How to export Illustrator files as PDFs so that Illustrator's pixel measurements match the pixels in the exported file?

Question

The gray navbar shown in the Illustrator file below is 70 pixels high, in Illustrator:

However when exported as a PDF, viewed at 100% size, it becomes 108 pixels high:

How can I export it as a PDF (or some other non-Illustrator format) while keeping the exact pixels sizes that the Illustrator file had?

Is Acrobat's Pixel Density setting set to match your monitor (Page Display Preferences)? This is one of those things you can adjust on your system, but it may or may not be correct on any other system. — Scott, Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 18:28
Both Illustrator and the PDF file format are firmly based in real world meaurement units. Neither have something called "pixels".. Perhaps you should design and view your artwork with pixel-based tools instead. — Jongware, Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 18:57
Actually..... Acrobat as a Pixel Density setting to control the size of PDFs on a monitor. Setting it too low may result in PDFs being displayed larger than they are at 100%, and setting it too high has the opposite effect. — Scott, Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 19:01
@Scott: yes, and that is because there is no link between any individual screen's pixel size and the real world measurements from a PDF. Basically you have to tell it how many pixels go into a 1in line. — Jongware, Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 20:26

score 2 · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-20 19:44:42Z

2

Going to Acrobat Preferences > Page Display and setting the custom resolution to 72 pixels/inch, the measurements will match.

answered Nov 20, 2018 at 19:34

user120647

1

+1. :) I'd have posted similarly but for some reason my Acrobat version is crashing as soon as I tap "Page Display" in the preferences.
– Scott
Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 19:49

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