Export SVG From Adobe Illustrator: A Simple Guide

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Exporting SVGs (Scalable Vector Graphics) from Adobe Illustrator is a crucial skill for any designer or illustrator working with vector graphics. Whether you're creating logos, icons, illustrations, or web graphics, SVGs offer unparalleled scalability and flexibility. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you get the best results for your projects.

Why Export as SVG?

Before diving into the how-to, let's quickly cover why SVGs are so awesome:

  • Scalability: SVGs are vector-based, meaning they can be scaled infinitely without losing quality. This is perfect for responsive web design and high-resolution displays.
  • Small File Size: SVGs are typically smaller in file size compared to raster images like JPEGs or PNGs, leading to faster loading times for websites.
  • Accessibility: SVGs are text-based, making them accessible to screen readers and search engines. This can improve your website's SEO.
  • Interactivity: SVGs can be animated and interactive using CSS or JavaScript, adding a dynamic element to your designs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting SVGs from Adobe Illustrator

1. Prepare Your Artwork

First things first, make sure your artwork is ready for export. This involves a few key steps to optimize your SVG and ensure it looks its best:

  • Clean Up Your Artwork: Remove any unnecessary elements, stray points, or overlapping shapes. A clean file will result in a cleaner SVG.
  • Outline Strokes: Convert all strokes to outlines by selecting them and going to Object > Path > Outline Stroke. This ensures that the strokes maintain their appearance regardless of the viewer's browser or software.
  • Expand Appearances: If you've used any effects or appearances, expand them by selecting the object and going to Object > Expand Appearance. This converts the effects into vector shapes.
  • Simplify Paths: Complex paths can increase file size. Use Object > Path > Simplify to reduce the number of anchor points without significantly altering the appearance of your artwork. Experiment with the settings to find the right balance between simplicity and detail.
  • Use Artboards Wisely: Organize your artwork on separate artboards if you have multiple elements. Each artboard will be exported as a separate SVG.

2. Exporting Your SVG

Now that your artwork is prepped, let's get to the export process. Illustrator offers several options for exporting SVGs, so let's explore the most common method:

  • Go to File > Export > Export As...: This will open the Export dialog box.
  • Choose SVG as the File Format: In the Save as type (Windows) or Format (Mac) dropdown menu, select "SVG (*.SVG)".
  • Name Your File and Choose a Location: Give your SVG a descriptive name and choose a location to save it.
  • Click the Export Button: This will open the SVG Options dialog box, where you can customize your export settings.

3. Understanding SVG Options

The SVG Options dialog box is where you fine-tune your export settings. Here's a breakdown of the key options:

  • SVG Profile: This setting determines the SVG version to use. SVG 1.1 is the most widely supported and generally the best choice for web use. SVG Tiny and SVG Basic are older profiles with limited features.
  • Type:
    • SVG: This option preserves Illustrator's editing capabilities within the SVG file. It includes Illustrator-specific metadata that can increase file size.
    • Compressed SVG (SVGZ): This option compresses the SVG file using gzip compression, resulting in a smaller file size. However, not all browsers and tools support SVGZ files, so test thoroughly before using this option.
  • Font: This setting controls how fonts are handled in the SVG.
    • SVG: This embeds the font data directly into the SVG file, ensuring that the font is displayed correctly regardless of whether the viewer has the font installed. This can increase file size.
    • Convert to Outlines: This converts all text to vector outlines, eliminating the need to embed fonts. This ensures consistent appearance but makes the text uneditable.
    • Use System Fonts: This option relies on the viewer's system fonts to render the text. If the viewer doesn't have the specified font installed, a fallback font will be used. This can result in inconsistent appearance.
  • Images: This setting controls how raster images are handled in the SVG.
    • Preserve: This embeds the raster images directly into the SVG file as base64 encoded data. This can significantly increase file size.
    • Link: This links to the raster images instead of embedding them. This reduces file size but requires the images to be hosted online and accessible to the viewer.
  • Object IDs: This setting controls how objects are identified in the SVG code.
    • Minimal: This option generates the shortest possible IDs, resulting in a smaller file size.
    • Layer Names: This option uses layer names as object IDs, making the SVG code more readable and easier to edit.
    • Unique: This option generates unique IDs for each object, ensuring that there are no naming conflicts.
  • Decimal Places: This setting controls the number of decimal places used for numeric values in the SVG code. Reducing the number of decimal places can decrease file size without significantly affecting the appearance of the artwork.
  • CSS Properties: This setting controls how CSS styles are handled in the SVG.
    • Presentation Attributes: This option applies styles directly to the SVG elements as presentation attributes. This is the most compatible option but can result in larger file sizes.
    • Style Attributes: This option creates CSS style attributes for each element. This is more efficient than presentation attributes but may not be supported by all viewers.
    • Style Elements: This option creates CSS style elements within the SVG file. This is the most efficient option but may require more advanced CSS knowledge.

4. Optimizing Your SVG for the Web

Once you've exported your SVG, there are a few additional steps you can take to optimize it for the web:

  • Use an SVG Optimizer: Tools like SVGO (SVG Optimizer) can further reduce file size by removing unnecessary metadata, comments, and attributes. You can use SVGO as a command-line tool or as a web-based service.
  • Test Your SVG in Different Browsers: Ensure that your SVG renders correctly in different browsers and devices. This will help you identify any compatibility issues and make necessary adjustments.
  • Consider Using CSS Sprites: If you have multiple small SVGs, consider combining them into a CSS sprite. This can reduce the number of HTTP requests and improve website performance.

Best Practices for Exporting SVGs

To ensure the best possible results when exporting SVGs from Adobe Illustrator, keep these best practices in mind:

  • Start with a Clean File: A well-organized and optimized Illustrator file will result in a cleaner and more efficient SVG.
  • Choose the Right Settings: Experiment with the SVG Options dialog box to find the settings that work best for your specific project. Consider the trade-offs between file size, compatibility, and editing capabilities.
  • Optimize Your SVG: Use an SVG optimizer to further reduce file size and improve performance.
  • Test Thoroughly: Test your SVG in different browsers and devices to ensure that it renders correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful preparation, you might encounter some issues when exporting SVGs. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

  • SVG Doesn't Display Correctly: This could be due to unsupported features, incorrect settings, or browser compatibility issues. Try simplifying your artwork, adjusting the SVG Options, or testing in different browsers.
  • SVG is Too Large: This could be due to embedded images, excessive detail, or unnecessary metadata. Try optimizing your artwork, using linked images, or using an SVG optimizer.
  • Text Doesn't Appear Correctly: This could be due to font issues. Try embedding the font, converting the text to outlines, or using system fonts.

Conclusion

Exporting SVGs from Adobe Illustrator is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance your design workflow. By following the steps and best practices outlined in this guide, you can create high-quality, scalable vector graphics for the web and other applications. Remember to experiment with the SVG Options to find the settings that work best for your specific needs, and always test your SVGs in different browsers to ensure compatibility.

Happy designing, and may your vectors always be crisp and clean!