{"id":168,"date":"2022-08-24T15:14:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T15:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/v1.staging.magicul.io\/blog\/?p=168"},"modified":"2023-05-15T15:14:47","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T15:14:47","slug":"exploring-adobe-express-import-and-export-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magicul.io\/blog\/exploring-adobe-express-import-and-export-options","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Adobe Express import and export options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At Magicul we’re beta testing our\u00a0<\/em>Adobe Express to Figma file converter.<\/em><\/a>\u00a0Sign up for early access today. Our tool effortlessly exports from Adobe Express into Figma projects and design systems. \u00a0<\/em>
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Adobe Express is a killer tool for churning out social media posts, infographics, business cards, brochures, and any other visual marketing assets you can think of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heavily inspired by Canva , it saves time by relying on templates and suggesting typography, shapes and colors. It’s heavily opinionated and not as powerful as Figma or XD, but that drag and drop style tool has it’s place.

In this post we’ll explore your options for integrating Express into your current workflow. If you’re creating assets, and trying to keep your design systems and branding in-sync, you’re wondering how you can do this with Express.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TL;DR<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want to use all your assets in Adobe Express, first load them into a Creative Cloud Library. From here you\u2019ll have access to them with a single click.

The only options Adobe has offered to export files from Express are  PNG, JPG and PDF.

Magicul has built an Adobe Express to Figma file converter. It\u2019s the only way to export assets from Express with a layer structure, straight into Figma. A simple solution for keeping Express in sync with your design systems, breaking out of a locked ecosystem, and reusing your design assets.

Click here to join the beta<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


How to import assets into Adobe Express<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 copy and paste images from Figma, XD or Sketch to Express one at a time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c copy and paste multiple layers or artboards from Figma<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c copy and paste multiple layers or artboards from Sketch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 copy multiple layers from XD (Express will flatten them into an image)

You can copy and paste images, groups and text elements one at a time. This doesn’t scale when your asset library is 20GB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way I could find to bulk import your assets to Express, is using the Creative Cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you’re no doubt aware, Adobe XD, Photoshop and Illustrator all have a native integration with the Creative Cloud. You can bulk add assets to the library easily from any of these tools.

If you’re using Figma or Sketch, you can also just sign in through the web portal and upload your assets. It’s hard to say if this is any quicker that copy and pasting images across one at a time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to add design assets to Adobe Creative Cloud<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s safe to assume that if you\u2019re reading a guide on a design tool, you\u2019re a visual learner. So let\u2019s stop telling and start showing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s a sexy landing page selling mangos. We take no credit. The source for this file is available here<\/a> and all credit goes to its creators BrainX Technologies.

Don\u2019t you think that mango is too good not to reuse? Let\u2019s create a new library and start filling it with assets we might use for infographics, marketing material, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are in Adobe XD. The process is practically the same for Photoshop and Illustrator.

Make sure you\u2019re in files<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Click Files in Adobe XD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you are in files, and can see your Document Colors and Components, you need to click here to return to the top level. You\u2019re in the Document Assets directory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Create a new Adobe XD library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click + to create a new library<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Create a new Adobe XD library by clicking the + button<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Click + again<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Click create new on the next screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve created your library, here’s how you add elements to it.

Look down at the bottom of the toolbar on the library panel. There\u2019s a button that will add the element you have selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Click the + button at the bottom of the design panel to export assets to Creative Cloud Library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t access any of the text styles and colors that you save to your library in XD Adobe Express.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Export Assets From Adobe Express<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a pain. You can\u2019t copy elements back into Creative Cloud libraries.

You can\u2019t export individual assets either. Adobe Express only lets you download entire pages flattening them into PNG, JPG, or PDF. If you have infinite patience, or an army of virtual assistance, you can copy and paste layers one at a time, but who has time for that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Export options from Express<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


The Magicul Adobe Express to Figma Converter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like so many other design tools, Express locks you in its cloud. This means your org is investing in design assets, which are locked up on a 3rd-party platform you don\u2019t control.

You can\u2019t extract assets from Express to add to your design systems, webpages, or apps. It also means that if Express goes down the design team is sitting idle until it\u2019s back up.

We created our Adobe Express to Figma<\/a> converter for when your designs outgrow the capabilities of Express. Our engine takes an Adobe Express share link and outputs a .fig file. As far as we know this is the only way to export Adobe Express to Figma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Magicul Express to Figma converter page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Who this converter is for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n