Where to find and change DPI in Illustrator

In Adobe Illustrator, DPI (dots per inch) is not a single setting you change in one place. Instead, it lives in two separate locations depending on what you are doing: the document setup for screen or print work, and the export settings when you save your file. Most people need to adjust DPI when exporting, because Illustrator's native document works in points and pixels, not DPI.

The most common reason to change DPI is when you are exporting to a raster format like PNG, JPG, or TIFF. That is where the DPI value actually matters and where Illustrator forces you to choose a resolution. If you are working in the document itself and never exporting, DPI does not explore to your work.

Key Takeaways

  • Illustrator documents do not have a DPI setting—DPI only matters when you export to image formats like PNG or JPG.
  • To change DPI on export, go to File > Export As, choose your format, and adjust the resolution in the export dialog before saving.
  • Screen work typically uses 72 or 96 DPI; print work requires 300 DPI or higher depending on the printer's specifications.
  • If you need to change DPI for a print file you have already created, you must export it again at the new resolution—you cannot retroactively increase DPI on a low-resolution file.

Changing DPI when exporting to PNG or JPG

Open the file you want to export. Go to File in the menu bar, then click Export As (not "Export"—that is a different command). A dialog box will open asking you where to save the file and what format to use.

At the bottom of the dialog, you will see a dropdown menu that says "Save as type" or "Format." Click it and select your desired format: PNG, JPG, TIFF, or another raster option. Once you have chosen the format and named your file, click the Export button at the bottom right. A second dialog will appear with format-specific options.

In this second dialog, look for a field labeled Resolution or DPI. The exact name and location depend on your format. For PNG and JPG, it is usually near the top. Enter your desired DPI value—72 for screen, 300 for standard print, or whatever your printer or service requires. Click Export again to save the file at that resolution.

Changing DPI when exporting to TIFF

TIFF export follows the same path: File > Export As, select TIFF from the format dropdown, name your file, and click Export. The TIFF options dialog that appears will show a Resolution field with a dropdown next to it. The dropdown usually says "pixels/inch" or "pixels/cm"—make sure it is set to pixels per inch if you want to enter DPI.

Type your DPI value into the resolution field. TIFF is commonly used for print and archival work, so 300 DPI is standard. Some print shops or publishers may request higher values like 600 DPI for certain jobs; check your printer's specifications before exporting.

Understanding DPI versus document size

A common confusion: changing DPI does not change the physical size of your artwork on the page. DPI controls how many dots the exported image contains per inch. If your Illustrator document is 8 inches wide and you export at 72 DPI, the resulting image will be 576 pixels wide (8 × 72). If you export the same document at 300 DPI, it will be 2,400 pixels wide (8 × 300).

The higher the DPI, the larger the file size and the more detail the image contains. If you need a smaller file, lower DPI. If you need print quality or plan to enlarge the image, use higher DPI. There is no way to add detail that was not in your original Illustrator file—DPI only controls how finely that detail is sampled when converting to pixels.

Choosing the right DPI for your purpose

Screen display (websites, social media, email) typically uses 72 or 96 DPI. These values are standard for monitors and keep file sizes small. If you are creating graphics for the web, 72 DPI is sufficient and is the default in most export dialogs.

Print work requires higher resolution. Standard offset printing and most home or office printers use 300 DPI. Large-format printing (posters, banners) sometimes accepts 150 DPI if the viewing distance is far enough. Check with your print shop or printer manufacturer for their specific requirement—it is usually listed in their file submission guidelines.

If you are unsure, 300 DPI is the safe choice for anything that will be printed. It is high enough for professional results and low enough that file sizes remain manageable.

What to do if you exported at the wrong DPI

If you have already exported a file at 72 DPI and now need 300 DPI, you cannot straightforward re-save the exported image at higher DPI. The detail is already lost. You must go back to your original Illustrator file and export it again using the correct DPI setting.

This is why it is important to keep your original Illustrator file (.ai) even after exporting. The vector information in Illustrator can be exported at any DPI without loss of quality. Once you have converted to a raster format like PNG or JPG, that resolution is permanent.

Checking DPI on a file you already have

If you have a PNG, JPG, or TIFF file and want to know what DPI it was created at, you can check its properties. On Windows, right-click the file, select Properties, then look for image dimensions and resolution information (this varies by file type and may require opening the file in an image viewer). On Mac, right-click the file, select Get Info, and look for resolution details.

Illustrator itself can also show you this information. Open the file in Illustrator (File > Open), and the resolution will display in the document properties or image information panel. However, remember that opening a raster file in Illustrator does not change its resolution—it only shows you what was baked in during export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change DPI in the Illustrator document settings?

No. Illustrator documents do not have a DPI setting because they are vector-based. DPI only applies when you convert your work to a raster (pixel-based) format by exporting. The document itself is resolution-independent.

What DPI should I use for a print shop?

Most print shops request 300 DPI for standard color or black-and-white printing. Some specialty services (fine art printing, high-end photography) may request 600 DPI. Always check the print shop's file submission guidelines before exporting, as requirements vary.

If I export at 72 DPI and then re-export at 300 DPI, will the second file be higher quality?

No. The quality depends on the original Illustrator file, not on previous exports. If you export your original .ai file at 300 DPI, you will get a high-quality result. If you export a 72 DPI PNG at 300 DPI, the new file will still look blurry because the detail was lost in the first export.

Why does my exported image look blurry even though I set DPI to 300?

This usually means your Illustrator document is too small. If your document is 1 inch by 1 inch and you export at 300 DPI, the result is only 300 by 300 pixels—very small. Make sure your Illustrator document is sized appropriately for your final use before exporting.

Can I change DPI after I have already exported a file?

No. Once exported, the DPI is locked into the file. You must export again from your original Illustrator file at the new DPI setting. Always keep your .ai file for this reason.