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Juniperr2
Participant
August 4, 2022
Answered

Please help me understand a sizing/resolution issue.

  • August 4, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 4884 views

I'm hoping someone that someone can help me understand a sizing/resolution quesiton. Thank you in advance! I'm trying to learn.

 

I saved a JPEG file from Procreate as a 4096x4096 pixel image at 300 dpi. I placed this image into a 2000x2000 pixel, 300 ppi art board in Illustrator, fully expecting the embedded image to appear larger than the artboard. But, it appears as a slightly less than 1000x1000 pixel image, per the art board rulers. I am so confused. When, I look at the Document Info for the embedded file, it says that the image is 4096x4096 at 300 ppi. Is this beause ppi and dpi are so different? 

 

So, when moving back and forth between Procreate and and AI, how should I approach this discrepancy? Is it best to work in inches instead of pixels? 

 

Thank you for any help you can provide. I appreciate it!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Monika Gause

Resolution is just metadata.

Illustrator uses the resolution to calculate the size of your image.

So since your resolution says that there should be 300 pixels in an inch, Illustrator scales the placed image so that there are 300 pixels in an inch.

 

In which way do you plan to use the Illustrator file? Do you plan to print it?

4 replies

sara_pixels
sara_pixels
Inspiring
August 4, 2022

If it helps, remember that standard screen size is considered 72ppi, mostly because that's about what monitors used to be when that standard stuck.  Standard print size is generally considered to be 300ppi.  300 / 72 = 4.1667 (I'm rounding there).

That means that Illustrator is translating your 300ppi rastered art at less than a quarter of it's full pixel count when it places it into your Illustrator artboard.  It's dividing your pixel count by 4.1667 so that when you later export at 300ppi it can multiply everything by 4.1667 and give you that high resolution.  That should put your placed 2000x2000 image in at roughly 983x983.  So if you want something to take up 2000 pixels of screen space and then export at 300ppi, it's going to need about 8334 pixels of resolution not to lose quality when you run that export.  If I'm making this all sound more confusing than please feel free to igore this part, but I find it helpful to think through from time to time.

Working in inches can be helpful for certain uses, but remember that in screen resolution, one inch is only 72 pixels, but in print resolution one inch is 300, so you can still run into the same translation issue.  It's just a matter of what is easier for you to look at while working. 

Hopefully I said all of that right.  And good luck.  🙂

sara_pixels
sara_pixels
Inspiring
August 4, 2022

This is because Illustrator is trying to do the math on how many pixels of screen space your 4096x4096 image would take up and still have the resolution for 300 dpi/ppi when exported.  If this is not a print job, and you don't actually need that resolution, you can always use the shape or transform menus to reset the size to what it actually should be.  Just be aware that if you size your image within your artboard at full size and then export a rastered image at 300 ppi, your final full size image will likely be a little fuzzy or pixelated.  If you are working at final size though, you will be fine.  Does that make sense?

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 4, 2022

Resolution is just metadata.

Illustrator uses the resolution to calculate the size of your image.

So since your resolution says that there should be 300 pixels in an inch, Illustrator scales the placed image so that there are 300 pixels in an inch.

 

In which way do you plan to use the Illustrator file? Do you plan to print it?

Kevin Stohlmeyer
Community Expert
Kevin StohlmeyerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 4, 2022

There is no PPI in Illustrator. That setting is for raster effects. Also its showing your file is 24 bit, you need to conver this to 8 bit.

 

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