PDF to jpg changing dimensions

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
March 22, 2022
2 replies
7982 views

Hello. I am creating digital ads for a client. The ads are always created with Illustrator and then I save them as a PDF for the print ads in the dimensions/resolution requested. For the digital ads I follow exactly the same process and then open the PDF to export to a jpg. I have been using this same method for this same client for the past 2 years and never had any issues as far as I knew, but one of their vendors just came back to my client saying that the ads are the incorrect size. I checked the "info" on the jpg and they are right. The PDF created at size 300x250 pixels for example (I double checked the PDF and it shows this dimension), is now 1250x1042 for the jpg. Since the aspect ratio is about the same the vendor tried to just resize it themselves, but it was too pixelated. Is there another way I should be converting to jpg from PDF if I need to keep the same dimensions? If so, how? Also, FYI I have tried exporting directly to a jpg from Illustrator, but it majorly changes the resolution when I do that and looks terrible as well as also changing the dimensions slightly. I'm not sure why that happens. Thank you for your help!

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

You've exported as 300 dpi instead of 72 dpi. This is why your file is the wrong dimensions.

300 is 4.1666X the dimension of 72, so if you do the math, you can see this equates to your 300x250 becoming 1250x1042.

If all you have to play with is 300x250, your graphic WILL be very pixelated; that's not much to play with.

L

LSelleckAuthor

Participant

Thank you Brad. Could you recommend what method I should use to create these digital ads and have them be clear (not pixelated) and still in the correct dimensions? Should I just create them in a higher aspect ratio so the vendor can then just scale it down without loosing resolution/crispness of the text/image? I double checked my files and when I save the PDF as a jpg from Adobe Acrobat DC it doesn't give me the option of choosing between 72 dpi and 300 dpi. So I thought it would remain the same since the Illustrator document was created at 72dpi. Am I missing some step or something? Some of the ads I have to produce are even smaller. For this particular vendor they are also waiting for ads that are 970x90 pixels and 320x50. I'm not sure how to fix the issue. If I export as a jpg straight from the Illustrator file it is always very pixelated and not the quality of what I want to provide them. Thank you again for your help.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

Clarity increases when you have more pixels to work with. If thse dimensions are set in stone, you will have to deal with it. This has got nothing... absolutely nothing.. to do with resolution. It's the actual number of pixels.

It would be worth your while to rethink your desogn for such small graphics: One way: keep type copy to a minimum and make it as large as you can.