Vector Shapes in Photoshop

When you export a document in PSD format, any vector shape is rasterized when it's opened in Photoshop. In order for an Illustrator vector shape to remain an editable vector meaning you want to create a custom shape layer in Photoshop so you can edit the image you must do one extra step in Illustrator before exporting. Select the object, choose Window>Pathfinder, and from the Pathfinder palette's flyout menu, choose Make Compound Shape. (Note: If your image has objects within it, just select its outermost bounding box. You don't need to flatten the image.) Then choose File>Export, and in the Format pop-up menu choose Photoshop (PSD). When you open the PSD file in Photoshop, the object will appear as a shape layer, preserving its vector editability.