Specifying raster effects settings


    Illustrator uses a document's raster effects settings whenever you apply a raster-based effect to an object. Raster-based effects include SVG Filters, all of the effects in the bottom section of the Effect menu (Artistic - Video), and also the Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, and Feather commands in the Effect > Stylize submenu. The raster effects settings can have a large impact on the resulting artwork; therefore, it's important to check the Document Raster Effects Settings dialog box before you start working with filters and effects.

To set rasterization options for a document:

  1. Choose Effect > Document Raster Effects Settings.
  2. Set any of the following rasterization options, and click OK:
    • Color Model determines the color model that is used during rasterization. You can generate an RGB or CMYK color image (depending on the color mode of your document), a grayscale image, or a 1-bit image (which may be black and white or black and transparent, depending on the background option selected).
    • Resolution determines the number of pixels per inch (ppi) in the rasterized image.
    • Background determines how transparent areas of the vector graphic are converted to pixels. Select White to fill transparent areas with white pixels, or select Transparent to make the background transparent. If you select Transparent, you create an alpha channel (for all images except 1-bit images). The alpha channel is retained if the artwork is exported into Photoshop.
    • Anti-alias applies anti-aliasing to reduce the appearance of jagged edges in the rasterized image. Deselect this option to maintain the crispness of fine lines and small text.
    • Create Clipping Mask creates a mask that makes the background of the rasterized image appear transparent. (See Using clipping masks to change the shape of objects.)

    Note: You do not need to create a clipping mask if you selected Transparent for Background.

    • Add Around Object adds the specified number of pixels around the rasterized image.