Illustrator shuts down while large format TIFF export

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 15, 2024
2 replies
689 views

I'm trying to export a file for an outdoor billboard (8x3m 300ppi TIFF). Software shuts down in the process. What's the problem?

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Bobby Henderson

Community Expert

300ppi at full size is overkill for billboard printing. Most companies who do billboard printing often accept art files at 1" = 1' scale, with raster imagery at 300ppi in that 1" scale. Blown up to full size it works out to 25ppi. That may seem low, but people driving by in vehicles won't be able to tell the difference.

If your billboard face design has vector-based graphics in it, such as lettering, logos and other graphical elements, it would be better to retain those elements in vector format. Exporting the face in TIFF format will rasterize everything. If you export the layout in PDF the vector elements will remain vector-based. The printed face will look better. Plus the file size will probably be smaller and easier/faster to upload to the printing company's server.

joãod67766944Author

Participant

Thank you! Very helpful!

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

I get an error ("An unknown error caused the operation to fail") after several minutes of progress bar.

It may be simply too large for Illustrator. Does the file need to be a TIFF? Can you use a PDF?

joãod67766944Author

Participant

Thank you for the quick response. I can do PDF but it will be a large format scaled down pdf. Thats works form me but i've had problems with some clients and print shops about that. So what would be your recommendation to export this to?

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

You should be able to make a 1:1 scale PDF at that size.

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