Photoshop: Extract Asset to SVG w/vector Illustrator file doesn't yield scalable/vector SVG

Flipped topic to a feature request per Stephen:

"I agree we should ideally support this scenario. As Chris points out, this is going to be a bit tricky. We are looking into ways to support this. In the meantime, the best thing to do would be to copy/paste from Illustrator to Photoshop as a Shape or Path, and then you can export it out using Extract Assets and get a truly scalable SVG."

Just to chime in to this thread, we have investigated how to enable this in Extract Assets dialog, but it does look like we need to do more work to expose it in a way that would work. So it is planned but it would take some time and pulling together of a lot of engineers :) 

Yes, because once the AI file is placed in Photoshop, the result is a raster/image.
Photoshop cannot see inside the AI file to all the vector data, Photoshop can only rasterize the PDF content of the AI file to raster data.

Expecting SVG output from the AI smart object is like expecting to extract the eggs used in baking a cake.

Hey Chris,

Thanks for chiming in.

Have a look at the attached screenshot.

The Ai file contains a 25 px vector star shape.

When I Place it in a square 1000px Photoshop document, it is placed at it's 25 px size as expected.

After I commit the placement, I can scale it up 3000% and beyond and it's still not degrading. Instead it remains sharp, scalable and vector-like.

So in some way, to me it seems that either through resampling or something else, Photoshop is able to see the vector information within the Ai file after it's placed.

See what I mean?

Cheers -

PS - I tried to upload a zip of the working files, but I'm limited to images only.

"Expecting SVG output from the AI smart object is like expecting to extract the eggs used in baking a cake."

Haha, nice - I just noticed you revised your post and added the analogy.

But still, have a look at my example above. Using your baking analogy, I *am* effectively taking eggs out of a cake in their whole form and manipulating them after they're baked.

The star shape is fully scalable and behaves as a vector asset would even after it's placed. So PS must be able to read the vector data in some way after the fact.

Ok fair enough. So on a technical level, this isn't a problem/bug. But it's problematic from a practical standpoint for an end user.

Hopefully a Product Manager or Researcher will have a read on this thread at some point and see the value in what the expected results spell out in the OP.

One of the main reasons to create vector assets is for scalability. When that's lost through a feature set that's intended to improve workflow, there's somewhat of a hurdle that's created along the way that takes away from the benefit.

It's also a bit unclear to an end user when Extract Assets has an option for SVG exporting. The file type is even named, "scalable" vector graphic. When exporting to an SVG, I'd expect scalability - makes sense right?

It would be helpful, and more useful if there was a way to retain the vector information and make it useable in Photoshop.

In general Smart Objects are great, but the fact that they get rasterized limits their potential - especially with the ever increasing need for vector assets that we can scale for the wide array of displays that we design for today.

Vector-friendly instances, revised Smart Objects, or something along these lines would be a welcomed improvement, especially for UI designers.

Anyways, keep up the great work - I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress.

Hey PS Crew,

I read these replies shortly after they were posted, but am just now getting a chance to say thanks for looking into things!

Thanks + Cheers!

Josh

2 years later, any update with this?