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Draw pixel-perfect art

Learn how to seamlessly align your artwork with the pixel grid.

Illustrator lets you create pixel-perfect art that looks sharp and crisp on screens at different stroke widths and alignment options. Choose to align an existing object to the pixel grid with a single click or align a new object right while drawing it. While transforming objects, you can preserve pixel-alignment without distorting the artwork. Pixel-alignment works for objects as well as individual path segments and anchor points that comprise them.

An object before and after alignment with the pixel grid

A. Object is not aligned with the pixel grid B. Object is pixel-aligned 

Align existing objects with the pixel grid

You can select objects or object segments in your existing art and align them with the pixel grid. This functionality is particularly useful when you copy-paste non-pixel-aligned objects from other documents.

  1. Using the Selection tool, select the object you want to align to the pixel grid.

    Alternatively, you can pixel-align particular segments of the object. To do so, use the Direct Selection tool to select horizontal or vertical segments of the object.

  2. To make an existing object pixel perfect, do one of the following:

    • Click the Align Selected Art To Pixel Grid () icon in the control panel.
    • Choose Object > Make Pixel Perfect.
    • Right-click the object and choose Make Pixel Perfect from the in-context menu.
Note:

Instead of pixel-aligning an object as a whole, you can pixel-align particular segments of it. To do so, use the Direct Selection tool () to select horizontal or vertical segments of the object. Now, use one of the pixel alignment options just as you'd use them with an object.

Considerations

  • Objects that do not have any vertical or horizontal segments are not modified to align with the pixel grid.
  • If the selected object is already pixel-aligned, Illustrator prompts you with the following message:

  • Illustrator prompts you if the art in the selection cannot be pixel-aligned. For example, in the illustration below, the selected art has no vertical or horizontal segments.
Selection-contains-art-that-cannot-be-made-pixel-perfect

Align new/transformed objects with the pixel grid

While creating or transforming objects, you can ensure that they snap to the pixel grid for precise placement of edges and paths. This option is enabled by default for documents created with the Web and Mobile document profiles.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Click the Align Art To Pixel Grid On Creation And Transformation () icon in the Control panel.
    • Select View > Snap To Pixel.
  2. Optionally, change options for Snap To Pixel using the drop-down menu (). Click the arrow icon and select the desired options from the Pixel Snapping Options dialog.

    Pixel Snapping Options dialog box

    Snap To Pixel While Drawing

    Draws paths aligned with the nearest pixel to create sharp segments.

    Draw an object aligned to the pixel grid

    Snap To Pixel While Moving

    Snaps the object you're moving to the nearest pixel. You can choose to snap Paths, Segments, and Anchor Points while moving the object.

    Keep an object pixel-aligned while moving it

    Snap To Pixel While Scaling

    Snaps the edges of the object you're scaling to the nearest pixel.

    Keep an object pixel-aligned while scaling it

  3. Click OK.

Annexure: View the pixel grid

  1. In Illustrator, select View > Pixel Preview.
  2. Zoom the canvas to 600% or higher.
Note:

You can choose to not view the pixel grid in the Pixel Preview mode even at high zoom levels. In Illustrator, deselect Preferences > Guides and Grids > Show Pixel Grid (Above 600% Zoom).

Disable the pixel grid

What's next?

We've got you started on how to draw pixel-perfect art. Take a step forward and learn how to draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool.

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