Vector conversion
Convert AI to PDF
Updated Jul 2026
AI files are the vector artwork format used by Illustrator, and PDF is the document format almost anyone can open, no matter what's on their computer. To convert AI to PDF, open the file in a converter and export it as PDF. The paths and shapes carry over exactly, since both formats store vector artwork, and doing it on your own computer means the file never has to be uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .ai
- Type
- Vector
- Typically
- Illustrator files
- Transparency
- None
- Extension
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- The universal document format
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert AI to PDF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AI to PDF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AI file, or a whole folder of them, to convert several at once.
- Choose PDF as the output format.
- Convert. The PDF is written to your computer, and the artwork never leaves your machine.
AI vs PDF: what actually changes
| AI | ||
|---|---|---|
| Format type | Vector, built from paths and shapes | Vector or raster, PDF can hold either |
| Quality | Lossless | Lossless, the vector paths are preserved exactly |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs Illustrator or a compatible app | Yes, any PDF viewer, browser, or print software |
| Editable afterward | Yes, shapes, text, and layers stay separate | Limited, paths can sometimes be edited but layers usually flatten |
| File size | Small, since it's just paths and points | Similar, sometimes a little larger with fonts embedded |
| Keeps metadata | Yes | Yes, unless it's removed on export |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AI to PDF when you need to send artwork to a printer, attach it to an email or proposal, or share it with someone who doesn't have Illustrator installed.
Keep the AI original if you or a collaborator still need to edit the individual shapes, text, and layers, since those don't survive a round trip through PDF the same way.
Why not just use an online converter?
Illustrator files often hold client logos, packaging mockups, or branding that hasn't been announced yet. Uploading one to a web converter puts that artwork on someone else's server, even if only for a moment before it's converted back. Converting on your own computer skips that step entirely, the file is just read and saved in place.
Questions
Does converting AI to PDF lose quality?
No. Both formats store vector paths, so lines, curves, and text stay sharp at any zoom level or print size. There's no resolution to lose, unlike converting to a pixel-based format.
Will someone need Illustrator to open the PDF?
No. That's the reason to convert: a PDF opens in any PDF viewer, browser, or print software, with no design app required.
Can I still edit the file after converting it to PDF?
To a point. Some apps let you adjust paths and text in a PDF, but the separate layers and Illustrator-specific effects from the AI file usually don't come along. Keep the AI original if more editing is likely.
Do fonts and colors stay accurate in the PDF?
Yes, as long as fonts are embedded, which most converters do by default, and colors are carried over as they were set in the original. This is why AI to PDF is the standard way to send artwork to print.
Can I convert AI to PDF without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your computer, so it never travels over the internet, even if the artwork hasn't been made public yet.
Morphjet converts AI, PDF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.