Changing pixel preview resolution

[Yusuf5C97]

I changed the preview of my .ai file to pixel preview, but the resolution seems to be very low it appears highly pixellated, I tried to change it from Effects> Document rastor effects settings> 300ppi. But nothing happened it's still pixellated. What should I do?

[Ton Frederiks]

Try to turn off the option in Preferences > General > Display Print Size at 100% Zoom.

And zoom to 100%.

It seems like Pixel Preview and the 100% Print Size option don't work well together.

[Yusuf5C97]

Unfortunately that did not work, it's still pixellating

[Ton Frederiks]

Of course it is pixellating, it gives a preview  of the pixels.

But maybe you can show screendumps at 100% zoom with and without Pixel Preview.

[Yusuf5C97]

Actually I want it to be less pixellated so that I am able to read the typography in pixel preview. Just being able to increase the resolution would probably solve it, but I'm unable to do that

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

What is the size of your document? If not, what is your end goal?

Are you creating a file for a specific size screen image?

Say you are creating a banner for a webpage thats's 1200 pixels by 600 pixels... Pixel preview will show you the end result of your artwork when rendered to those pixel dimensions. It's pixelated because that's exactly what will happen!

[Yusuf5C97]

It's actually a print file for package design and the size is 250mm x 190mm, I want it to be high res in pixel preview, because when I import the artwork to Adobe Dimension to make a mockup it appears the same when I view on pixel preview, I am not able to read any typography at this much pixellation.

Like this for example

[Test Screen Name]

That does indeed look awful, I agree! Some questions

1. Does Illustrator ever show this as a nice file? (With pixel preview off, for example? It's not clear to me whether it always looks that way, or if it only looks bad in pixel preview).

2. How was the file made? Did you type in the text "Nutritional Value" etc. in Illustrator? Did you import from Photoshop? From a scan? From a web graphic etc.? Copy and paste from something? Please give details.

[Yusuf5C97]

The artwork was completely made in Illustrator, when I turn off pixel preview it looks perfect. The only problem is in pixel preview and when I link the file to Dimension.

[Ton Frederiks]

I am not a Dimension expert, but I believe you can import Illustrator artboards directly into Dimension without first making an image.

[Yusuf5C97]

Thank you for your suggestion, and yes that is what I have been doing but the problem is that its highly pixellated in dimension so much so that I can hardly read a word. I think changing the resolution in the illustrator file can help solve the problem.

[Doug A Roberts]

Just to clarify: that 'Nutritional Value' list is the entire 250 x 190 mm document? Not a small section of it?

[Test Screen Name]

Thanks. I'd also like to know about the rest of the document - clearly that image isn't 250 x 190 anything, it's the wrong shape, so there must be more. What are the actual dimensions of this part of the design?

[Yusuf5C97]

The part I posted is only a screen shot of the nutritional value which is 30mm x 52mm

[Doug A Roberts]

That's only 85 pixels across. I don't know how Dimension handles Illustrator files, but I'm guessing you're seeing a 72 PPI preview in it.

[Yusuf5C97]

Sorry I forgot to mention, the nutritional value is only a part of the document. I cannot show the full document as there are some information that I'm not supposed to show.

[Test Screen Name]

Your screen shot seems to show something being previewed at 170 x 290 pixels
If it's 30 mm x 52 mm, that corresponds to about 144 ppi.
This makes the body text under 2mm high - about 6 point - which may be too small even for small print!
So I think the pixel preview is warning you that you do have a problem (which is what it is for..)
Have you tried viewing a printout at design size?

[Test Screen Name]

Hmm, the pixel preview is supposed to be at 72 ppi - always and only - because it's only for web graphics. Just like Export of PNG. So I don't know how you managed to get twice as much detail as I expected... maybe I miscalculated... 

[Test Screen Name]

Hmm, as it turns out 6 point is the FDA approved minimum type size. 

Here is a sample at 6 point in your design size:

So your display looks about normal at the magification you've used. I guess. Don't know what happened to my math...

[Csilla25220215nqb0 · Accepted solution]

I just figured out that you can change back to normal view with the combination of Alt gr+Y. Hope you did solve this problem in the meantime, however.