Print presets

Learn how to use Print presets in Illustrator.

If you regularly output to different printers or job types, you can automate print jobs by saving all output settings as print presets. Using print presets is a fast, reliable way to print jobs that require consistently accurate settings for many options in the Print dialog box.

Create print presets

If you regularly output to different printers or job types, you can automate print jobs by saving all output settings as print presets. Using print presets is a fast, reliable way to print jobs that require consistently accurate settings for many options in the Print dialog box.

You can save and load print presets, making it easy to back them up or to make them available to your service providers, clients, or others in your workgroup.

You can create and review print presets in the Print Presets dialog box.

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Choose File > Print, adjust print settings, and click Save Preset . Type a name or use the default, and then click OK. With this method, the preset is saved in the preferences file.

    • Choose Edit > Print Presets, and then click New. In the Print Presets dialog box, type a new name or use the default, adjust print settings, and then click OK to return to the Print Presets dialog box. Then click OK again.

Apply print presets

  1. Choose File > Print.
  2. Choose a print preset from the Print Preset menu. If you like, confirm the printer settings in the Print dialog box.
  3. Click Print.

Edit print presets

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Choose File > Print, adjust print settings, and click Save Preset . In the Save Preset dialog box that appears, either type a name in the text box or use the current name. (If the current name is an existing preset, saving overwrites that preset’s settings.) Click OK.

    • Choose Edit > Print Presets, select a preset from the list, and then click Edit. Adjust print settings, and click OK to return to the Print Presets dialog box. Then click OK again.

      Tip: You can edit the default preset as you would any other using the steps outlined above.

Delete print presets

  1. Choose Edit > Print Presets.
  2. Select one or more presets from the list and click Delete. Shift-click to select adjacent presets. Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) to select nonadjacent presets.

Export or import print presets

You can save print presets in separate files, making it easy to back them up or to make them available to your service providers, clients, or others in your workgroup.

  1. Choose Edit > Print Presets.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • To export presets, select one or more presets in the list and click Export. Shift-click to select adjacent presets. Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) to select nonadjacent presets. Specify a name and location, and then click Save.

    • To import presets, click Import. Locate and click the file containing the presets you want to load, and then click OK.

Note:

Consider saving presets outside of the preferences folder. That way, they won’t be lost if you ever delete your preferences.

View a summary of print settings/presets

Use the Summary panel of the Print dialog box to view your output settings prior to printing, and then adjust them as necessary. For example, you can see if the document will omit certain graphics for OPI replacement by the service provider.

  1. Choose File > Print.
  2. In the Print dialog box, click Summary.
  3. If you want to save the summary as a text file, click Save Summary.
  4. Accept the default filename or type another name for the text file, and click Save.

What's next?

We've got you started on how to work with Print presets. Take a step forward and learn how to Print and save transparent artwork and Print gradients, meshes, and color blends in Illustrator.

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