Export as PDF

When you save Microsoft Expression Design artwork as a .pdf, some elements (such as transparent gradients) are rasterized. You can modify the settings to maintain the appearance of your artwork as much as you can.

To export art as a .pdf file

1. On the File menu, click Export. The Export dialog box displays your artwork in a preview window.

2. Under Items to Export, select one of the following options:

   • Whole document   Select this option to export all the art in your .design document to a single output file.

   • Selected objects   Select this option to export only those objects that you selected before you opened the Export dialog box.

   • Slices   Select this option to export slices of your artwork, in multiple output files and formats. Slices are configured before you open the Export dialog box. The preview window changes to display each slice individually so that you can select different export settings for each. You can also use the Slice contents drop-down box to show or hide individual objects or entire layers in the slice. For more information, see Working with slices.

3. In the Export dialog box, in the Format list, select PDF.

   Note

   If you chose to export Slices in the previous step, you must change the Format and other export properties for each slice. Alternatively, you can select multiple slices by holding the SHIFT key to change the export properties for all the selected slices at the same time.

4. Adjust the following settings for PDF files:

   • Rasterize live effects   Select this check box to convert live effects from vectors to bitmaps. The document resolution is defined in the Change the document size dialog box. If you hide or remove the live effect before you export, the object will be exported in its vector form. For more information, see Applying live effects.

   • Rasterize transparent gradients   Select this check box to convert transparent gradients from vectors to bitmaps.

   Output .pdf with both rasterizing options selected

   

   Output .pdf with only the rasterize live effects option selected

   

   Output .pdf with only the Rasterize transparent gradients option selected

   

   Output .pdf with neither rasterizing option selected

   

5. Adjust the Image resolution. When you move the mouse pointer over the text box, your pointer will change to the slider pointer . Drag the slider pointer up or to the right to increase the value, or drag the slider pointer down or to the left to decrease the value. Alternatively, you can click the field to enter a numeric value. Select a measurement unit from the drop-down list next to the Image resolution text box (pixels per inch or pixels per centimeter).

   Note

   A higher resolution gives you a higher-quality image, and a larger output file. You never need a resolution greater than the output resolution of your device.

6. Next to File name, enter a name for your output file.

   Note

   The File name field is not present if you are exporting slices because the names of the slices are used as the file names for the exported images.

7. If you are exporting slices, you can select a container to reference all the exported slices, such as one of the XAML containers, or an HTML page (appropriate only for exported image files). To select a container, click the drop-down arrow next to Container name, select a container type, and then enter a name. For more information, see Exporting in containers.

8. Next to Location, browse to or enter the path for the location where you want the output file to be saved.

9. Click Export All to export the file or files. If you are exporting slices and you want to export only some of them, you can select multiple slices in the preview window (hold the SHIFT key), click the drop-down arrow next to Export All, and then click Export Selected Slice(s). Alternatively, if you want to save any changes that you made to the export properties for individual slices without actually exporting the slices, click the drop-down arrow next to Export All and select Save Settings and Close.

The Export dialog box set to export the whole Expression Design document as a PDF file

See also

Tasks

Change the document size
Export a slice

Reference

Print and Export options

Other resources

Applying live effects
Working with slices

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