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Kustenklar
Kustenklar
Inspiring
August 7, 2023
Question

Export big formats in 300ppi in Illustrator won't work.

  • August 7, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 633 views

Hi, I got instructions to create a 10000x10000px in Illustrator and export the file (png or jpeg) in 300ppi. It does not work. I get the following message (see image): "The operation could not be completed due to an unknown error." I've tried converting the pixels to mm instead but get the same result. I have also tried to save the file in pdf and then export it to jpeg. Won't do. Is Illustrator unable to export formats as large as 3x3 m in high resolution? I got the latest illustrator version.

 

What to do?

 

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    2 replies

    B
    Community Expert
    Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 8, 2023

    Here's a sort of "dirty" method I would use. If the master artwork can be purely vector-based just create the perfectly square artwork within Illustrator. It doesn't really matter what size it is as long as the aspect ratio is correct. Using Photoshop, create a 10,000 X 10,000 pixel target image with the resolution set at 300ppi. Next step: copy the Illustrator artwork to the clipboard and then paste it into the Photoshop document. Scale the artwork to fill the document (it can be snapped to the document edges in the scaling process). 10,000 X 10,000 pixels is pretty big to use the Save For Web function, but JPEG and PNG images can be exported the more conventional way. If the artwork's colors are pretty flat the PNG format will be much more efficient than JPEG.

    Kustenklar
    Kustenklar Author
    Inspiring
    August 8, 2023

    Thanks!

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 7, 2023

    The image dimensions should be 10000x10000 px? If that is what you should create, then resolution does not matter. Pixel dimensions tell you all you need. In Illustrator if you want to export at certain dimensions, you have to export at 72 ppi.

    Kustenklar
    Kustenklar Author
    Inspiring
    August 7, 2023

    Thanks for reply Monika. Does this work also when printing? I know that you really shouldn't specify format in pixels in illustrator if the file is not to be exported in 72 ppi, but but I became unsure because of the instructions from the client.

     

    Hm, let's say I would like to create a 3x3 meter vector image file and export it in high resolution. Isn't that possible in Illustrator?

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 7, 2023

    If they insist you can open the exported image in Photoshop and then set it to 300 ppi there. Make sure you do not resample so that the pixel dimensions stay the same.

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