Hi

I just want to state my opinion of .ai format removal from the recent versions. The .ai format is pretty universal format out there. Many programs including some 3d programs can import .ai format. Now that it is gone from Inkscape I wonder how some users will be able to import artwork done in Inkscape to other apps mainly those without .svg support. I guess the solution is to buy Illustrator so that I can import Inkscape artwork into Ai then export as .ai?

Anyways I just thought that it was pretty silly to remove such popular format from a popular application.

I understand the hardships of developing and sustaining software but this particular decision made no sense to me really.


thanks

The *.ai export file format removed in Inkscape 0.47 was for the older (Postscript-based) Illustrator format (8.0 and earlier). Inkscape never supported export to AI v9.0 or later. Also note that unlike PS, PDF or SVG, AI is a proprietary file format by Adobe.

Inkscape Manual: Exporting Files wrote:.ai (Adobe Illustrator)
Inkscape v0.46 and earlier supported export to the Adobe Illustrator version 8.0 file format which is a modified form of the EPS level 2 format. This support has been removed since Adobe Illustrator versions 10 (2001) and later can directly import SVG files. This is a better solution as the quality of the AI export was poor.

~suv wrote:The *.ai export file format removed in Inkscape 0.47 was for the older (Postscript-based) Illustrator format (8.0 and earlier). Inkscape never supported export to AI v9.0 or later. Also note that unlike PS, PDF or SVG, AI is a proprietary file format by Adobe.

Inkscape Manual: Exporting Files wrote:.ai (Adobe Illustrator)
Inkscape v0.46 and earlier supported export to the Adobe Illustrator version 8.0 file format which is a modified form of the EPS level 2 format. This support has been removed since Adobe Illustrator versions 10 (2001) and later can directly import SVG files. This is a better solution as the quality of the AI export was poor.

~suv, I understand the complications of the .ai format. What I am saying is that the removal of .ai format support(even the older not so supportd flakey version) creates pipeline issues. You would see that a lot of people rely on .ai format when they need to deliver files to clients, printers etc. And neither everyone nor every company do own Illustrator. Ai is an older format and has a generally accepted standard for transferring files from this app to that app. Svg is newer and is not so wide spread so far.

For example no 3d program I use accept svg format. So how would I bring my Inkscape artwork into my 3d programs?

kartal wrote:For example no 3d program I use accept svg format. So how would I bring my Inkscape artwork into my 3d programs?

Use DXF [1], Postscript or PDF.

Which 3d application supports the old Postscript-based AI format, but not plain PS or EPS files?
Same for PDF: which 3d progam only imports the PDF based newer AI format but can't read PDF files?

[1] Inkscape 0.48.1 will have several bugs fixed in the DXF R13 export file format

kartal wrote:You would see that a lot of people rely on .ai format when they need to deliver files to clients, printers etc. And neither everyone nor every company do own Illustrator.

Inkscape can't export to AI because the specification of the file format is not free or accessible. Inkscape relies on third-part tools (extensions) to export to various vector formats. Are you aware of a free open-source tool that can convert vector based files (SVG, Postscript or PDF) to the current AI format, can be called on the command line in the background and is available for all platforms that Inkscape supports (GNU/Linux, Windows and Mac OS X)?

~suv wrote:Which 3d application supports the old Postscript-based AI format, but not plain PS or EPS files?
Same for PDF: which 3d progam only imports the PDF based newer AI format but can't read PDF files?

Sorry, maybe I should have worded my questions differently: I'm honestly interested which 3d apps no longer allow file exchange with Inkscape (after the release of Inkscape 0.47 which dropped the (broken after 0.46) export extension for "Adobe Illustrator 8.0 (Postscript-based)").

~suv wrote:

~suv wrote:Which 3d application supports the old Postscript-based AI format, but not plain PS or EPS files?
Sorry, maybe I should have worded my questions differently: I'm honestly interested which 3d apps no longer allow file exchange with Inkscape[...]

One example is : http://moi3d.com/
Before discovering Inkscape, because of its ease of use and highly versatile curve editing features, I did almost all line work within Moi3D - then export to AI.

While Inkscape is an improvement over Ai and Xara curve editing features, a great deal can be learned from this program, pertaining to the user friendly implementations of often complex CAD curve editing features, interface and workflow design.

Ambimind