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Per Hagdahl
Per Hagdahl
Participant
November 6, 2018
Question

Illustrator SVG export dimension problem

  • November 6, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 3727 views

Hi,

I am working with powerpoint presentations where I do some graphics in Illustrator.

On my mac that is not an issue, just copy and paste between Illustrator and Powerpoint, and everything works just fine.

I have now switched to PC for different reasons, and then a problem arises: The graphics that I paste in powerpoint appears in a much smaller dimension.

For example, a rectangle that is 32 cm in Illustrator become just 24 cm when pasted into Powerpoint (with "include svg" option on). Same result if I export the rectangle as a SVG and import as picture in Powerpoint.

However, if I export the rectangle as a PNG-file and import it in Powerpoint, it will be the correct 32 cm size. So it must be the svg conversion that is the problem in some way.

I use Illustrator CC and the latest version of Powerpoint.

Does anyone have a solution to this?

Thanks!

/Per

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    H
    Hobbes0022
    Known Participant
    March 16, 2020

    Illustrator assumes 72 dpi for SVG files, and writes the SVG with a size in pixels (width=...px) based on 72 dpi. Powerpoint probably assumes 96 dpi, which makes your images appear 33% smaller than you expect.

    When Illustrator saves to PNG, you can adjust the dpi setting, and unlike the SVG export, this dpi setting is saved in the file.

    you can either edit the SVG (it's just an XML file) and insert the correct dimensions, or you can use a different file format that does not have this problem. Unfortunately Illustrator doesn't allow you to save SVG with sensible units (mm) or to change its dpi assumption.

     

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 6, 2018

      When you export a PNG file - which route do you go?

      When exporting via Save for web, it automatically is assigned a resolution of 72 ppi.

      An SVG doesn't have a resolution, it has pixel dimensions.

      Do you really work in mm for your presentation? I would change this to pixels first. Determine the size in pixels you need in PowerPoint and then set that in Illustrator and turn rulers to pixels.

      But still PowerPoint might interpret resolution differently. Presentation software sometimes behaves odd with resolution.

      So you might need to ask in PowerPoint forums how PowerPoint works with SVG.

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