How To Import Adobe Flash files into Adobe Illustrator

Quick-torial: Importing Adobe Flash CS5 files into Adobe Illustrator CS5 (Steps 1-6) with all your Flash vector graphics and layers intact.

If you only want to import a Flash project Layer instead of all layers, see steps 7 - 13.

    Products tested on an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.5.8:
        Adobe Flash Professional CS5 11.0.0.485
        Adobe Illustrator CS5 15.0.0

    NOTE: Someone please try this on a Windows system and share your results.

1. Start by opening a Flash project file (e.g., yourFlashFile.fla).

2. In Flash, export project as a .fxg file:

    File --> Export --> Export Image

3. In Export Image dialog box, decide in which folder to save the .fxg file, then:

    choose: Format --> Adobe FXG --> Save

    If you don't change it, the default file will be named: yourFlashFile.fxg

4. Open Illustrator.

5. Then open the file: yourFlashFile.fxg

    File --> Open --> yourFlashFile.fxg --> Open

    Or drag-and-drop yourFlashFile.fxg onto Illustrator application icon.

    Or (on Mac) right-click yourFlashFile.fxg, then:

    Open With --> Adobe Illustrator CS5.app

6. That's it. You're ready to use your Flash project file in Illustrator.

    *    *    *
If you only want to import a Flash project Layer instead of all layers, do the following: 

7. Open a Flash project file (e.g., yourFlashFile.fla).

8.  In Flash, click on an unlocked layer (if all objects on the layer are not selected, click on any other layer, then again click on the layer you want to import into Illustrator).

9. Export selected layer as a .fxg file:

    File --> Export --> Export Selection

10. In Export Image dialog box, decide in which folder to save the .fxg file, then:

    choose: Format --> Adobe FXG --> Save

    I recommend adding an intuitive suffix to the default file name so you know this .fxg file represents the selected layer for your Flash project. For example, rename the default file as: yourFlashFileLayerName.fxg

11. Open Illustrator.

12. Then open the file: yourFlashFileLayerName.fxg

    File --> Open --> yourFlashFileLayerName.fxg --> Open

    Or drag-and-drop yourFlashFileLayerName.fxg onto Illustrator application icon.

    Or (on Mac) right-click yourFlashFileLayerName.fxg, then:

    Open With --> Adobe Illustrator CS5.app

13. That's it. You're ready to use your Flash projectLayerName file in Illustrator.


References:
1. FXG Wikipedia description (Short, but dense .fxg description. Useful references for the committed.):
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FXG

2. FXG 1.0 - Functional and Design Specification (Pretty dense stuff. Read in bed.):
    http://opensource.adobe.com/wiki/display/flexsdk/FXG+1.0+Specification

3. Flash export options (Will satisfy your inner geek.):
    http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Illustrator/14.0/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-6553a.html

4. A video on importing Illustrator files into Flash (For Flash CS3 and Ai CS3)
    http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/video_workshop/?id=vid0197

Errors in this Quick-torial? Make appropriate changes, add your name and the date to the Copyleft line, and reissue Quick-torial to interested parties.

CopyLeft: Pass it on - Jerry Scott- May 3, 2011. Special thanks to D. DeGive for his input on exporting layers into Illustrator.