AI to PDF Converter

Send artwork as a PDF anyone can open.

FREE · NO SIGN-UP · RUNS ON YOUR DEVICE

Your files stay on your device

  • AIILLUSTRATOR IN
  • 3WAYS OUT
  • 400DPI MAX
  • 0UPLOADS
Specification

AI to PDF at a glance

Input formats
PDF-compatible .ai
What will not open
Non-PDF-compatible .ai
Output formats
PNG, JPG, PDF
Resolution
96 to 400 dpi
Artboards
All, or the ones you name
Colour
Drawn in RGB
Fonts
Embedded fonts render
Price
Free
Account required
None
Where it runs
On your device
How to

How to use AI to PDF

  1. 1

    Add the AI file

    Add the file.

  2. 2

    Pick the output

    Pick format and size.

  3. 3

    Download

    Download the result.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How can this open an Illustrator file without Illustrator?

Illustrator saves a full PDF inside the .ai file by default. This reads that, which is why no extra download is needed.

My file will not open. Why?

It was saved with Create PDF Compatible File unticked, or it is an older PostScript version. Re-save from Illustrator with that box ticked.

Will the colours match my print proof?

No. Artwork is drawn in RGB for the screen. CMYK and spot colours set up for print will look different.

What about multiple artboards?

Each becomes its own file. Name the ones you want, or leave it empty for all of them.

Does the PNG keep transparency?

Areas with no artwork come out white rather than clear, because the page is drawn as a page. Crop afterwards if you need a cut-out.

Background

Why an .ai file opens here at all

Because the .ai already holds a PDF, this rewrites it as a plain PDF rather than redrawing anything.

  • Illustrator writes a complete PDF stream inside every .ai saved with the default settings.
  • That is also why Preview and most PDF readers can already show you an .ai file.
  • Turn that option off and the file becomes Adobe's own format, which only Adobe software reads.
  • So this works for almost every file people have, and says so clearly when it does not.

Full specification

Specification of the AI to PDF tool
Input formatsAI files saved with Create PDF Compatible File ticked, which is Illustrator's default.
What will not openAI saved with that box unticked, and older PostScript-based AI. Nothing in a browser can read those.
Output formatsPNG with transparency, JPG, or PDF.
Resolution96 to 400 dpi. Higher means a sharper, larger file.
ArtboardsEvery artboard becomes its own file, or name the ones you want. More than one comes back as a ZIP.
ColourArtwork is drawn in RGB. Print work set up in CMYK will shift on screen.
FontsFonts embedded in the file render as designed. Fonts that were not embedded are substituted.
PriceFree. Supported by clearly labelled ads placed outside the working area.
Account requiredNo.
Where it runsIn your browser tab. The file is never sent anywhere.
Next step

Keep going with the same files

All image tools: Image tools on SPOTTOOLS