Save Illustrator Files with Affinity Designer | AI Format

Seeing as how Adobe Illustrator is currently the industry standard when it comes to vector design, it’s understandable that native Illustrator formats (like AI) are the most commonly sought after file type by clients and stock photo sites. This can pose a problem for those of us who use alternative applications, like Affinity Designer, and need to output files in a format that are usable in Illustrator. Although there is no direct way to save as AI with Affinity Designer, there is a very simple workaround that we’ll be exploring in this post.
If you'd like all of the details of how and why this works, I wrote an article about it that you can visit here: logosbynick.co...
If you want to learn more about logo design, be sure to check out my Logo Design Academy - an interactive 18-part video course where you will learn my entire creative process for coming up with logo ideas and implementing them: logosbynick.co...
Intro song: "In Da Mood" by Combustibles, used with written permission

[@DesignMadeSimple]

Check out my master class where I explain how every tool and feature works in Affinity Designer: logosbynick.com/affinity-designer/

[@nssdesigns]

Life saver after ditching Adobe monthly licensing. I was an Adobe user since 1992 purchasing Creative Suite updates and the CC. Now it's Affinity all the way.

[@ankitsejwal]

Do you miss anything about illustrator. I just discovered Affinity on iPad and then found out there is the desktop app as well.

[@greensquare_eikaiwa]

Give this man a freaking medal...right now...

[@temartins]

Thanks a lot for this. I'am learning Illustrator but I prefer Affinity Designer. I tested this and really works. And it works even better if I have an AI file and open in Affinity as a PDF. It's really annoying having customers asking all the time for Illustrator because I can do the same in Affinity, at least until now. I will cancel Illustrator after learning, and you just give me the solution.

[@vincybadman871]

The only problem is that it separates tex lines into individual boxes, and rasterizes + clips certain gradients.

[@aidenredmond9841]

you the goat for this one. you saved me so much time & effort.

[@chhinsras]

Hi. the problem is when exporting, the text is no longer editable. it becomes pieces text of each letter.

[@aravindawijenatha6656]

But layers is not working it always shows as a one layer on illustrator

[@graftedworks]

Whhhaaat? That’s awesome! I’ll definitely be putting that little nugget to use.

[@bigx6670]

I converted the Affinity file into a pdf, I then opened Windows Explorer and changed the extension name to .ai. After that, I opened the .ai file but instead of seeing all the layers as they were in Affinity and editable. What I'm seeing is one solid image that can be edited and when I move the image each part moves as a whole. I tried to "Release to Layers (Sequence)", but I'm still not seeing the individual aspects of the image be edited. Did anyone else have this problem or am I doing something wrong?

[@elaiza8425]

waiting for Affinity Masterclass 🙌

[@suemarie6032]

AWESOME. Thanks for sharing.

[@jackwithers4099]

Lots of issues with this solution. Fill and stroke separate, groups and general organization disappear, etc.

[@nataliaw.1371]

I was about to ask about text fileds, but I already saw in the comments it is not fully supported. Same with gradients, those are the most problematic. I think Affinity should consider making regular export for .ai files. Otherwise it's always hard to stay compatible

[@Runeansfelt]

Did not work for me at all :/
Exported as an pdf, changed the extension to .ai and no good result. Used Affinity Designer to export it. Not sure what would work better.

[@catvomitsoup]

Thank you so much man. You are a life saver.

[@obdios]

superb tips....thanks

[@MNMPR0]

Very helpful :) thanks!

[@MaddenScience]

I have illustrator on iPad and I want to switch to Affinity Designer. Is there a way for me to save the old AI files that I still need into Affinity Designer?

[@aliciaalicia2250]

The "drop the dpi to 72 first" is blowing my mind. Don't we want the highest resolution possible? Or is it because that these are vector files, dpi doesn't really matter? GREAT video, awesome info.

[@ThePirateSky]

Is a vector file ... you can't lose resolution....True Vector images can be rescaled at any dimension or exporter to any resolution! In AI you can change it back without a problem!

[@saeeds3337]

Thank you alot. Very useful tips 🥰

[@muhammadbayuarisa8242]

maa sya Allah ..just like thatttt?.... woow.. thankyou very much bro...

[@in2driving]

This doesn't work on AI 2020-21. It does not preserve the layer structure

[@user-nc2ct2pi3i]

My life never be the same 😳😳😳🤩🤩🥳thank you!!!

[@InsalataIllustrata]

Thanks so much!!!

[@secretcom3080]

is this process is able to catch font , layers and groups when converted to Ai extantension

[@jktolford8272]

Probably font, but not layers & groups per other commenters. A *really* simple file could be sent as multiple files, say one complete then others exported from individual groups or layers. But seems like an awful lot of work.

[@dbranch3r]

does it retain the groups you created on affinity?? because I essentialy work on my Ipad with affinity designer and then when I have a larger design to make I assemble everything on illustrator but every time I export it in pdf or eps or svg all my object are not grouped anymore this is anoying

[@DesignMadeSimple]

Apparently not. Just tested out myself and the grouped objects were ungrouped when I opened it with Illustrator.

[@rcpainter3023]

Very helpful, Thank You. However, just wondering why Affinity just doesn't have an ".ai" export option.

[@ClayWeblogistics]

Adobe Illustrator is about 5 times more expensive than Affinity Designer. I would hazard a guess that Adobe is not letting Affinity Designer in on the Adobe Game.

[@rcpainter3023]

@@ClayWeblogistics That's probably very likely.

[@rafiaditya9934]

the format is private, here is the complete info forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/33228-save-as-ai-or-cdr-extension/

[@TheJoker-zt4nk]

Hi Nick, Perhaps a mac vs windows thing? I've tried export as PDF - change extension to AI with Inkscape (a bit timid to attempt this with Affinity Designer) & when I sent files it really didn't work, the files were wonky. I'm wondering why you can just export as an SVG OR EPS file? I know Illustrator had always opened EPS files, would you know if this is another work-around? TY

[@DesignMadeSimple]

It could be a Mac thing. Illustrator opens SVG and EPS files just fine though, so that should work. If it doesn't then that means that there's some kind of Affinity-specific feature being used that Illustrator can't read.
Unfortunately this is an unavoidable downside of working cross platform.

[@TheJoker-zt4nk]

@@DesignMadeSimple Yes, I've since seen a vid from Affinity showing this: depending on the complexity of the design sometimes it works w/ pdf/eps/svg but sometimes NONE at all. Just for the reasons you stated, Affinity - Adobe specifics that's not translatable. (Dang!) TY for the quick response! BTW Your Vids are GREAT, I just purchased Affinity Designer & Photo, having used .AI & .PS 4 EONS, I will be watching for more Affinity vids! Oh & I was surprised to learn you're on a PC!

[@NathanApffel]

this brings in the graphics as images not vectors

[@DadBodDrumming]

Wow who knew they are basically the same file type.

[@massimodambrogio]

This is completely unecessary. Simply save as PDF...changing the extension won't bring any advantage...

[@mochpanjisuryawiguna9023]

Is it legal?

[@MOHAMEDHASSAN-fk9jv]

WAAAW ...

[@mdshelimmia9321]

000

[@pieralessi7426]

I'm impressed but,,, destroy the text.