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Illustrator png export options

Community Beginner ,
Nov 16, 2020 Nov 16, 2020

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I'm exporting an illustrator file as a png and see there are three options to choose from. Is one better than the others or are they essentially the same? I notice the file sizes are different and for "Export As" I can select resolution so curious if that makes that much of a difference for the quality of a png. Is it worth it to select "Export As" with a high resolution and art optimized? Does it create a png file that much better than the other options?

 

For the three options here are the settings I selected and the resulting file sizes. 

 

"Export for Screens" - scale at 1x and file size is 230 KB

"Export As" - Resolution High (300 ppi), Anti-aliasing Art Optimized (Supersampling) and the file size is 1,516 KB

"Save for Web" - selected PNG-24 at 1x and the file size is 202 KB

 

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Expert , Nov 17, 2020 Nov 17, 2020

Calvin,

 

This may sound unforgivably outdated and boring, sorry.

 

If you wish to have PNGs (PNG24 (also (little) known as PNG32, it holds 24 bit colour and 8 bit Alpha channel (transparency)), of course) look crisp and clean, at least when it is (also) to be used at moderate screen resolutions, it is important to have the images in the exact desired final pixel x pixel size, or at sizes that are powers of 2 times as large (2x, 4x, 8x, and so on, the larger values can improve the appearance on

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Community Expert ,
Nov 17, 2020 Nov 17, 2020

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If you set a higher resolution, you get a larger file (also in pixel dimensions)

For the other difference: The export functions use different code.

Art optimized is usually better when there is no text in your file and also it suppresses specific artefacts under certain circumstances.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 17, 2020 Nov 17, 2020

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The choice depends on what your usage of the png will be. If it is possible that the image will need to be enlarged then choosing a higher resolution will be necessary. Otherwise the clue is in the name of each option. Match how you'll be using the file to the choice you make.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 17, 2020 Nov 17, 2020

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Calvin,

 

This may sound unforgivably outdated and boring, sorry.

 

If you wish to have PNGs (PNG24 (also (little) known as PNG32, it holds 24 bit colour and 8 bit Alpha channel (transparency)), of course) look crisp and clean, at least when it is (also) to be used at moderate screen resolutions, it is important to have the images in the exact desired final pixel x pixel size, or at sizes that are powers of 2 times as large (2x, 4x, 8x, and so on, the larger values can improve the appearance on high resolution screens and ensure best possible appearance at low resolution screens); forget about resolution which may actually lead to wrong sizes and hence blurriness, or work at 72PPI or powers of 2 times as large (144PPI, 266PPI, 576PPI, and so on).

 

It is easiest and safest to work at the desired size when creating the artwork.

 

It is important to remember that a raster image repesents the whole appearance, including strokes, so to make sure you get it right you can click Show Preview Bounds in the General Preferences (and untick it afterwards).

 

A very common unsuitable way is to Export to PNG (remember to use PNG24 and use Transparency for artwork to be in front of different backgrounds) with a medium or high resolution, such as 300PPI.

 

And a common misunderstanding: (almost) 11 out of 10 times, a statement like "I created the document at 300 PPI" means that the value is chosen in Effect>Document Raster Effects Settings; however that only means that the (current) resolution of any raster effects applied to the vector artwork, such as (any kind of) Blur, is set to that value (and only unless/until the value is changed to something else); when zooming in, this resolution can be seen in contrast to and on the background of the vector artwork. So this setting has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual resolution of a raster image created from the (vector) artwork (but it ought to (at least) match it).

 


For clean and crisp artwork avoid JPEG.

 

It is also important to have the artwork and also the Artboard placed fully within integer/whole pixel X and Y values in the Workspace, which means that the X and Y values at the corners must be integer; this can be ensured by using one of the corner Reference Points in the Transform palette, and then checking that all the values X, Y, W, and H, are integer (the centre Reference Point can only be used if both W and H are even numbers).

 

Otherwise the resulting image will become a bit wider/taller and the extension(s) will be empty and therefore be (partially) transparent/white.

 


Therefore, the safest way is to create the artwork at the final pixel x pixel size and use a corresponding Artboard, then either use the Legacity Save for Web (where you can look in the Image Size window for size confirmation and possibly multiply by 2, 4, 8, whatever) or Export at 72PPI (or 144/288/576/whatever PPI). In either case, use the relevant optimization (available with both ways); it is also convenient to have 72PPI (or 144/288/576/whatever PPI) in the Effect>Document Raster Effect Settings.

 

 

If you have pure vector artwork, you can relax a bit and have the artwork/Artboard at any size (the Artboard must have the same proportions as the final image), then use the Legacity Save for Web and set either Width or Height in the Image Size and Apply (make sure the other value is also correct).

 

The Legacy Save for Web may be an old carthorse, but it knows its way home, even if the driver is drunk and sleeping it off in the hay in the back.

 

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