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.
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
- A standard Windows image format. You can specify a color model, resolution, and anti-alias setting for rasterizing the artwork, as well as a format (Windows or OS/2) and a bit depth to determine the total number of colors (or shades of gray) that the image can contain. For 4‑bit and 8‑bit images using Windows format, you can also specify RLE compression.
- 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)
-
Commonly
used to save photographs. JPEG format retains all color information
in an image but compresses file size by selectively discarding data.
JPEG is a standard format for displaying images over the web. For
more information, see JPEG export options. You can also save an image as a JPEG file
using the Save For Web & Devices command.
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.
- Macintosh PICT
- Used with Mac OS graphics and page-layout applications to transfer images between applications. PICT is especially effective at compressing images with large areas of solid color.
- Flash (SWF)
- A vector-based graphics format for interactive, animated web graphics. You can export artwork to the Flash (SWF) format for use in web design, and view the artwork in any browser equipped with the Flash Player plug‑in. For more information, see Flash export options. You can also save an image as an SWF file using the Save For Web & Devices command (see SWF optimization options (Illustrator)), and you can export text as Flash Dynamic or Input text (see Tag text for export to Flash). In addition to exporting artwork in Flash format, you can copy Illustrator artwork and paste it into Flash. The fidelity of artwork is maintained across the clipboard.
- 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. As a result, there may be times when layers, sublayers, compound shapes, and editable text are not preserved in the Photoshop file, even though you selected the appropriate export option. For more information, see Photoshop export options.
- PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
- Used for lossless compression and for display of images on the web. Unlike GIF, PNG supports 24‑bit images and produces background transparency without jagged edges; however, some web browsers do not support PNG images. PNG preserves transparency in grayscale and RGB images. For more information, see PNG export options. You can also save an image as a PNG file using the Save For Web & Devices command.
- Targa (TGA)
- Designed for use on systems that use the Truevision® video board. You can specify a color model, resolution, and anti-alias setting for rasterizing the artwork, as well as a bit depth to determine the total number of colors (or shades of gray) that the image can contain.
- Text Format (TXT)
- Used to export text in an illustration to a text file. (See Export text to a text file.)
- 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.