There are many reasons why you might want to change the format of Adobe Illustrator files. For example, users might want a DWG file to import into an engineering firm’s 3D modeling application or they might be working on their own side project and need a final design in a CAD format.
To convert an Illustrator file to .dwg:
- Open the Illustrator file you plan on converting (in Illustrator) and choose File > Export>Export As…
- Type your desired file name.
- Select AutoCAD Drawing (*.dwg) from the Save As dialog’s drop-down menu. Click Export.
- Choose your preferred file settings in the Export Options dialog box. Then click Ok.
You can now open your .dwg file in AutoCAD.
Need to know how to open .dwg files in Illustrator?
What is a .dwg file?
A DWG file is an AutoCAD drawing file, which contains vector graphics, tables, text, raster images and data references from external databases. Autodesk AutoCAD uses this format to store its drawings. DWG files are also used by other CAD programs such as DraftSight, TurboCAD and SolidWorks.
AutoCAD is a computer-aided drafting (CAD) program developed and marketed by Autodesk®. It was first released in December 1982 as Autocad, which was later renamed to AutoCAD in 1985. AutoCAD is available for the Microsoft Windows® and the Mac OS X operating systems. AutoCAD is developed and promoted with the help of Autodesk Inventor software. These two are completely compatible with each other and can be integrated to share data within a workgroup.
Support for the 2D and 3D DWG file formats is available in most AutoCAD versions since version 5. So if you are making changes to a drawing in an AutoCAD file, you may need to update your version of the drawing if the changes are not being saved properly.
If you are using an earlier version of AutoCAD or drafting software, you might be able to use your old files as long as they have been saved within AutoCAD’s native format: DXF.
