Bring paths from Illustrator CS into Photoshop CS

I kept running into a problem in Photoshop when trying to copy a path from Illustrator and paste it in. Older versions would automaticallly popup a window asking if you wanted to paste it as a Pixels, Path, or Shape Layer. CS does not automatically do this, so my path kept being rendered to pixels every time I'd paste it in.

To bring a path into Photoshop from Illustrator, you actually have to set a preference in Illustrator (counterintuitive, I know). Here's how:

Go to Illustrator Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard


In the bottom box, "Clipboard on Quit", be sure the box marked "AICB (no transparency support)" IS CHECKED.


Be sure "Preserve Appearance and Overprints" is selected.

Save your preferences, re-copy your path and try it in Photoshop now. The "Pixels, Path or Shape Layer" popup window should come up and you can select "Path" to retain your paths.


Good luck!