Why I Love Adobe Illustrator Editable PDF Files and Why I’ll Never Go Back to AI or EPS



Good-bye AI…Hello PDF

For most of my career, when I started a new Illustrator project and went to save the file, I choose AI for the file type and only used EPS if there was a special request. However, now that Illustrator can save layered PDFs as editable Illustrator files I’ve made the switch to working directly in the PDF file format. I’m so stoked with how it’s working out I’d thought I’d share what I feel are the three big advantages of working in the Illustrator editable PDF file format.

saving PDF as editable adobe illustrator file

1. Everyone Wants a PDF Anyway

PDF rules the roost in the printing industry. It’s the one thing everyone can rely on for maximum portability and compatibility. But some industry niches still require a different format. This is usually related to legacy software that demands a specific file type and they are not interested in spending the whole five minutes it will take to convert my PDF.

So when the occasional embroidery or signage company insists on an AI or EPS file  I just save my PDF in the format they want and send it to them. It takes me five minutes and they are totally happy to now have the “correct” file format.

2. It Speeds Up Proofing

When I was working in AI format I’d have to save a PDF version to send to my client. When I work directly in Illustrator editable PDF format I can just send them the same file I’m actually working on. What a huge time saver! And if they should find one version to be perfect they already have the master file in their hand. If the fonts were embeddable I don’t even have to convert it to outlines. Sweet!

3. It’s an Insurance Policy Against Lost, Overwritten, Corrupted or Accidentally Deleted Files

Since every PDF proof I send  also doubles as an editable master I know I have multiple usable “masters” floating around that I can easily retrieve if need be. If I were to accidentally overwrite a revision that the client approved I could just pull the file attachment from my email sent folder or ask my client to send back the one they like. Presto! Back on track.

Risk Free Trial

If you’re not working directly in the Illustrator editable PDF format why not try it for a month and see how you like it. You can always just resave you editable PDF files as AI or EPS so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

File Under: Advantages  and Benefits of Working in the Adobe Illustrator Editable PDF File Format – How to Save Illustrator File as Editable PDF

8 comments


  • I have used this option my self when working on files. I never thought of it but I like the idea of having backup masters. That would be a nice benefit. You are right by the way. All of my printers appreciate files in PDF format. I would too, so long as things were set up right. Indesign packages for example with all the links, fonts, etc.. can be tricky.

    May 17, 2010
    • Elizabeth

      Especially since Dwayne mentioned printers wanting pdf format files (which we do!!), I thought I would put in a note. Make sure you cull non printing layers from your files (like die line layers) before sending it to your printer! I work at a printing and label company and do our prepress work as well as some design. Our particular trapping software doesn’t recognize that non printing layers shouldn’t print. Because when you open the pdf in acrobat those layers don’t show, unless I open the files in illustrator I will occasionally find that I have been provided art with hidden die lines when they appear on the plates. If you need to show the exact location of the die line, setting it in an unused spot color set to overprint is a safer way to do so. Or just be clear about including a die line layer so they don’t find out the hard way.

      March 15, 2012
  • Are all layer effects/masks/selections properly kept? I had no idea that PDFs were so flexible.

    May 13, 2011
    • Clay (The BDD Dude)

      Yes. When you open it up in Illustrator it’s exactly the same as an AI file with all your layers, groups, etc. But when you open the same file in Acrobat it’s just like a regulaar PDF. Best of both worlds.

      May 13, 2011
  • Melinda

    Thanks for this! It’s reassuring. I came across this article trying to reduce the steps in my workflow, but needed to be sure I wasn’t losing some information.

    August 10, 2015
    • Clay Butler

      Yeah, PDF is the best. No reason for AI or EPS.

      August 25, 2015
  • Derek

    I’ve been considering the same thing, but I think it depends on your work flow.

    If you typically do a bunch of design work, and then provide a third party with an “export” (PDF or otherwise), you probably don’t want to embed fonts, guides, and all the original “master” details in the file that you let leave your hands, as it may contain proprietary data, and gives the third party too much freedom to do whatever they want.

    If you do you own work and print your own stuff using acrobat (which tends to be more reliable for printing than printing directly from illustrator), then it makes more sense to just use PDF all the time, and not need to have two copies of every file.

    October 22, 2018
  • Derek

    Alright, I’ve tried this out a bit, but it’s bit me on the hand as well, so I’m not sure I recommend it…

    One big word of warning… these PDF files are not backwards compatible. I installed Illustrator 2019, only to find out it has some serious bugs, and when I went back to Illustrator 2018, it loses information when opening PDF files saved in 2019. I have to save them as AI in 2019, and load the AI file in 2018 to avoid this issue.

    October 25, 2018

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