer "Magenta" and click the Make Visibility Dynamic button in the Variables Palette

                 

                8. Target Layer "Yellow" and click the Make Visibility Dynamic button in the Variables Palette

                 

                9. Target Layer "Black" and click the Make Visibility Dynamic button in the Variables Palette

                 

                Done. You have created four Layers Visibility Variables. The next step is to define the Data Sets:

                 

                1. Layers Palette: Show Layer "Cyan" and hide all other layers

                 

                2. Variables Palette: Click the Capture Data Set button (the camera icon)

                 

                3. Layers Palette: Show Layer "Magenta" and hide all other layers. Now in the Variables Palette the first Data Set becomes italic indicating that you can create an new Data Set. So click the Capture Data Set button to define Data Set 2.

                 

                4. Layers Palette: Show Layer "Yellow" and hide all other layers

                 

                5. Variables Palette: Click the Capture Data Set button to create Data Set 3

                 

                6. Show Layer "Black" and hide all other layers. Click the Capture Data Set button to create Data Set 4

                 

                7. Show all layers and click the Capture Data Set button to create Data Set 5

                 

                Done. You have created five Data Sets. Just play around by toggling them in the Variables Palette (Next/Previous Data Set button or via Popup menu/Flyout menu) and see one feature among other things: The Variables Palette as a remote control of the Layers Palette. If you like, rename the Data Sets according to the Layers names for instance.

                 

                Now it's time to create some simple Save/Export actions in order to Batch save/export Layers as single files. For example:

                 

                Export as PSD

                 

                1. Open any file

                 

                2. Actions Palette: Create new action and name it "Export Layers as PSD"

                 

                3. File > Export as PSD. Choose any destination folder, the desired options in the Photoshop Options dialog and hit Enter

                 

                4. Click the Stop Recording button in the Actions Palette and disable the Show dialog icon (on the left hand of the action's name)

                 

                Save as PDF

                 

                1. Open any file

                 

                2. Actions Palette: Create new action and name it "Save Layers as PDF"

                 

                3. File > Save as PDF. Choose any destination folder, the desired options in the PDF Options dialog and hit Enter

                 

                4. Click the Stop Recording button in the Actions Palette and disable the Show dialog icon (on the left hand of the action's name)

                 

                Now start the Batch command:

                 

                1. Switch to the original "My_first_Variables.ai"

                 

                2. Actions Palette Flyout menu: Batch

                 

                3. In the Play Area choose the Export Layers as PSD action

                 

                4. Choose Data Sets as the source

                 

                5. In the Destination Area enable the Override Action Export Commands option and choose any destination folder

                 

                6. Choose an option for the File name and hit Enter to start the Batch

                 

                Done. All four Layers plus the fifth Data Set have been exported as single Photoshop files. Repeat the Batch with the Save Layers as PDF action (don't forget to enable the Override Action Save Commands) and, of course, create your own actions, experiment with other file formats, figure out some harmless bugs especially in conjunction with the PDF compatible AI format when placing in InDesign.