Export PDF Assets for iOS: Asset Catalog Setup Guide
Have your designers sent icons in PNG, and on an iPad Pro screen they weigh 2 MB and look blurry? We offer a transition to PDF assets—one vector for @1x, @2x, and @3x, saving storage and delivering perfect sharpness. With over 5 years and 50+ projects in Asset Catalog, we know the details. A PDF in Asset Catalog is not a regular PDF document but a simplified vector container that Xcode uses for rendering icons and simple graphics. With Preserve Vector Data and Single Scale options enabled, rendering happens at the Core Graphics level without pixelation. This is especially important for Dynamic Type and large screens. PDF wins in these scenarios: for monochrome icons and simple shapes without gradients—PDF takes 3x less space than three PNGs and scales without quality loss.
When Does PDF Make Sense?
| Parameter | PDF (vector) | PNG (raster) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of files | 1 for all scales | 3 (@1x, @2x, @3x) |
| Size in Assets | ~2–5 KB | ~50–200 KB per @3x |
| Scaling | Lossless | Pixelation when enlarged |
| tintColor support | Yes (if monochrome) | No (original color only) |
| Rendering | Core Graphics (GPU) | Raster (CPU) |
PDF assets render faster on GPU, reducing battery load. With a typical set of 50 icons, storage savings in Assets is about 5 MB—noticeable when downloading the app over cellular.
How to Prepare Vector Assets for iOS?
Step 1: Export from Figma. In Figma, select the frame or component, in the Export panel choose PDF format. Before exporting, perform Flatten on layers with complex boolean operations—this removes extra clipping paths. Ensure there are no embedded raster images. If the icon contains gradients or complex effects, leave it as PNG—PDF is not suitable for such scenarios.
Step 2: Import into Xcode. Drag the PDF into Asset Catalog. In the inspector on the right, choose Scale → Single Scale and check Preserve Vector Data. This guarantees vector rendering even when the icon size changes via Dynamic Type. For template icons, also set Render As: Template Image.
Step 3: Validation. Run on a simulator with different text sizes and themes (Light/Dark). Ensure tintColor correctly overrides for template icons (the PDF must be monochrome with a single fill color). Also test on a real device—the simulator does not always accurately emulate rendering.
According to Apple documentation, the Preserve Vector Data option must be enabled for all PDF assets to avoid pixelation when scaling. This is standard industry practice.
Common Mistakes and Solutions
| Mistake | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Icon is blurry | Preserve Vector Data not enabled | Enable the option in the asset inspector |
| tintColor not working | PDF is color, not monochrome | Export a monochrome PDF with a single color |
| Clipping paths visible | Complex boolean operations without flatten | Flatten before export |
| Icon size mismatch | PDF dimensions not matching bounds | Check frame bounds in Figma |
Example Asset Catalog Configuration
In Xcode, select the asset, in Attributes inspector set Scale: Single Scale, Render As: Template Image, and enable Preserve Vector Data. For Image Set also set Devices: Universal.Switching to PDF can save up to 80% of asset storage in the project. The cost of work is calculated individually based on the number and complexity of icons.
What’s Included and Timeline
- Export vector assets from Figma / Sketch to PDF
- Configure Asset Catalog with Single Scale and Preserve Vector Data
- Test on simulator and real device with different sizes and themes
- Guarantee correct operation on all iOS devices
Timeline: exporting and configuring a full set of icons (up to 100) takes 2–4 hours. Contact us for a consultation — our engineers can transition your project to PDF assets in 1 day. Request a free assessment of your current project.