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Illustrator

Illustrator

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  1. Illustrator User Guide
  2. Get to know Illustrator
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
      1. What's new in Illustrator
      2. Common questions
      3. Illustrator system requirements
      4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
      6. Default keyboard shortcuts
      7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      8. Introduction to artboards
      9. Manage artboards
      10. Customize the workspace
      11. Properties panel
      12. Set preferences
      13. Touch Workspace
      14. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      15. Undo edits and manage design history
      16. Rotate view
      17. Rulers, grids, and guides
      18. Accessibility in Illustrator
      19. Safe Mode
      20. View artwork
      21. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      22. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
        2. Direct Selection
        3. Group Selection
        4. Magic Wand
        5. Lasso
        6. Artboard
      3. Navigate tools
        1. Hand
        2. Rotate View
        3. Zoom
      4. Paint tools
        1. Gradient
        2. Mesh
        3. Shape Builder
      5. Text tools
        1. Type
        2. Type on a Path
        3. Vertical Type
      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
        3. Delete Anchor Point
        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
        6. Line Segment
        7. Rectangle
        8. Rounded Rectangle
        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
        13. Blob Brush
        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
        8. Blend
        9. Eraser
        10. Scissors
        11. Dimension
    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
      2. Generate vector patterns using text prompts
      3. Generate vector shape fills using text prompts
      4. Recolor your artwork using text prompts
    5. Quick actions
      1. Retro text
      2. Neon glow text
      3. Old school text
      4. Recolor
      5. Convert sketch to vector
  3. Illustrator on the web (beta)
    1. Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
    2. Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
    3. Troubleshooting issues FAQ
    4. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
    5. Create and combine shapes on the web
    6. Add and edit text on the web
    7. Apply colors and gradients on the web
    8. Draw and edit paths on the web
    9. Work with cloud documents on the web
    10. Invite collaborators to edit on the web
  4. Illustrator on the iPad
    1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
      1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
      2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
      4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
      3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
      4. Manage your app settings
    3. Documents
      1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
      2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
    4. Select and arrange objects
      1. Create repeat objects
      2. Blend objects
    5. Drawing
      1. Draw and edit paths
      2. Draw and edit shapes
    6. Type
      1. Work with type and fonts
      2. Create text designs along a path
      3. Add your own fonts
    7. Work with images
      1. Vectorize raster images
    8. Color
      1. Apply colors and gradients
  5. Cloud documents
    1. Basics
      1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
      3. Share documents for review
      4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
      5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
  6. Add and edit content
    1. Drawing
      1. Drawing basics
      2. Edit paths
      3. Draw pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
      5. Draw simple lines and shapes
      6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
      7. Draw and edit flares
      8. Trace images
      9. Simplify a path
      10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
      11. Adjust path segments
      12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
      13. Create and edit a perspective grid
      14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
      15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
      16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
    2. Measurement
      1. Measure and plot dimensions
    3. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
      3. Map artwork over 3D objects
      4. Create 3D Text
      5. Create 3D objects
    4. Color
      1. About color
      2. Select colors
      3. Use and create swatches
      4. Adjust colors
      5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
      6. Color groups (harmonies)
      7. Color Themes panel
      8. Recolor your artwork
    5. Painting
      1. About painting
      2. Paint with fills and strokes
      3. Live Paint groups
      4. Gradients
      5. Brushes
      6. Transparency and blending modes
      7. Apply stroke on an object
      8. Create and edit patterns
      9. Meshes
      10. Patterns
    6. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Group and expand objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
      6. Snap objects to glyph
      7. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      8. Stack objects    
      9. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      10. Copy and duplicate objects
      11. Rotate and reflect objects
      12. Intertwine objects
      13. Create realistic art mockups
    7. Reshape objects
      1. Crop images
      2. Transform objects
      3. Combine objects
      4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
      5. Puppet Warp
      6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
      7. Blend objects
      8. Reshape using envelopes
      9. Reshape objects with effects
      10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
      11. Work with Live Corners
      12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
      13. Edit clipping masks
      14. Live shapes
      15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
      16. Global editing
    8. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Reflow Viewer
      3. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      4. Manage text area
      5. Fonts and typography
      6. Convert text within images into editable text
      7. Add basic formatting to text
      8. Add advanced formatting to text
      9. Import and export text
      10. Format paragraphs
      11. Special characters
      12. Create type on a path
      13. Character and paragraph styles
      14. Tabs
      15. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      16. Arabic and Hebrew type
      17. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      18. Creative typography designs
      19. Scale and rotate type
      20. Line and character spacing
      21. Hyphenation and line breaks
      22. Spelling and language dictionaries
      23. Format Asian characters
      24. Composers for Asian scripts
      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
    9. Create special effects
      1. Work with effects
      2. Graphic styles
      3. Appearance attributes
      4. Create sketches and mosaics
      5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
      6. Summary of effects
    10. Web graphics
      1. Best practices for creating web graphics
      2. Graphs
      3. SVG
      4. Slices and image maps
  7. Import, export, and save
    1. Import
      1. Place multiple files
      2. Manage linked and embedded files
      3. Links information
      4. Unembed images
      5. Import artwork from Photoshop
      6. Import bitmap images
      7. Import Adobe PDF files
      8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator 
      1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
    3. Save and export
      1. Save artwork
      2. Export artwork
      3. Create Adobe PDF files
      4. Adobe PDF options
      5. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
      6. Collect assets and export in batches
      7. Package files
      8. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
      9. Document info panel
  8. Printing
    1. Prepare for printing
      1. Set up documents for printing
      2. Change the page size and orientation
      3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
      4. Get started with large canvas
    2. Printing
      1. Overprint
      2. Print with color management
      3. PostScript printing
      4. Print presets
      5. Printer's marks and bleeds
      6. Print and save transparent artwork
      7. Trapping
      8. Print color separations
      9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
      10. White Overprint
  9. Automate tasks
    1. Data merge using the Variables panel
    2. Automation with scripts
    3. Automation with actions
  10. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash issues
    4. Recover files after crash
    5. File issues
    6. Supported file formats
    7. GPU device driver issues
    8. Wacom device issues
    9. DLL file issues
    10. Memory issues
    11. Preferences file issues
    12. Font issues
    13. Printer issues
    14. Share crash report with Adobe
    15. Improve Illustrator performance

Learn how to export your artwork from Illustrator and the various export options of the supported file formats.

Export artwork

  1. Choose File > Export > Export As.

  2. Select a location for the file, and enter a filename.

  3. Select a file format Save As Type (Windows) or Format (macOS).

    If your document contains multiple artboards, specify how to export the artboards.

    • To export each artboard as a separate file, select Use Artboards in the Export dialog box. 
    • To export all the artboards as a single file, select All.
    • To export only a range of artboards, specify the Range.

  4. Select Export.

Background export

When you export assets from a file using  File > Export > Exports for Screens, Illustrator runs the export process in the background by default. It helps you save a lot of time and improves productivity. Choose Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard > Export in Background to turn off background export. As you can continue to work on the file even when the file is being exported, do remember to save or export your latest changes on the file.

Check progress

To check the progress of the background export process, you can click the progress icon on the menu bar. 

If multiple files are getting exported in the background simultaneously, the individual progress for all of them is displayed. Once the export is complete, you'll receive a message.

If you want to stop the export process for any file, select Cancel in the progress bar.

Note:
  • Currently, only the raster file formats, .png and .jpg, can be exported in the background. The .svg and .pdf file formats follow the standard export process.
  • If you select a combination of raster file formats and .svg/.pdf file formats, the export process will not run in the background.

File formats for exporting artwork

AutoCAD Drawing and AutoCAD Interchange File (DWG and DXF)
  • AutoCAD Drawing is the standard file format for saving vector graphics created in AutoCAD. 
  • AutoCAD Interchange File is a drawing interchange format for exporting AutoCAD drawings to or importing drawings from other applications. For more information, see AutoCAD export options. 

BMP

A standard Windows image format. For more information, see BMP export options. 

Enhanced Metafile (EMF)

Widely used by Windows applications as an interchange format for exporting vector graphics data. Illustrator may rasterize some vector data when exporting artwork to EMF format.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG is a standard format for displaying images over the web. Commonly used to save photographs. It retains all color information in an image but compresses file size by selectively discarding data. For more information, see JPEG export options.

Macintosh PICT

Used with macOS graphics and page-layout applications to transfer images between applications. PICT is especially effective at compressing images with large areas of solid color.

Photoshop (PSD)

The standard Photoshop format. If your artwork contains data that cannot be exported to Photoshop format, Illustrator preserves the appearance of the artwork by merging the layers in the document or by rasterizing the artwork. For more information, see Photoshop export options.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

Used for lossless compression and for display of images on the web. PNG preserves transparency in grayscale and RGB images. For more information, see PNG export options. 

Targa (TGA)

Designed for use on systems that use the Truevision® video board. For more information, see Targa export options.

Text Format (TXT)

Used to export text in an illustration to a text file. For more information, see Export text.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

The SVG format is entirely XML-based and offers many advantages to developers and users alike. For more information, see SVG export options.

TIFF (Tagged-Image File Format)

Used to exchange files between applications and computer platforms. TIFF is a flexible bitmap image format supported by most paint, image-editing, and page-layout applications. Most desktop scanners can produce TIFF files. For more information, see TIFF export options.

Windows Metafile (WMF)

An intermediate exchange format for 16‑bit Windows applications. WMF format is supported by almost all Windows drawing and layout programs. However, it has limited vector graphics support, and wherever possible, EMF format should be used in place of WMF format.

WebP

WebP is a modern image format that provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web. It maintains high image quality and reduces file sizes, which results in faster page loading times and better user experiences across the internet. For more information, see WebP export options.

PDF

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a universal file format that preserves the fonts, images, and layout of source documents created on a wide range of applications and platforms. Adobe PDF is the standard for the secure, reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world. For more information, see Create Adobe PDF files.
Note:
  • You can export multiple artboards only to the following formats: SWF, JPEG, PSD, PNG, and TIFF.
  • You can also save an image as a PNG or JPEG file using the Save For Web & Devices command.

AutoCAD export options

When you export artwork to either DXF or DWG format, you can set the following options:

Auto CAD DXF/DWG Export Options dialog box
Auto CAD DXF/DWG export options

AutoCAD Version

Specifies the version of AutoCAD that supports the exported file.

Scale

Enter values for Scale Units to specify how Illustrator interprets length data when writing the AutoCAD file.

Scale Lineweights

Scales the lineweights, along with the rest of the drawing, in the exported file.

Number of Colors

Determines the color depth of the exported file

Raster File Format

Specifies whether images and objects that are rasterized during export are saved in PNG or JPEG format. Only PNG supports transparency; if you need to preserve appearance to the maximum extent possible, choose PNG.

Preserve Appearance

Select if you need the appearance to be maintained and don’t need to make edits to the exported file. Selecting this option may lead to a significant loss of editability. For example, text may be outlined and effects will be rasterized. You can select this option or Maximum Editability, but not both.

Maximum Editability

Select if the need to edit the file in AutoCAD outweighs the need for maintaining appearance. This option may lead to significant loss of appearance, especially if you’ve applied style effects. You can select this option or Preserve Appearance, but not both.

Export Selected Art Only

Exports only the artwork in the file that is selected at the time of export. If no artwork is selected, a blank file is exported.

Alter Paths For Appearance

Changes the paths in AutoCAD to maintain the original appearance, if necessary. For example, if during the export, a path overlaps other objects and changes their appearance, this option alters the path to maintain the objects’ appearance.

Outline Text

Converts all text to paths before export to maintain appearance. Illustrator and AutoCAD may interpret text attributes differently. Select this option to maintain maximum visual fidelity (at the cost of editability). If you need to edit the text in AutoCAD, don’t select this option.

Always Export Group as Block Reference

Select this if you need to export a group of objects available in an artwork as a block in DWG/DXF file format.
Note:

By default, white strokes or fills in Illustrator artwork are exported to the AutoCAD formats as black strokes or fills, and black strokes or fills in Illustrator are exported to the AutoCAD format as white.

BMP and TARGA export options

When you export artwork to BMP or Targa format, you can set the following options:

Color Model

Determines the color model of the exported file.

Resolution

Determines the resolution of the exported file.

Anti-aliasing

Removes jagged edges in the artwork by supersampling it. Deselecting this option helps maintain the hard edges of line art when it is rasterized.
Rasterize Options while exporting BMP or Targa file
Rasterize options while exporting BMP or Targa file

JPEG export options

When you export artwork to JPEG format, you can set the following options:

jpeg export options dialog box
JPEG export options

Color Model

Determines the color model of the JPEG file.

Quality

Determines the quality and size of the JPEG file.

Compression Method
  • Select Baseline (Standard) to use a format recognized by most web browsers.
  • Select Baseline Optimized for optimized color and a slightly smaller file size.
  • Select Progressive to display a series of increasingly detailed scans (you specify how many) as the image downloads.

Baseline Optimized and Progressive JPEG images are not supported by all web browsers.

Resolution

Determines the resolution of the JPEG file.

Anti-aliasing

Removes jagged edges in the artwork by supersampling it. Deselecting this option helps maintain the hard edges of line art when it is rasterized.

Imagemap

Generates code for image maps. Select Client-side (.html) or Server-side (.map) to determine the type of file generated.

Embed ICC Profiles

Saves ICC profiles in the JPEG file.
Note:

Artifacts, such as wave-like patterns or blocky areas of banding, are added to a file each time you save the file as a JPEG. Always save JPEG files from the original image, not from a previously saved JPEG.

Photoshop export options

When you export artwork to PSD format, you can set the following options:

Photoshop Export Options dialog box
Photoshop export options

Color Model

Determines the color model of the exported file. Exporting a CMYK document as RGB, or vice versa may cause unexpected changes in the appearance of transparent areas, especially those that include blending modes. If you change the color model, you must export the artwork as a Flat Image (the Write Layers option isn’t available).

Resolution

Determines the resolution of the exported file.

Flat Image

Merges all layers and exports the Illustrator artwork as a rasterized image. Choosing this option preserves the visual appearance of the artwork.

Write Layers

Exports groups, compound shapes, nested layers, and slices as separate, editable Photoshop layers. Nested layers that are more than five levels deep are merged into a single Photoshop layer. Select Maximum Editability to export transparent objects (that is, objects with an opacity mask, a constant opacity less than 100%, or a blending mode other than Normal) as live, editable Photoshop layers.

Preserve Text Editability

Exports horizontal and vertical point type in layers (including nested layers up to five levels deep) to editable Photoshop type. Deselect this option to rasterize the text instead if it affects the appearance of the artwork.

Maximum Editability

Top-level layers become Photoshop layer sets. Transparent objects remain editable transparent objects. Also creates a Photoshop shape layer for each compound shape in a top‑level layer if doesn’t affect the appearance of the artwork. To write compound shapes with solid strokes, change the Join type to Round. Whether or not you select this option, all layers over 5 levels deep are merged into a single Photoshop layer.

Anti-aliasing

Removes jagged edges in the artwork by supersampling it. Deselecting this option helps maintain the hard edges of line art when it’s rasterized.

Embed ICC Profiles

Creates a color-managed document.

PNG export options

When you export artwork to PNG file, you can set the following options:

Resolution

Determines the resolution of the rasterized image. Higher resolution values result in better image quality but larger file sizes.

Anti-aliasing

Removes jagged edges in the artwork by supersampling it. Deselecting this option helps maintain the hard edges of line art when it is rasterized.

Interlaced

Displays low-resolution versions of the image as the file downloads in a browser.

Background Color

Specifies a color for filling transparency.

  • Transparent to preserve transparency.
  • White to fill transparency with white.
  • Black to fill transparency with black.
PNG Export Options dialog box
PNG export options

SVG export options

When you export artwork to SVG format, you can set the following options:

SVG export options dialog box
SVG export options

Styling

Choose how visual styling information is stored in the SVG markup.

  • Internal CSS: Uses a single `<style>` tag with CSS classes, sharing styling settings between objects that have the same styles. This may lead to smaller file sizes.
  • Inline Style: Uses a single `style` attribute per SVG tag, containing all tag’s style properties combined in CSS syntax.
  • Presentation Attributes: Uses separate XML attributes for each individual style property on each SVG tag. This format is required to use SVG assets with Android Studio.

Font

Choose how fonts are represented in the SVG file. Outlines preserve the path definition and are most compatible.

Images

Choose if you want images to be saved as embedded within the document or linked files external to the document.

Object IDs

Select how ID types (names) are assigned to objects in the SVG file. Choose between Layer Names, Minimal, or Unique.This option determines how duplicate names of objects are handled and how objects are named in the exported CSS.

Decimal

Choose how much information you want to preserve the precision of object locations. A higher value for Decimal will increase the precision of how objects are laid out, and this increases the visual fidelity of the rendered SVG. However, increasing the value of Decimal also increases the file size of the resulting exported SVG.

Minify

Optimizes the file size of the SVG by removing empty groups and blank spaces. Choosing this option also reduces the readability of the resulting SVG code.

Responsive

Checking this option ensures that the SVG-generated scales are within a browser. No absolute size values are written.

Show Code

Opens the exported content in your default text editor.

Show in browser  

Displays the image in your default web browser.

TIFF export options

When you export artwork to TIFF file, you can set the following options:

Color Model

Determines the color model of the exported file.

Resolution

Determines the resolution of the rasterized image.

Anti-aliasing

Removes jagged edges in the artwork by supersampling it. Deselecting this option helps maintain the hard edges of line art when it is rasterized.
TIFF Options dialog box
TIFF export options

LZW Compression

A lossless compression method that does not discard detail from the image. Select this option to produce a smaller file.

Embed ICC Profiles

Creates a color-managed document.

WebP export options

When you export artwork to webp file, you can set the following options:

WebP export options
WebP export options

Lossless

Select this to preserve all image details. This may result in a larger file size.

Lossy

Select this to get a lower file size at the cost of loss of details in the image.

Quality

Use the Quality slider to decide the quality when using Lossy compression to specify trade-off between details and file size. Higher quality preserves greater details at the cost of larger file sizes.

Resolution

Determines the resolution of the rasterized image.

Anti-aliasing

Removes jagged edges in the artwork by supersampling it. Deselecting this option helps maintain the hard edges of line art when it is rasterized.

Background Color

Specifies a color for filling transparency.

Embed ICC Profiles

Creates a color-managed document.

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