Poor quality images from Export for Screens
Mac OS 10.13.5, Illustrator 22.1
Images from artboards containing embedded raster files output using Export for Screens are of decidedly lower quality than those output from Save for Web. Please see the attached image for a side-by-side comparison. Save for Web is on the left, Explort for Screens on the right. Top images are actual size, bottom enlarged for emphasis. Notice the jaggies in the raster images.


The difference in image quality between Save for Web and Export for Screens is due to different DPI used. Save for Web uses 96 DPI as default, Export for Screen 1x scale uses 72 DPI. Changing the option from 1x to 96 DPI should match the quality of Image exported Save for Web
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Someone75 commented
And compare the different file sizes when "exporting as" (very small) and with "Export for Screens" (a nightmare, much too large)
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Peter commented
Hey all - this bug has been reopened as "Poor quality images from Export for Screens" (there's likely a few of them floating around) up vote them if this issue affects you.
We are trying again to get some attention to this problem as it's trivial to reproduce and affects ad developer workflows in particular.
Adobe engineers: I (and others) are willing to demonstrate this issue for you. We're open to dialogue to help get this fixed.
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Tejas commented
Changing the DPI to 96 also increases the dimensions of the exported image, which is not always desired. Dimensions of exported image should be same as 1x with better quality. save for web always creates image in exact desired size. Perhaps it behind the scenes resizes that 96 dpi image to 72 to achieve the exact dimensions as entered by user.
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gk commented
Could not sucessfully post the ZIP here. Mailed it to that shareWithAI email address, along with my computer and illustrator version specs.
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gk commented
The two actual images to compare
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gk commented
I put together my own quick demonstration since this has been in "need more info" status for nearly two years. (Excuse the bad grammer in the quick project headline)
I will package the AI project, and screenshots of the settings I used. Just open the project, and export one image for screens and then save it again for web. You'll get two totally different resolutions, with the export for screens being kind of scrambly.
Im having issues attaching all files at once here so here is just the demo gif
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gk commented
Cant believe this issue still exists in 2021. Its always been a problem for me in every version of Illustrator, on multiple updates, multiple computers etc.
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mer C commented
Problem Description:
In Illustrator 2021(25.2.3), the problem is reproduced when exporting JPEG images using "Export for Screens" via script instead of GUI.Environment:
• macOS 10.14.6
• Illustrator CC 2018(22.1.0)-2021(25.2.3)Steps to Reproduce:
Open an appropriate ai file and execute the script in the [Code to execute] section to export JPEG imageRequirements:
• ExportForScreensType should be one of JPEG
• Specify AntiAliasingMethod.ARTOPTIMIZED for exportForScreensOptions.antiAliasingActual Result:
The exported image has jaggies.Expected Result:
The exported image looks smooth, befitting an ARTOPTIMIZED image.Any Workarounds:
• Export the document manually, without going through any scripts
• Set ExportForScreensType to SE_PNG24
• Specify AntiAliasingMethod.TYPEOPTIMIZED for exportForScreensOptions.antiAliasingCode to execute:
var exportForScreensOptions = new ExportForScreensOptionsJPEG() ;
exportForScreensOptions.antiAliasing = AntiAliasingMethod.ARTOPTIMIZED ; // <--triggervar itemToExport = new ExportForScreensItemToExport() ;
itemToExport.artboards = '1' ;
itemToExport.document = false ;var doc = app.documents[0] ;
doc.exportForScreens(Folder.desktop, ExportForScreensType.SE_JPEG100, exportForScreensOptions, itemToExport) ; -
Sebastian commented
this problem is still exist now without a solution over the years.
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Anonymous commented
Same problem in Illustrator 24.2.1. Other team members have same problem. This is a real problem in a high volume production environment. If anything, seems worse than previous versions of Illustrator. This problem makes the whole application almost useless.
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Anonymous commented
I still have the same problem in AI 24.2.
Please fix this issue. -
Anonymous commented
Yeah right they can't reproduce this. The same thing is happening o me, export for screens saves time but you sacrifice image quality!!! the aliasing is so bad.
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Peter commented
The "Art Optimised" anti-aliasing method used in Export for Web is poorer than Save for Web. The only current work around is to do each image manually. The problem seems to be that it's always outputting Text-optimised even when art-optimised is selected in the settings.
While Export for Web is much faster, it's unfortunately not usable for a range of images.
Illustrator 24.0.1 / macOS Catalina 10.15.1
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Peter commented
Hi there, I have just sent an example file for review.
Perhaps unrelated, but the GPU preview mode also suffers from the same quality issue. (I.E. GPU preview mode displays the images differently than the older software rendering mode.)
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Peter commented
Hi,
I have put together a demonstration file and video of the problem in action. Attached herein.
Note: The problem applies specifically to JPEG output.Reproduction steps:
1. Create new illustrator file
2. Place raster image
3. Resize raster image to be smaller size
4. Export for Screens, using JPG output
Compare this to Save for Web and Export for Screens: PNG output.Zip file of everything is here (because this service does not allow ZIP files.): https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6y61f4fz2eclao/Sample%20File_Folder.zip?dl=0
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Anonymous commented
having this issues also - really jagged edges on images when outputting through export for screens and save for web. NOT GOOD!!
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I have the same problem:
https://imgur.com/a/8tvtFXg
See how sharp edges of aloe are and how rotated raster flower is jaggy, compared to right picture.Don't you dare kill Save for Web, Adobe. Don't put Legacy on a working tech.
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Peter commented
This problem essentially makes Export for Screens useless in any professional setting (e.g. Including a product photo). My workaround is to export at 4x in EfS and resize to 1x in a separate raster package.