Exporting your artwork from Adobe Illustrator allows you to save your creations in various image formats suitable for web, print, or other uses. One common and efficient way, especially for exporting multiple assets or artboards, is using the "Export for Screens" feature.
Exporting Images with "Export for Screens"
The "Export for Screens" feature in Illustrator is specifically designed for quickly exporting assets (like icons, graphics, or entire artboards) in multiple sizes and formats simultaneously, making it ideal for generating assets for different devices or purposes.
Step-by-Step Guide Using Export for Screens
Based on the provided reference, here are the steps to export using this method:
- In Illustrator, open your files.
- Go to the menu bar and select File > Export > Export for screens.
- In the Export for Screens dialog box that appears, you can select which artboard or artboards to Export under the "Artboards" tab.
- Under the "Formats" tab, you can select optimization presets for iOS or Android devices, or formats including PDF. You can add multiple formats and scales.
- Specify the export location.
- Finally, Click Export Artboard.
This process allows you to easily export single or multiple artboards at once, generating images optimized for your chosen output.
Why Use Export for Screens?
- Batch Exporting: Export multiple artboards or individual assets simultaneously.
- Multiple Formats & Scales: Generate images in different sizes and file types (like PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF) from a single action.
- Device Presets: Quickly prepare assets for specific platforms (iOS, Android).
Other Ways to Export Images in Illustrator
While "Export for Screens" is excellent for asset generation, Illustrator offers other export methods depending on your needs.
Using "Export As"
The "Export As" function provides control over individual file formats and settings.
- Go to File > Export > Export As....
- Choose a location and filename.
- Select the desired Format from the dropdown menu (e.g., JPG, PNG, TIFF, SVG, PSD).
- Check "Use Artboards" if you want to export only the content on your artboard(s).
- Click Export.
- Adjust format-specific options in the next dialog box (e.g., resolution, quality, background color).
This method is suitable for exporting a single image file with specific format requirements.
Using "Save for Web (Legacy)"
Although marked as "Legacy," this feature is still available and useful for optimizing images specifically for web use, offering detailed control over compression and transparency.
- Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)....
- Choose a preset or manually select a format (GIF, JPG, PNG-8, PNG-24) and adjust settings for optimization.
- Click Save.
This method is best for fine-tuning image size and quality for fast loading on websites.
Choosing the Right Export Method
The best way to export an image depends on your final output:
- Use Export for Screens for exporting multiple artboards or assets in various sizes/formats for web, UI, or app development.
- Use Export As for exporting single images in specific formats for print, further editing, or other uses where detailed format options are needed.
- Use Save for Web (Legacy) for maximum control over web image optimization (though Export for Screens often provides sufficient optimization).
By using these export options, you can turn your Illustrator vector graphics into raster or different vector image formats ready for use outside of Illustrator.
