Open the PSD in Photoshop with the necessary color books installed.
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Get started
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Learn the basics
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Learn the basics
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Start new files
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Start new files
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Draw shapes and paths
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Draw shapes
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Modify paths
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Manage objects
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Select objects
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Arrange objects
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Edit objects
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Reshape and transform objects
- Pathfinder panel overview
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Create traces, mockups, and symbols
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Select objects
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Measure and align
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Paint and fill
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Learn painting basics
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Apply and edit strokes
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Learn painting basics
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Manage colors
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Select and adjust colors
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Use swatches
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Modify colors
- Recolor artwork
- Recolor options overview
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Apply transparency and blending
- Transparency panel overview
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- Blend panel overview
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Design with text
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Add and manage text
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- Add text in Illustrator with Type, Area Type, and Touch Type tools
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Work with fonts and scripts
- Font browser overview
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- About Adobe Asian composers
- Justify text using Kashida and hyphenation
- Format Japanese text in Illustrator
- Mojikumi and Kinsoku settings in Illustrator
- Mojikumi and Kinsoku overview for Japanese text formatting
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Edit and format text
- Character panel overview
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Use special characters and glyphs
- About character sets and alternate glyphs
- Insert special characters
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- Replace characters with alternate glyphs
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Add and manage text
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Create and manage artboards
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Organize and manage artboards
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Manage layers
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Apply special effects and styles
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Automate and visualize data
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Automate actions
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Visualize data
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Automate actions
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Save and export
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Troubleshoot
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Fix the file is not readable error with PSD files
Last updated on
Oct 20, 2026
Learn how to resolve the file is not readable error when placing a PSD file in Adobe Illustrator or opening a file that contains a link to a PSD.
When you place a PSD or open a file that contains a link to a PSD, Illustrator returns the "The file is not readable" error.
The PSD uses an unavailable color book
The PSD has a spot channel defined with a color book that isn't installed in your instance of Illustrator.
Work with the file creator to identify the color book used for the PSD's spot channel. Install the same color book, or have the file creator use a color book available in both Photoshop and Illustrator.
Open the Channels panel and double-click the Spot channel.
Select the color in the Spot Channel Options dialog box.
Record the LAB values, then select a common color book from the Books pop-up menu.
Select the Picker button and adjust the LAB values if necessary.
Select OK twice to exit the Spot Channel Options dialog box.
Select Save As and save a version of the file, or replace the existing file.
If you can't use the same color book, embed the PSD instead of maintaining a link.
During placement
Select File > Place.
Locate and select the PSD.
Clear the Linked checkbox.
Select Place.
For an already linked PSD
Select the linked PSD in the Links panel.
Open the Links panel menu.
Select Embed Image(s).
Embedding the PSD lets others open the Illustrator file regardless of which color books they have installed.
Embedded images increase the size of the Illustrator document.
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