A problem we often run into when converting AI to PSD is the file becomes flattened and no longer has editable layers in photoshop. It occurs when the PSD conversion engine hits a layer with an attribute setting called ‘Overprint fill’. It’s a rarely useful setting that in many cases can be turned off.
To verify it’s ok to disable, open the AI document and go to ‘View > Overprint Preview’, if anything changes visually you will need to speak to the designers (if you aren’t one) about suitable changing of the file. If it doesn’t, you may safely turn off Overprint fill. To do so Press Cmd+A (Ctrl+A for windows) to select every layer in the document. Go to the menu and select ‘Window > Attributes’. A small window will open up with the ‘Overprint fill’ setting.
Click the overprint fill checkbox a few times until it is blank. A notification prompt may appear, click ok if it does.
With the Overprint fill setting disabled, you will be able to export to a PSD with fully editable layers.
