Illustrator exporting wrong dimensions and resolution

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
May 17, 2022
2 replies
2308 views

I'm trying to print a postcard from a design created in Illustraot, but keep running into problems when I send a PDF file to the printer.

It says the dimensions are wrong, but they are correct in the illustrator document. It also says I need to make sure the image resolution is 300 dpi. I went to Effect > Document Raster Effect Settings & the resolution is at High (300 ppi). I exported it in high quality print.

This topic has been closed for replies.

J

jdanek

Inspiring

I wonder if there is a stray element outside of the artboard? When you export to PDF, the artboard goes, but so too the stray element. This printer, like a lot of them out there, thing PDF is a bitmap file and assume the thing is 300dpi. Image resolution is set in pixels per inch ( PPI ). Not DPI. Output resolution for print is typically 5080dpi, enough to achieve a smooth dot when they produce a direct to plate / direct to press workflow. If you sent them a high quality print PDF, then ask them a few more questions.

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

Document Raster Effect Settings does not affect any resolution except that of raster effects such as drop shadow.

There is no overall resolution in an exported PDF. If there are linked images, they may have a resolution however.

What should the dimensions be, and what are they?

What or who says the dimensions are wrong? How do they check the resolution or dimensions?

A

Austin242419142udjAuthor

Participant

Okay, thanks for that clarification! How can I check that the image quality/file resolution is at least 300 dpi? I embedded the image into the file.

I'm not sure how they are cheking it. The printer is "Got Print.com", and they say the dimensions are 6.45 x 4.2. My document is set at 8.6 x 5.6 in. The dimensions should be 8.5 x 5.5 without the bleed.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

In your Links panel it will show the effective PPI of any placed image... like so:

The traditional rule of thumb for printing is to have 300 ppi for images, but in reality, most people wouldn't even notice if it was half that. So, if the printer is simply "warning" you of an image below 300 ppi, you can safely ignore it if your effective PPI shown in your links panel is between 150-300. If your image has small text in it, you WILL want higher resolution, as text will not appear crisp otherwise.

You can always upsample lower-res images in Photoshop to a higher resolution, but this can come at the cost of blurring the image somewhat, which may actually make your final product look worse than if you left it alone.

As for why your PDF dimensions are reading incorrectly if you artwork is designed as a 8.5" x 5.5" artboard with bleed, I can't answer that without seeing your PDF.

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