Preserving Layers in Illustrator and Photoshop

[Reba]

I'm a NEW graduate student in Landscape Architecture using AutoCAD 2010 with no prior experience in CAD and minimal experience with Illustrator and Photoshop.

 

How can I preserve the layers created AutoCAD 2010 when using Illustrator and Photoshop CS3 AND CS4. I suspect the different adobe versions will make a difference in either performance OR process. I require a resolution for each adobe version because my home system is CS4, but the school's system is CS3 and I work in both places and often do not commute with the laptop.

 

MANY THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY POST AND RESPOND!

[CJJ]

The only way I've done it is to export out EACH layer as a separate file, then import each separate file as a layer in Photoshop.

 

For example, Let's say my drawing had layers for Proposed-BackOfCurb, Proposed-Building, Proposed-Sidewalk and Proposed-Landscaping. I'd turn off all but the P-BOC layer, then export that. Then I'd turn off P-BOC and turn on P-BLDG, and export that. Then I'd turn off P-BLDG and turn on ... well you get the picture. Now you'll have a separate file for each layer.

 

Open up Photoshop and add each exported drawing to your project one-by-one, and each on its own layer.

 

May not be the best technique out there, but it's how I've done it and it works well enough. Anyone else have any better ways to do this?

[Guest]

In Illustrator when you open the drawing, it keeps all of your layers intact. Depending on your version of Illustrator, you should be able to open a *.dwg format drawing. You will only need to save down your drawing to do so (something like a 2000 format). You will not be able to import any 3-d models though. All that you would need to do is open the *.dwg file in Illusrator.

Photoshop is a bit different. Images in Photoshop are raster images (illustrator is vector, like Auto CAD), so you would not be able to edit in a similar fashion.

 

That being said, if you wanted to only turn layer on and off in Photoshop, you would need to do what CJJ posted.

[fixybopixy]

Can anyone clarify how I can get Illustrator to read my AutoCAD layers? I want Illustrator to read the layers rather that just see it as a group of paths and compounds so taht i can turn layers on and off. i read that u can download a plugin to illustrator that lets it read ur ACAD layers but i couldnt find it. someone else said that if you have acorbat pro it will install some custom tool buttons in autocad and from there you can create layered PDF files that illustrator can read, but i dont know how to do this...

[Cad64]

What version of Illustrator are you using?

Just open your Autocad file and the layers should be there.

[Cad64]

If you want to preserve layers in Photoshop, first open your CAD file in Illustrator and then Export to PSD format. In the "Export" dialog, under "Options", check "Write Layers". Now when you open the exported PSD file in Photoshop, all of your Autocad layers will be available.

[CJJ]

If you want to preserve layers in Photoshop, first open your CAD file in Illustrator and then Export to PSD format. In the "Export" dialog, under "Options", check "Write Layers". Now when you open the exported PSD file in Photoshop, all of your Autocad layers will be available.

 

Great tip! I didn't realize you could use Illustrator to do that, I've always just exported the layers one-by-one to Photoshop... probably wasted a few hours of my life when I could have just been using Illustrator to grab all of the layers in one swoop.

 

"Work Smart, Not Hard"[/Quote]

 

I'm not lazy, I'm just really efficient, so I finish quicker, and have time to goof off. ;-)