Issue with simple logo quality exporting to PNG 24

[Yash Ivory]

Hi!

I created a simple logo design and when exporting it, the image quality looks poor and not crisp and clean. I exported it as PNG 24 with transparent background. The reason I did not export in SVG is because I am using it for letter head for documents and the file format is not supported. I have attached a screen shot of my export setting, and the image of the logo itself. I really hope the community can help me understand why this is happening, as it is fairly plain right now just including a typeface in black.

 

[Monika Gause]

How do you want to use it in your letter head?

Print it?

Place it in Word?

For printing a PDF might be suited better.

For Word, a PNG is OK, but you need a larger size. Then place it and scale it down in Word.

You cannot zoom into a PNG. It's not scalable

[Bobby Henderson · Accepted solution]

What is the target application where your "YD Co." graphic would serve as part of a letter head? Is it something like MS Word? I'm asking in case there is a possibility a better format than PNG can be used. The image in the export dialog box listed a resolution of 372px X 93px, which isn't enough for lettering that is intended to print sharp and clean.

Vector-based artwork will display and print in the best quality. The trick is whether the application where the letter head will be used can use vector-based artwork. Even if SVG could work in the target application the format isn't optimal since it is hard-wired for RGB use.

If a pixel-based image format has to be used, I'd recommend using something else besides PNG (and not use the Save for Web dialog box either). I would use a file format like TIFF since it supports CMYK, or use PSD if the image has to be CMYK and have a transparent background.

If your "YD Co." graphic is the only thing on the page/artboard (and it is sized how big you want it to be on the page), go to File>Export>Export As... When the Export dialog box pops up make sure "Use Artboards" is not checked, that way it will only export the lettering. When you click "OK" it will bring up a smaller options dialog box. The options vary depending on the file format picked. TIF and PSD will let you choose RGB, CMYK or Grayscale color models along with letting you choose standard or custom-defined image resolutions. You can export a high resolution, transparent PNG image from the Export>Export As... dialog box, but it will be a RGB-based image file (no options to save in CMYK).

[Yash Ivory]

Hi Bobby,

Thank you for your response!  I am using the image in a google doc that will likely remain digital, although a client might print it.  How do I increase the resolution of the image from 372px X 93px to something higher?  I exported a TIFF file per your recommendation, however google docs says it is not a supported file format.  Do you know how I can export a high quality, crisp version of the logo that can be used in google docs, and supports a transparent background? 

[Monika Gause]

Your artwork is a vector graphic? In that case just scale it when exporting it. You can do that using different techniques in the different export options. With save for web, just enter the size you want.

You can use PNG images in Google Docs. Open the PNG in Photoshop or the like to attach the color profile you used in Illustrator when creating it, since Illustrator does not attach a color profile when exporting PNG.

[Yash Ivory]

Hi! Thank you so much for your reply. What does "attach color profile" mean? I appreciate your insight!

[Monika Gause]

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@Yash Ivory  schrieb:

Hi! Thank you so much for your reply. What does "attach color profile" mean? I appreciate your insight!

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When exporting a PNG, Illustrator does not embed a color profile. But Google docs might then display the wrong colors when you use the image (not completely off, but maybe slightly)

So in order to deal with this you can open the PNG in Photoshop and then Edit > Attach profile

Select the color profile you are using in Illustrator. Do not "Convert to profile"

[Yash Ivory]

Thank you! I did not know this.

[Bobby Henderson]

If you have to use a pixel-based format like PNG or WebP you can use the File>Export>Export As... dialog to create a high resolution pixel version of your vector lettering. The 372px X 93px size of your image is due to using the 72ppi default. In the Export As... dialog box you can define a different resolution, such as 300ppi or a custom setting, such as 600ppi for example. PNG and WebP can create images with transparent backgrounds.

[Monika Gause]

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@Bobby Henderson  schrieb:

PNG and WebP can create images with transparent backgrounds.

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I just did some tests with WebP and the quality is quite disappointing when you apply compression (even when the quality is 100%) - without compression on the other hand there is no advantage compared to PNG.

[Yash Ivory]

Thanks for sharing your test results Bobby! I did increase the resolution for the PNG, and got a better result to use in Google docs, however I would still love to understand how people achieve super crisp exports for these type of documents. I have seen examples in the past, however I don't have a reference today to show you. I appreciate your help!

On another note, I tried to export an SVG file to adobe XD from Illustrator, however when I went to scale the image the layers started coming apart, as in when attempting to resize the alignment of layers would not stay synchronized. Would you happen to know why that would happen?

[Bobby Henderson]

If you're limited to using a transparent PNG image you can simply ramp up the resolution level to make the rasterized lettering look as sharp as you like. Obviously this has to be balanced against file size. In my opinion, 300ppi really isn't sharp enough to gain a vector-like apperance from lettering or logos. 600ppi is far less likely to show any noticeable pixel jaggies when printing on plain paper. To get razor sharp results when printing on smooth paper stock (like photo paper) it might be necessary to bump up to 1200ppi. In a perfect world we wouldn't have to mess with work-arounds like this and just use superior vector-based elements. Vector art will print at the maximum resolution of the printing device all while being far more efficent (smaller) in terms of file size.