How best to handle gradients when exporting from VS to a different vector program



  • if I need to export a VS as a pdf to be able to be opened in other vector apps like Illustrator, I run into issues getting the gradient to translate properly.
    In the example image below, I created this file and specifically, this gradient in VS.
    0_1713283201517_2ec8838d-3df5-46e1-89b5-39bd2d62a721-BLD 2024-04-16 at 11.57.53.png

    When I export the file from VS as a pdf, here are my applicable settings:
    0_1713283313972_bbf07203-0da9-463e-ad1b-3f4211162e2f-BLD 2024-04-16 at 12.01.30.png

    When i open the resulting pdf file in Illustrator for example, I get an immediate warning:
    0_1713283370791_pdf warning.png

    Pressing "OK" on the warning tab, I get this resulting file
    (background black in original was the artboard and not the in the file itself so a blank background is expected and normal). You can see when I select the gradient it's now back to a solid shape and treated by Illustrator as a uneditable raster image:
    0_1713283418050_Gradient non native art.png


  • administrators

    @Boldline Send me the VS file by email and I will try to replicate this issue. Could be a gradient exporting bug.



  • @VectorStyler Thanks! I just emailed you the original file as well as the resulting pdf export I tried opening in Illustrator.

    I hope this is something that can get fixed because I've been avoiding gradients in client work or I just do the gradient in the program I know the client is using.

    It would be so helpful to be able to export a true gradient and have it read correctly in other vector apps.

    Thanks for looking into it!



  • @VectorStyler said in How best to handle gradients when exporting from VS to a different vector program:

    @Boldline Send me the VS file by email and I will try to replicate this issue. Could be a gradient exporting bug.

    When you are ready, if you need me to test an exported file in my version of Illustrator CS6, I'm happy to do that. just email it over and I'll let you know how it goes