Cover image: AI-generated editorial concept; not a customer project or production proof.
Save an AI master first, then create the format needed for web, print or sharing. Saving preserves your working document; exporting prepares another version for its destination. Editability depends on the format and settings—exports are not automatically uneditable. Adobe’s saving guide explains this distinction.
Save an editable Illustrator master
Choose File > Save As and select a local destination if prompted.
Enter a filename and choose Illustrator (.AI).
Select Save, review the Illustrator options, then select OK.
Keep this master for future revisions. If you choose an older Illustrator version for compatibility, review the warnings about changed or lost features. See Adobe’s AI saving instructions.
Use clear names such as artwork-master-v03.ai and artwork-web-v03.png so recipients can identify the version and purpose.
Save artwork as SVG
Choose File > Save a Copy.
Set the filename, destination and SVG (.SVG) format.
Select Save, review SVG Options, then select OK.
Review font handling and whether images are embedded or linked. Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities adds Illustrator data and increases file size; retain the separate AI master regardless. These options are explained in Adobe’s SVG saving guidance.
Open the result in its intended browser or application and compare it with your artwork. For several separate SVG artboards, use Export for Screens below.
Export a PNG with transparency
Choose File > Export > Export As.
Enter the filename and destination, then choose PNG.
Enable Use Artboards when you want output bounded by the artboards; select the required range.
Select Export.
In PNG Options, set the resolution and choose Transparent for the background when needed, then select OK.
PNG supports transparency and lossless compression. Inspect the exported file’s dimensions and edges before sending it. Adobe’s PNG export reference describes the settings.
When to choose JPEG
Use the same Export As workflow but select JPEG. Review its color model, quality and resolution. JPEG uses lossy compression; generate fresh copies from the master instead of repeatedly resaving a JPEG. See Adobe’s JPEG options.
Export As or Export for Screens?
Workflow | Useful purpose |
|---|---|
Export As | Create a delivery file and adjust its format-specific options. |
Export for Screens | Export selected artboards or collected assets in several sizes and formats together. |
For a batch:
Choose File > Export > Export for Screens.
Select the Artboards tab, or Assets for previously collected artwork.
Select the items, destination, format and scale.
Use Add Scale for another size or format; give variants distinct suffixes.
Select Export Artboards or Export Assets.
For example, a web handoff might require PNG copies at 1x and 2x plus an SVG. Confirm what the website actually needs before generating every possible variant. Adobe documents this process in its batch export guide.
Save a PDF for sharing or print
Save your AI master.
Choose File > Save As, select Adobe PDF, and set the destination and filename.
Select Save, choose the appropriate PDF preset and review its settings.
Select Save PDF.
For multiple artboards, select all or the required range. Note that Save As makes the PDF the active document, so reopen the AI master before continuing master-file revisions. Adobe’s PDF instructions cover these choices.
Ask a print supplier which PDF preset, color settings and bleed it requires. A preset name alone does not establish acceptance for every job. For a review copy, tell the recipient whether it is for checking layout or for production.
Check the handoff before sending
For buyers working with suppliers in the US, Canada or UK, include the intended use, finished width and height, and clearly identified inches or millimeters. For web assets, state the requested pixel dimensions.
Open the actual delivery files and compare wording, artwork boundaries, background and appearance with the master. Confirm which version the supplier should use and retain a copy of the approved file.
If the original artwork needs rebuilding before delivery, explore DigitEMB’s raster-to-vector services. Supply the source image and requested output format when discussing the work.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my transparent PNG still have a white rectangle?
Check whether a white object forms part of the artwork. The Transparent export setting preserves transparent areas; it does not remove deliberately drawn background shapes. Review Adobe’s PNG background options.
Which resolution should I send?
Ask for the destination’s requirements. Check pixel dimensions for screen use and the required finished dimensions for print. Avoid assuming one resolution setting fits every order.
Should I send every format?
Send the requested format and identify its purpose. Include an editable master only when the recipient needs it, and distinguish any preview from the production file.