Save As PDF and PDF Export
Illustrator is long overdue for PDF export. Without PDF export saving a PDF from Illustrator is an arduous, multi-step process that must be repeated every time. There is also a dangerous trap in the process that can make the user’s file uneditable. Compare this to InDesign, which has PDF export and all changes are sticky.
Illustrator
1. File > Save a copy,
2. Change format to PDF,
3. Remove “ copy” from filename,
4. Change directory,
5. Click Save,
6. Enter PDF options,
7. Click Save.
InDesign
1. File > Export,
2. Click Export.
Because all options in InDesign are sticky every export after the first will repeat the Settings, including directory, filename, and PDF options (even custom options that don’t use a preset).
The danger is a user might choose Save As (instead of Save a copy) to save a PDF then not realize the file they continue to edit is a PDF without Illustrator editing turned on. Any changes made would be saved to the PDF portion of the file, but there would be no fully editable Illustrator portion to keep their work. It is a dangerous trap that can lose work. It is a disgrace that this can happen in a program that’s over 30 years old.
Scott Falkner
shared this idea
There is no true PDF Export in Illustrator, because Illustrator allows to have editable PDFs with .ai-content stored within. Other apps does not allow that, and some users heavily rely on editable PDFs.
Attemps to solve this were made, but there is no clear solution so far. Still we hope to find one.
The intended way to get a PDF (without loosing your data) at the moment would be to use Save a Copy command that saves a separate copy of your file to PDF instead of Save As which keeps a saved file open.
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Melanie
commented
To get to PDF in .ai it's file > save as but in .indd it's file > export
Can we get a shortcut to PDF that is consistent on both .ai and .indd? I frequently switch between both apps and need to export as PDF. The different processes to get to a final PDF slows my workflow.
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Anonymous
commented
Cmd+E would be great. Default to PDF, and not have it change the document to a PDF. This causes confusion, since no other Adobe app (that I use) does this. Make it consistent with InDesign for obvious reasons.
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'Saving' is not 'exporting', you surely understand that (as 'Open' is not 'Import' too).
AI don't export PDF, it saves it.
As far I can see without going into tech, there's two 'layers' inside such PDF, with native art you edit in AI and real PDF data, which is synced with native one.I don't know how much people save and work in PDF-format (I rarely do), but I can't just take away this possibility and force them to export every time and import every time instead of open-save.
What you can really hope for, is a tick 'Don't save hidden content' in 'Save as' options
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David commented
The current illustrator "save as" saves all illustrator content, but hides data that is not on the selected "save as" pages. This puts content that I don't want published at risk (the pdf can be opened in illustrator to reveal all content) as well as creates very inefficient and bloated PDF's. I have to either create a seperate illustrator file that deletes all artboards and content that I don't want exported, then save as PDF, or save as PDF (with all content) and open the PDF in illustrator after export to delete the hidden content and resave.
is inconsistant with indesign
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Kirk
commented
Because Illustrator doesn't export/publish/create I have ended up accidentally losing data. I want a way to create a PDF from an AI without the file I'm editing transitioning to the new PDF. Many times I have saved a PDF without editing ability, with compressed images, or with some other settings I don't want in a working document, then accidentally continue editing the document. Later I find that I have two files. An AI file from early inn the design process and a PDF from the final that is not useful because it's the altered, out going, non-working document.
Just adding PDF to the Export would save me.
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Joe Ashworth
commented
Export to PDF – instead of Save As A Copy i.e.. just like InDesign. The current way of doing this is too long-winded. Too many clicks! Thanks.