resolution issues with printing- using a desing from a different program

[AminaMAnnous]

hi there super new to illustrator!

I designed a welcome sign ( on a different program) using purchased vector files and font files but when the final design was printed the font mostly was affected- came out pixelated.

I assume that it was due to using the incorrect page size but the A1 size wasn't available on the program.

so my question is:

can I open the jpg. file in illustrator on the correct size I need for printing and the print would come out as seen on my screen?

if so, is there a particular saving process to ensure the file is of the highest resolution?

or should I just attempt to redo the design from scratch on illustrator?

thanks!

[jdanek]

You have to make sure you have the font suitcase consisting of a screen font and a printer font ( or get the open type font ).  Another possibility is you did not save the font in the file and/or did not supply the printer the font and they were forced to print using the preview.  You should recreate the file in Illustrator. Use a raster resolution appropriate for the print. PDF with embedded fonts would be ideal. Always proof the file by printing it or having it printed before you go to the printer. You will catch any problems before committing to an entire press run.

[Bill Silbert]

If you were using real vector files with actual type fonts then there should not have been any pixelization at all if the job was printed by a commercial printer. This begs the question as to how your job actually was printed. Was it printed directly from the other program (please let us know what it was—information is crucial in trying to help you)? Or was it printed from a pdf that may have not been of a high enough quality.

It just occurred to me that you speak of using a jpeg file. A jpeg is not a vector file and is resolution dependent. This means that even if it looks OK at 100% size, it will show pixelization if enlarged. Please be specific about all of the steps that you have taken.

Based on what you've provided so far, though, it sounds like starting over and creating a real vector file in Illustrator (saved as an .ai or pdf) will ultimately be the best move.

[AminaMAnnous]

Hi Bill,

thank you for your response. in regards to specific steps taken

- I used an online program called Picmonkey ( as it was a very easy program to navigate) being this was my first attempt at a simple project.

- files were purchased from creative market as vector files to use for my designs

-once the design was completed they were saved as a jpeg file and sent directly to a commercial printing company (which is the format they asked for)- was told by the company that the page size the design was on was not the correct one for size I was wanting to print which is why they came out pixelated.

in your response you stated to be saved as a ai. or pdf. if I was to open the existing jpeg file in illustrator and save it as ai. will this resolve the issue?

thank you.

[Theresa J]

Saving the file as a jpeg rasterized it, meaning it is no longer vector. Jpeg images are made up of pixels. For a sign project like this you definitely want to keep it all vector. There is no way to go backwards from the jpeg. Opening the jpeg in Illustrator will not make it vector. You need to go back to the original file and save it as a PDF.

[Bill Silbert]

AminaMAnnous  wrote

in your response you stated to be saved as a ai. or pdf. if I was to open the existing jpeg file in illustrator and save it as ai. will this resolve the issue?

The problem you had with the jpeg will persist since it is and always will be resolution dependent. As I said in my first post an .ai or pdf will not be resolution dependent. It's most probable that a printer that asks for a jpeg is looking for a file that is not application specific like an .ai file. It's more likely that they will accept a pdf which can be open in a number of programs. After first recreating your poster in Illustrator as a vector, ask the printer if they will accept a pdf.

[ceyhun_akgun]

Adobe Illustrator is a Vectorel program, but objects with effect effects become pixelated. In this case, you should set the resolution to 300 ppi in your RASTER settings. Effect> Document Raster Effect Settings The higher the Resulation value, the better your print quality when working with pixels (jpeg, PSD, tiff, png). This is an average of 300 ppi. Attention: The resolution values ​​for web, digital printing, paper offset printing vary according to need.