Adobe Illustrator CS3 - Manual (Page 268)

ILLUSTRATOR CS3
User Guide
262
Importing AutoCAD files
AutoCAD files include both DXF and DWG formats. You can import AutoCAD files from version 2.5 through
version 2006. During import, you can specify scale, unit mapping (custom unit for interpreting all the length data in
the AutoCAD file), whether to scale lineweights, which layout to import, and whether to center the artwork.
Illustrator supports most AutoCAD data, including 3D objects, shapes and paths, external references, region objects,
spline objects (mapped to Bezier objects that retain the original shape), raster objects, and text objects. When
importing an AutoCAD file that contains external references, Illustrator reads the contents of the reference and
places it at the appropriate locations in the Illustrator file. If an external reference is not found, the Missing Link
dialog box opens so you can search for and retrieve the file.
Importing artwork from Photoshop
Importing artwork from Photoshop
You can bring artwork from Photoshop (PSD) files into Illustrator using the Open command, the Place command,
the Paste command, and the drag-and-drop feature.
Illustrator supports most Photoshop data, including layer comps, layers, editable text, and paths. This means that you
can transfer files between Photoshop and Illustrator without losing the ability to edit the artwork. For easy transfer
of files between the two applications, adjustment layers that have visibility turned off are imported (though inacces-
sible) into Illustrator and restored when exported back to Photoshop.
Spot colors (up to 31 spot channels per file) import as a single N-Channel raster image, which is placed over the
process color image. The spot colors are added to the swatches panel as custom colors with the same name as in
Photoshop. Imported spot colors separate correctly.
Duotone PSD files import as flat raster images with a 256-indexed colorspace and an N-Channel colorspace
containing all of the duotone inks. Because Illustrator uses an N-Channel, blending mode interactions set in
Photoshop may appear differently in Illustrator. Ink colors from old color libraries are set to gray.
In cases where Illustrator must convert the Photoshop data, a warning message appears. For example, when
importing a 16-bit Photoshop file, Illustrator warns you that the image will be imported as an 8-bit, flat composite.
Photoshop import options
When you open or place a Photoshop file that contains multiple layers, you can set the following options:
Layer Comp If the Photoshop file contains layer comps, specifies which version of the image to import. Select Show
Preview to display a preview of the selected layer comp. The Comments text box displays comments from the
Photoshop file.
When Updating Link Specifies how to handle layer visibility settings when updating a linked Photoshop file that
includes layer comps.
• Keep Layer Visibility Overrides Updates the linked image based on the state of layer visibility in the layer comp
when you originally placed the file.
• Use Photoshop’s Layer Visibility Updates the linked image based on the current state of layer visibility in the
Photoshop file.