The anatomy of a clean export

An export is a small commitment to a stranger that what they're about to open will behave.

Why this matters today

Flatten layers, embed assets, strip drafts, name the file like a grown-up, preview it in the target app. Every step is boring and every step is the difference.

An export is the contract; the source file is the conversation.

In practice

Here is the part that turns theory into a habit:

• Start small — a single file, a single page, a single test.
• Measure twice. Trust the numbers, not the vibe.
• Keep an undo path. Reversible decisions buy you courage.

A note on tooling

Every tool on this site runs in your browser unless we say otherwise. That changes the trade-offs: nothing to upload, nothing to retain, nothing to leak. The downside is a small ceiling on file size and a dependency on your device's CPU — both acceptable for most editorial workflows.

Takeaway

Treat export like submission — because it is.