topic Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers. in AutoCAD Forum

way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 07:04:37 GMT

i'm trying to convert autocad dwg file to illustrator ai file. however the thing is i cannot find the way to convert it with both layers and plot styles maintained. when i opened the dwg in illustrator right away, i had layers but not plots styles (like stoke). On the other hand if i plot dwg to eps, i have plots styles, but not layers... how can i solve this problem?

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 11:29:15 GMT

Hi,

plot to PDF (using "DWG to PDF.pc3") and then import the PDF file into AI.

If you can't see the layers then look into the "DWG to PDF.pc3"-settings to make sure that layers are activated to be exported.

- alfred -

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 08:02:34 GMT

Thanks alfred. i tried as you mentioned, but there are still no layers in ai... i'm using autocad 2016 student version, adobe illustrator cc 2015, and adobe reader xi. I can find the layers in the pdf after 'dwg to pdf', and plot styles are apllied as well. It's the exact result i wanted. However when i import the pdf into illustrator, there's no layer and lines are clipping mask-ed...

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 08:44:08 GMT

Hi,

so could this be a restriction of AI to not import layers from external files? ... as it does not work in 2 ways now?

Sorry, I don't know AI.

If AI can import DXF files, you might try this way to, use command _SAVEAS to save your drawing in AutoCAD to DXF (try an older format like DXF2007 or so) and import this into AI.

- alfred -

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

pendean — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:48:26 GMT

Adobe Support forums (just like these but focused on Adobe forums) are at their website here https://forums.adobe.com/welcome

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

john.vellek — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:28:36 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

If you can provide a sample drawing file I am happy to test on my computer. I have an older version of Adobe Illustrator installed but I believe it will function similar to newer product for this process.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:28:20 GMT

i can see the layers when i import dxf file into illustrator, but plot style's gone this time.. i think i must plot the file using 'plot style' function to get the result i need. Perhaps there's a restriction of illustrator as you said... thanks anyway Alfred.

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:44:19 GMT

thanks John. i don't have a specific drawing, so i made simple samples.

files are

sample dwg

sample ctb(plot style)
pdf which is the result when i plot to PDF using "DWG to PDF.pc3"

ai file when i import the pdf into illustrator.

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

john.vellek — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:32:16 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I applied the pagesetup containing your CTB style. (I emphasized a couple of lightweights for this example).

I plotted to a PDF using the DWG to PDF. I then opened the PDF in Adobe Illustrator. The lineweights show up as expected. Interestingly, the layers also show up in the PDF but do not have the AutoCAD layer names. The PDF retains the layers but they are saved as Paths in Illustrator.

My Illustrator is on a Mac so I don't know if this would behave differently on the Windows version.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:27:01 GMT

so... you mean there's a layer division in illustrator anyway? I can find the layers though in the PDF, but as you can see in my screenshots all the paths are merged into one layer.. Hmmm.. then maybe it's a problem of my version of illustrator.

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:41:17 GMT

I found something disappointing in Adobe Forum...

https://forums.adobe.com/message/9814227#9814227

They said layers in PDF and in AI are basically different and not compatible. Thanks for your time John. I appreciate that.

Re: way to convert dwg to ai with plot style applied maintaining layers.

mburmania — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 16:05:19 GMT

The way i worked around this issue was importing my drawing as a dwg into rhino then export as an AI file. This maintains layers from autocad to rhino and illustrator.