exporting PNG: best quality needed: any difference between export selection or export artboard?

[JenniferAtWork]

Hello - have a graphic and want to export it as best quality possible png.

it's placed on an artboard with lots of other graphics.  I've selected the graphic, and exported the selection, and chose 4x for scale. However, when i  make it larger, it looks slighted bit-mapped.

would there be any difference in placing it on its own artboard and using "export as" where there are choices for resolution?

what is the best way to get a good resolution for this graphic? it does have text in it.

THANKS to anyone who answers; you are appreciated!!!!

[Monika Gause]

You cannot enlarge a PNG beyond a certain scale.

If you want to be able to enlarge it, give it a higher resolution = more pixels.

[JenniferAtWork]

if i exported it at a higher resolution, does that mean it will have more pixels? or should i enlarge the original graphic before exporting? (thinking that would give it more pixels) . . . thanks for your thoughts

[JenniferAtWork]

And for that matter, would exporting it as an EPS give it better resolution that will stay with it?

[Monika Gause]

And for that matter, would exporting it as an EPS give it better resolution that will stay with it?

By @JenniferAtWork

EPS is last century's file format. You need good reasons for using that at all. So what do you want to do with the file?

[Monika Gause]

Basically it doesn't matter whether you are scaling it before exporting or adding more pixels while exporting.

It would only matter when there are pixel effects applied (drop shadow, Photoshop effects)

[JenniferAtWork]

i appreciate you helping me figure this out.  Here is part of my png graphic; this for a sign**; and this is at 100%. Can you see how the letters look slightly bitmapped?  I am just not quite understanding how to save/export the original file so the letters aren't this way.    ** i plan on saving the sign file as a jpg for printing. (20x30 inches)

  any help in exporting outside of eps is appreciated.

[Monika Gause]

It's for a sign? Doesn't the printer accept a PDF?

[JenniferAtWork]

i use a photo place that does an amazing, quick, and inexpensive job for posterboard signs - but take jpgs only. 

[Monika Gause]

At 300 ppi your sign needs to be 6000x9000 pixels. For type higher would be better. How many pixels is it curently?

And what resolution do the print folks recommend?