The resolution of an image or document refers to the amount of detail in it. Therefore, the higher the resolution, the greater the image’s visual quality. The number of pixels/inch is a measure to gauge resolution. Among its many features, Illustrator allows users to alter an image’s resolution. So, how does this work?

Changing the resolution is very simple in Illustrator. New documents can be created and exported with the required resolution, and even existing ones can alter their resolution. However, Illustrator only lets users change the PPI resolution, not the DPI.

Keep on reading to find out more about resolution in Illustrator! 

How to Alter PPI Resolution in Illustrator

The resolution of an image is not among the first things to come to mind as we create one. However, if you know your final design and its purpose, you can define the resolution when you make a new document. 

Changing Resolution On A New Document

Follow these steps to alter the resolution when you design new work in Illustrator:

1. When you open Illustrator, move towards the overhead menu and click ‘file.’

2. Then, press ‘new’ to generate a new document. Alternatively, you can also use ‘command’ and ‘N’ simultaneously as keyboard shortcuts for making new documents.

3. Following this, select ‘raster effects’ to be able to modify the resolution. If the resolution-changing option is not visible here, press ‘advanced options’ to view it.

4. Select the required resolution option from the high, medium, and screen resolution lists.

You can also change a document’s resolution while you are already working on it. 

Changing Resolution on Pre-loaded Document

To make changes to your existing work in Illustrator, follow these steps:

1. Begin by moving towards the overhead menu and selecting ‘effect.’

2. Then, open the ‘document raster effects settings.’ This will list down different resolution settings.

3. Choose the required setting from ‘resolution’ and press ‘ok’ when you are done.

4. If you want a customized resolution, select ‘other’ and write down the required PPI value. An example is typing in 100 if you want an image with 100 PPI.

The following video takes you through the resolution-changing process in Illustrator:

Sometimes, you may need to change the resolution last minute when you are exporting it. 

Changing Resolution When Exporting a Document

To change the resolution while exporting a file, follow these steps:

1. Start the exporting process as usual by going to ‘file,’ ‘export,’ and finally, ‘export as.’

2. Make changes to the file format here, name it as preferred, and select where you want to save it.

3. Then, move to the ‘resolution’ panel to alter the resolution. This window will appear differently depending on the format of your saved file.

Having done this, your document will be saved in the selected format at the required resolution. 

Final Takeaway

In conclusion, the resolution of a digital image is necessary to measure how much information it can display depending on the number of pixels it has. You can easily alter the resolution in Illustrator when creating a new file, working with a pre-loaded file, or when you are exporting it.