Illustrator 16 – Exporting and Saving

Illustrator 16 – Exporting and Saving

August 3, 2023

Adobe Illustrator offers various options for exporting and saving your illustrations in different formats, suitable for both print and web use. Let’s explore how to export illustrations for print and web and how to save files in different formats:

Exporting Illustrations for Print

To export an illustration for print, go to “File” > “Export” or use the shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + E” (Windows) or “Cmd + Shift + E” (Mac).

Choose a format suitable for print, such as PDF or EPS.

In the export dialog box, select the appropriate settings for your print requirements, such as color space, resolution, and compression.

Click “Export” to save the file in the selected format.

PDF and EPS are common print formats that preserve vector data and are widely accepted by print service providers.

Exporting Illustrations for Web

To export an illustration for web use, go to “File” > “Export” > “Export for Screens” or use the shortcut “Alt + Ctrl + E” (Windows) or “Option + Cmd + E” (Mac).

In the “Export for Screens” dialog box, you can choose the desired format, such as PNG, JPEG, or SVG.

Select the artboards you want to export or choose “All” if you want to export all artboards.

Adjust the export settings like resolution and quality as per your web requirements.

Click “Export Artboard” to save the file in the selected format.

PNG and JPEG are raster formats suitable for web graphics, while SVG is a vector format that is ideal for scalable web graphics.

Saving in Different Formats

To save your Illustrator file, go to “File” > “Save” or use the shortcut “Ctrl + S” (Windows) or “Cmd + S” (Mac).

Illustrator files are saved in the .ai format, which preserves all vector data, layers, and editable elements.

To save your file in other formats, go to “File” > “Save As” and choose the desired format from the list.

AI format: .ai (native Illustrator format for preserving vector data).

EPS format: .eps (suitable for print and compatibility with other software).

PDF format: .pdf (suitable for both print and electronic distribution).

SVG format: .svg (ideal for scalable web graphics).

You can also save a copy of your artwork in a different format without replacing the original .ai file.

Remember to consider the specific requirements of your print or web project when exporting or saving your illustrations. Choosing the appropriate file format ensures that your artwork looks its best and is compatible with the intended use.