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Convert AI to PDF – Share Illustrator Designs Anywhere

Turn Adobe Illustrator files into universally viewable PDFs. No Illustrator required.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Need to Share Your Illustrator Design?

You created a logo, flyer, or illustration in Adobe Illustrator, but your client or colleague doesn't have the software. AI files only open properly in Illustrator—sending the raw file means they can't view your work.

Converting to PDF solves this instantly. PDFs preserve your vector artwork and open on any computer, tablet, or phone. Your design looks exactly as you intended, whether viewed on screen or sent to print.

How to Convert AI to PDF

  1. Upload your AI file – Drag and drop or select your Adobe Illustrator file
  2. Confirm PDF output – PDF preserves vectors and works everywhere
  3. Download your PDF – Ready to share, print, or embed anywhere

No Adobe software needed. Convert directly in your browser in seconds.

What Happens During Conversion

Adobe Illustrator's AI format is built on PDF technology internally. When you convert AI to PDF, the vector paths, text, and layers translate cleanly:

  • Vector paths – Lines and curves stay mathematically defined, scaling infinitely
  • Text – Fonts can be embedded or outlined for consistent display
  • Colors – RGB and CMYK values transfer accurately
  • Transparency – Modern AI files (version 9+) preserve transparency in PDF

The result is a high-fidelity PDF that represents your original design faithfully.

When AI to PDF Makes Sense

Sharing with Clients

Your client needs to review a logo design but doesn't own Illustrator. Send them a PDF and they can view, annotate, and approve without installing anything.

Print-Ready Files

Print shops accept PDF universally. Converting your AI to PDF with proper settings ensures colors and dimensions transfer correctly to press.

Embedding in Documents

Need to place your illustration in a Word document, PowerPoint, or web page? PDF versions embed cleanly while preserving quality.

Archiving Projects

PDF is an ISO standard for long-term document preservation. Converting completed AI projects to PDF ensures they remain viewable decades from now, even if Illustrator changes.

AI vs PDF: Understanding the Formats

Both formats handle vector graphics, but serve different purposes:

  • Choose AI when: You need to edit paths, adjust anchor points, or work with live effects in Illustrator
  • Choose PDF when: You need universal viewing, printing, or sharing with non-designers

Think of AI as your working file and PDF as your delivery format. Keep the AI for future edits; send the PDF to clients and printers.

Preserving Quality in Your PDF

Vector graphics in PDF remain resolution-independent. Unlike rasterizing to JPG or PNG, converting to PDF keeps curves smooth at any zoom level:

  • Logos – Scale from business card to billboard without pixelation
  • Illustrations – Print at any DPI with crisp edges
  • Technical drawings – Maintain precision measurements

For designs you might need in different sizes, PDF is the ideal format to maintain quality.

Convert Multiple AI Files

Working on a branding project with dozens of Illustrator files? Upload your entire batch and convert all AI files to PDF at once. Each file converts independently, preserving its individual settings.

Works on Any Device

Convert AI to PDF directly in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPad, Android tablets

No software installation required. Upload, convert, download.

Pro Tip

If your AI file contains linked images rather than embedded ones, those links will break in the PDF. In Illustrator, use Window > Links to embed all linked files before exporting, or convert here and verify the output.

Common Mistake

Sending AI files directly to clients or printers who don't have Illustrator. They'll either see garbled content or nothing at all. Always convert to PDF for universal compatibility.

Best For

Sharing design proofs with clients, submitting files to print shops, embedding illustrations in presentations, and archiving completed vector projects.

Not Recommended

If you need the recipient to make significant edits to paths and effects, send the AI file along with the PDF. PDF editing tools can't match Illustrator's capabilities for complex vector work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Our online converter processes AI files directly in your browser without requiring Illustrator or any Adobe software. Just upload your AI file and download the converted PDF.

Yes. PDF preserves vector paths mathematically, just like AI. Your graphics scale to any size without pixelation or quality loss.

Limited editing is possible in PDF editors, but complex path editing requires importing back into Illustrator. For view-only sharing, PDF is ideal. Keep your AI file for future edits.

We support AI files from Illustrator CS and newer (versions 8+). Modern AI files (version 9+) which use PDF-based structure convert most reliably.

Yes. The PDF preserves vector quality suitable for print. For commercial printing, verify with your print shop that color profiles and bleed settings meet their requirements.

If fonts are embedded in the AI file, they transfer to the PDF. If not, consider converting text to outlines in Illustrator before uploading to ensure exact appearance.

Yes. Multi-artboard AI files convert to multi-page PDFs, with each artboard becoming a separate page in the document.

Our converter handles AI files up to several hundred megabytes. Complex illustrations with many paths and embedded images may take longer to process.

For most purposes, yes. PDF keeps vectors editable and scalable. JPG rasterizes your design at a fixed resolution. Use PDF for sharing and printing; use JPG only when a raster image is specifically required.

Yes. Files are processed securely and deleted after conversion. Your designs are not stored or shared.

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