Opens .ai files with no Illustrator licence
Designers often send a logo as .ai to people who have no Adobe software. You add the file in a browser and get a PNG that any editor, slide deck or website accepts.
AI to PNG Converter
Add an .ai file and get a PNG back. Only the first artboard is exported, and the file must have been saved with PDF content.
To convert ai to png, add the .ai file, keep PNG as the output format and download the result. In our test, a PDF-compatible .ai file with two artboards became one 400 × 200 px png of the first artboard, with its transparent background intact. An .ai file saved without PDF content failed.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the PNG file once before you share it.
FromAILosslessTransparency
AI (Adobe Illustrator Artwork)
The native vector format of Adobe Illustrator. Shapes, paths and text are stored as drawing instructions, and a file can hold several artboards. Since Illustrator 9 a file can also carry an embedded PDF copy of the artwork when it is saved with the PDF-compatible option, and that copy is what other programs read. Adobe controls the format and does not publish a full specification.
ToPNGLosslessTransparency
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A lossless raster format with a full alpha channel. It preserves every pixel it is given and supports transparency, which makes it the usual choice for logos, screenshots, and any image with sharp edges or text.
A synthetic PDF-compatible .ai test file, 2 artboards, converted on indox.org
- AIthe original, 2 artboards, no background rectangle
- 1,382 bytes
- PNGfrom indox, first artboard only, 400 × 200 px, RGBA
- 3,526 bytes
Why use indox to convert AI to PNG?
Transparent areas stay transparent
In our test, all four corners of the PNG were fully transparent (alpha 0) and edges had smooth partial transparency. A semi-transparent 50% black shape over red came out as a blended dark red, not a flat block.
Output size follows a fixed rule
The page has no size or DPI setting. In our test 1 pt of artboard became 1.333 px (96 pixels per inch), so a 300 × 150 pt artboard gave a 400 × 200 px PNG. You can work out your size before you convert.
Failures are listed up front
A file saved without PDF content fails instead of returning a blank image. The cause and the fix are listed below.
What happens to your AI file
Stays
- Your original .ai, which is not touched
- Pure colours, red and blue were exact in our test
- Transparent areas, with smooth partial transparency on edges
- The look of the first artboard at its size
Changes
- Vector to pixels: the PNG has a fixed size, 400 × 200 px for a 300 × 150 pt artboard
- Artboards: only the first is exported
- Size: 1 pt becomes 1.333 px, 96 pixels per inch
- Colour: stored as RGB, CMYK artwork is converted and was not tested
- File size: 1,382 bytes became 3,526 bytes in our test
How do I convert AI to PNG online?
- 1
Add your .ai file
Drop the file on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original .ai: it is the editable master and the PNG cannot be turned back into it.
- 2
Confirm PNG, then start the conversion
Check that PNG is the output format on the converter, then start the conversion. In our test it took 4.8 seconds from the click to Completed, with no sign-in.
- 3
Download the PNG and check it on a checkerboard
Save the PNG and open it in an editor or a browser with a checkerboard or coloured background. Look at the corners to confirm the background is transparent, and check that the first artboard is the one you wanted.
What do I get from indox's AI to PNG converter?
You hand over an .ai file and take away a PNG of its first artboard, ready for a website, a slide deck or a document. The page lists what survives the conversion and what does not, before you start.
- A PNG of your artwork in a few clicks, without Illustrator
- Nothing installed on Windows, Mac or a phone
- Transparency, size rule, artboard and failure case, all from our own run
- Your original .ai is left as it was
What are the limits for AI to PNG?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
AI in, PNG out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- Only the first artboard of a multi-artboard file is exported. To get another artboard, move it to the first position in Illustrator or save it as its own file, then convert again.
- An .ai file saved without PDF content cannot be converted. In our test a PostScript-only file, the kind older Illustrator versions wrote, failed within about 3 seconds with a backend error and gave no PNG.
- There is no size, DPI or background setting on this page. You get the artboard size at 96 pixels per inch, and you cannot ask for a solid background.
- Our test used a small synthetic file, not real output from Illustrator. Files with embedded images, effects, gradient meshes or unusual fonts were not tested, and fonts that are not outlined or embedded may be replaced.
- The file is processed on indox servers, so it is uploaded. Do not convert artwork you are not allowed to share with a third party.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The conversion fails | The file was saved without PDF content, or it is damaged | Re-save in Illustrator with Create PDF Compatible File ticked, or export SVG or PDF and use SVG to PNG |
| Only one image from a multi-artboard file | Only the first artboard is exported | Save the artboard you want as its own file and convert again |
| A white box behind the logo | The artwork contains a filled background rectangle | Delete or hide that rectangle in Illustrator and save again |
| The PNG is too small or blurry when enlarged | A PNG is pixels at a fixed size | Use the original .ai or an SVG for large or print use |
| Colours look different | PNG stores RGB, so CMYK artwork is converted | Compare against the original and set the artwork to RGB before saving |
| The text looks wrong | A font may not be embedded or outlined | Convert text to outlines in Illustrator before saving |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to AI to PNG?
AI vs PNG: what is the difference?
| Compared on | AI | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Kind of image | Vector: shapes, paths and text as instructions | Raster: a fixed grid of pixels |
| Scaling | Scales to any size without loss | Blurs when enlarged past its pixel size |
| Transparency | Yes, where the artwork has no background | Full alpha channel |
| Pages | Several artboards in one file | One image per file |
| Where it opens | Illustrator and some PDF-aware programs | Practically every editor, browser and phone |
| Typical use | Editable logos and artwork | Websites, slides and documents |
Who can use a AI to PNG converter?
When to use it
- Putting a supplier's logo on a website or a slide with a transparent background.
- Sending a PNG preview of an .ai logo to a client who cannot open the original.
- Checking whether an .ai file has a hidden white background rectangle before it is placed on a coloured page.
- Getting a quick raster copy of the first artboard for a document or an online store listing.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- Portable Network Graphics (PNG) SpecificationW3C
- Adobe Illustrator Artwork (PRONOM format record)The National Archives (UK)
- This is an Adobe Illustrator file that was saved without PDF contentAdobe Community
Facts checked on November 4, 2026
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AI to PNG FAQs
How do I convert an AI file to PNG without Illustrator?
Open the converter, add your .ai file, keep PNG as the output format and download the result. You do not need Illustrator or any other software on your computer.
Does the PNG keep a transparent background?
In our test it did: all four corners were fully transparent and the soft edges kept partial transparency. This holds when the artwork itself has no background. If the .ai contains a filled background rectangle, that rectangle appears in the PNG.
Can I convert all artboards?
No. Only the first artboard is exported. In our test a file with two artboards produced one PNG. Convert other artboards by saving each as its own file.
Why does my .ai file fail to convert?
The most common cause is a file saved without PDF content, which only older or specially saved files lack. In our test such a file failed with a backend error. Re-save it in Illustrator with Create PDF Compatible File ticked, or export it as SVG or PDF.
What size will the PNG be?
The artboard size at 96 pixels per inch. In our test a 300 × 150 pt artboard became 400 × 200 px. The page has no size or DPI setting.
Is my file uploaded?
Yes. The conversion runs on indox servers, so the file is sent there. Avoid converting private artwork you may not share.
Will I lose quality?
The shapes are drawn at the PNG size, so edges are clean at that size, but the PNG cannot be enlarged without blur. Keep the .ai for anything that must scale.
What can open an .ai file?
Illustrator opens it fully. Many other programs read the PDF copy inside it when the file was saved with PDF content. A PNG avoids the question because every editor and browser opens it.