widespread adoption file formats

[cyberlizard]

in a bid to increase adoption of the software, would Serif/Affinity consider either/or:

a) releasing the specs for the file formats for each of the applications (so import filters can be written for non-Affinity applications)

b) consider the option to save native documents in an open format of their own creation (if required)

while I am sure many might balk at this and say it encourages the use of other non Affinity applications it could certainly provide the option for non-Affinity users to open our work which could encourage them to move over.

 

Any takers?

[cyberlizard]

I do not understand how it is that Designer can open AI files, yet is incapable of saving/exporting them.

please can someone explain this to me.

 

Steve

[Fixx]

AI files usually have PDF "stream" embedded (it is possible to disable this in AI) and Designer reads the embedded PDF instead on true AI format.

That said, many graphics apps can read older/simpler AI files as format was originally not very complicated though it was proprietary/not published. Affinity cannot do that.

[joe_l]

4 minutes ago, cyberlizard said:

please can someone explain this to me.

The Affinities are only able to read the PDF stream inside the AI, so if there is no PDF stream inside the AI, the Affinities are not able to render the file. The AI format is closed source, so I guess Adobe wants to get some money for the file specifications for a working AI-only-importer.