… Pixelated images lose quality when scaled up, unlike vector images. Either you’re original artboard size in illustrator does not match your intended export dimensions (artboard was too small) or your export settings result in a lower quality export. There are 2 reasons why your exported image appears pixelated.
Why does my image look pixelated in Illustrator? The bigger you make an image, the more you’ll see a difference in sharpness. The result is a larger image, but it may look less sharp than the original picture. To improve a picture’s resolution, increase its size, then make sure it has the optimal pixel density. In the top menu Click: Window > Document Info. From the top menu Click: Effect > Document Raster Effect Settings. Change image dimensions and file size in a few steps to get the perfect image size for your needs. Step 3: Change the artboard size W (width) and H (height) in the Artboard panel on the right-hand side of the Illustrator document. Large image files can wreak havoc on your storage space. Step 2: Select the artboard you want to resize. Step 1: Click on the Artboard tool in the toolbar. How do you change dimensions in Illustrator?
Then make your pdf and that should do it.
Go to Effects>Document Raster Effects Settings and either check high Quality 300 DPI or do a custom setting and use 355 dpi which is what the high end publications use. How do I change from 72 dpi to 300 dpi in Illustrator? To make sure that your design is in 300 DPI in Adobe Illustrator, go to Effects -> Document Raster Effects Settings -> check “High Quality 300 DPI” -> click “OK” -> save your document. How do I increase pixel quality in Illustrator?