Export
Definition
The process of rendering one or more pages or blocks of a CE.SDK scene to a distribution-ready file. All export processing runs client-side on web. No server round-trip is required for image or PDF export from the browser. Server-side export for headless and high-volume pipelines is handled by Node.js or the CE.SDK Renderer.
The export target can be a full scene, a single page, a group, or an individual block. For multi-page scenes, specific pages can be selected or all pages exported at once.
Pixel-Identical Output Across Environments
Because the same CreativeEngine powers both the browser editor and server-side environments, the output of a client-side export and a server-side export from the same scene file are pixel-identical.
There is no conversion step, no secondary rendering pass, and no QA mismatch between what a designer sees on screen and what the export pipeline produces, whether that pipeline runs interactively or headlessly at scale.
Supported Formats
Image
PNG
Lossless compression with configurable compression level. Preserves transparency. Best for graphics, text-heavy designs, logos, and any output where background removal has been applied. Compression level affects file size and encoding speed, not quality. (Lossless, Transparency)
JPEG
Lossy compression with configurable quality setting. No transparency support. Best for photographs and image-heavy designs where file size matters and lossless fidelity is not required. (Lossy, Smallest file size)
WebP
Strong compression with optional lossless mode. Supports transparency. Best for web delivery where bandwidth efficiency matters: covers both the quality-vs-size trade-off of JPEG and the transparency support of PNG in a single format. (Lossless or lossy, Transparency)
TGA
Lossless raster format used in specific production and game-engine pipelines. Available where pipeline compatibility requires it. (Lossless, Pipeline compatibility)
Preserves vector information, embeds fonts, and supports multi-page export. Best for digital document distribution, downloadable assets, and print workflows that do not require preflight compliance. (Vector, Multi-page)
PDF/X
An ISO-standardized print-production subset of PDF with enforced constraints: embedded fonts, defined color profiles, and flattened transparency (PDF/X-1a) or live transparency (PDF/X-4). CE.SDK supports both PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-4.
Required for professional print production: commercial presses, web-to-print platforms, and any workflow where files pass through a preflight step. Supports CMYK color values and Pantone spot colors. (PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-4, CMYK & Pantone)
Video
MP4 (H.264, AAC audio)
The standard video export format for web delivery, social media, and any platform expecting a broadly compatible video file. Configurable frame rate and resolution preset: SD, HD (1080p), FHD, 2K, 4K, or custom dimensions. Video export requires a Chromium-based browser on web (Chrome, Edge) and is also available via the CE.SDK Renderer for server-side headless export. (Chromium on web, CE.SDK Renderer on server)
Audio
WAV
Lossless audio export. Best when audio quality must be preserved without compression and file size is not a constraint. (Lossless)
AAC (MP4 container)
Compressed audio export suited for web delivery. Best when the output will be used in a video pipeline or streamed. (Compressed)
Audio export extracts and processes audio from all audio-capable blocks within the target block, including video fills with audio tracks and standalone audio blocks.
Export vs. Save
Export
Produces a finished output file in a delivery format (PNG, PDF, MP4) for use outside CE.SDK. The file is distribution-ready and cannot be reopened as an editable scene.
Save
Produces a scene file (.scene or .zip archive) that preserves the full editable state of the design for future editing.
A typical production workflow does both: save the scene to preserve the editable source, then export to produce the deliverable.
Format Selection by Use Case
Social media image
PNG or WebP
Product photo with transparent background
PNG
Photography / image-heavy banner
JPEG
Downloadable PDF document
Commercial print / web-to-print
PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4
Social media video
MP4
Batch video automation
MP4 via CE.SDK Renderer
Audio-only output
WAV or AAC
Links
Documentation and references for this concept.
Related Terms
PDF/X
An ISO-standardized subset of PDF designed for reliable, predictable reproduction in professional print production, enfo…
Headless Mode
Running the CreativeEngine as a pure API (without any editor UI) to perform creative operations programmatically: creati…
Creative Automation
The practice of using CE.SDK's headless API to programmatically generate large volumes of design assets from templates a…