To open an Adobe Stock image in Illustrator, you essentially have two options, depending on whether you've already licensed the image or not:
Option 1: Opening a Licensed Adobe Stock Image
If you've already licensed and downloaded the Adobe Stock image, you can open it like any other image file:
- Go to File > Open in Illustrator.
- Navigate to the location where you saved the downloaded Adobe Stock image (it's likely a .jpg or .eps file).
- Select the image file and click Open.
Option 2: Accessing and Licensing Adobe Stock Images Directly Through Illustrator
Illustrator offers a direct integration with Adobe Stock, allowing you to browse, preview (with watermarks), and license images without leaving the application:
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Open the Libraries panel (if it's not already open) by going to Window > Libraries.
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In the Libraries panel, you may see a default library or you can create a new one if you wish.
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Click the "+" icon at the bottom of the Libraries panel and select "Adobe Stock". Or directly select Adobe Stock from the Library dropdown menu.
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This opens the Adobe Stock website within the Libraries panel. Search for images by keyword or browse available categories.
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Once you find an image you like, you have two main choices:
- Save Preview to Library: Clicking the cloud icon saves a watermarked preview version of the image to your library. You can use this in your designs to test it out.
- License and Save to Library: Clicking the license icon (often a shopping cart icon or a button indicating pricing) will license the image. This removes the watermark and saves the full, high-resolution, licensed version to your library.
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After licensing and saving the image to your library, simply drag it from the Libraries panel directly onto your Illustrator artboard. It will be placed as a linked file. Alternatively, right-click the image in the Libraries panel and choose "Place Linked" or "Place Copy."
Important Considerations:
- Licensing: You must license an Adobe Stock image before using it in any final, commercial work. Using the watermarked preview version is only for evaluation and testing.
- Resolution: When you download the licensed version, you'll typically get the full, high-resolution image. The preview version is lower resolution.
- Adobe Stock Account: You need an active Adobe Stock subscription or be on a plan that includes Adobe Stock to license images.
