The output PNG file is exported much larger than the artboard size

"So here is a choice between quality and size. I cannot believe that there's no solution to this..."

You can't create what doesn't exist.

When you have a fixed pixel dimension required for your required final PNG, you only have that many pixels to work with. The quality will be exactly what that amount of pixels can generate... no better. Small type will be quite crude and even with antialiasing on, may be quite blurry. (and WITHOUT antialiasing, it will look even worse). This. Is. How. It. Is.

That being said, the human eye is quite forgiving. For example, the road side digital billboards you see these days have about the same amount of pixels (and often, LESS) than what you are looking to create, but because of the distance we are from it, and our brains are filling in the details, it looks just fine. Go up close, and it's so so crude.

When you are working with a vector program like Illustrator, objects are rendered for the output device.. so even when viewing on your monitor, you have so many more pixels to play with so the image is clearer. The more you zoom in, it only gets better.

But this gives you a false impression of what it would look like when exported at smaller pixel dimesnsions. Illustrator has a Pixel Preview you should use. It will show you accurately what your final output result will be when exported 1-to-1 (i.e. 72ppi export)

Touch Designer? So you are creating this for projection? Or a large display? 

Hi @Stella5E82,

Can you please share your Asset Export settings? (button at the bottom of the asset export panel).

Keep your Document Raster Effects settings at 300 ppi. You can also try restarting Illustrator if you think it might be a glitch.

Always judge the quality at 100% view.

Yes, exporting at 72 ppi keeps the pixelsize the same, but it may not be enough for modern displays.

Most monitors now have a higher pixel density than 72 ppi. So 144 ppi or 2X will give a better result and come closer to what you see at your Illustrator screen.

You may also check the PNG export settings, anti aliasing is best set to Art Optimized.