A Quick Guide: How To Change The Artboard Color In Illustrator

By Lilian Garren
September 22, 2023
6:51 am

Table of Contents

How To Change The Artboard Color In Illustrator

Are you wondering how to change the artboard color in Illustrator? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, I’ll show you a quick and easy way to modify the background color of your artboard, allowing you to customize your workspace and enhance your creative process.

To change the artboard color in Illustrator, follow these simple steps. First, select the “File” menu at the top left corner of the application window. Next, choose “Document Setup” from the dropdown menu. A dialog box will appear with various options. Look for the “Transparency & Gamut” section and click on it.

Now that you’re in the Transparency & Gamut settings, locate the “Simulate Colored Paper” checkbox. Checking this option will enable you to choose a specific color for your artboard background. Click on the small colored square next to it and a color picker will pop up. Here, you can either manually enter RGB or CMYK values or use sliders to select your desired hue.

Once you’ve selected your preferred color, click OK and voila! Your artboard’s background will now be changed accordingly. Remember that this modification is only applicable within your current document; if you want to apply it across multiple files or as a default setting, further adjustments may be necessary.

Choosing The Right Artboard

When working in Adobe Illustrator, it’s important to choose the right artboard for your project. Not only does it provide a canvas for your design, but it also determines the size and dimensions of your final output. In this section, I’ll guide you through the process of selecting and customizing your artboard to ensure that it suits your needs perfectly.

To begin, let’s explore how to change the artboard color in Illustrator. The default background color of an artboard is white, but you have the flexibility to modify it according to your preferences or project requirements. Here’s how:

Select the artboard you want to change by clicking on its edge.
Navigate to the “Properties” panel or go to “Window” > “Properties” if it’s not already open.
In the “Properties” panel, locate and click on the small colored square next to “Artboard Background”.
A color picker dialog box will appear, allowing you to choose a new color for your artboard.
Use the various controls and sliders in the dialog box to adjust hue, saturation, brightness, and opacity until you achieve your desired result.
Once satisfied with your selection, click “OK” to apply the new background color.

By customizing your artboard color, you can create a more visually appealing workspace that aligns with your design aesthetic or helps differentiate between multiple projects within Illustrator.

Remember that altering the artboard color is just one aspect of choosing the right artboard in Illustrator. You should also consider factors such as size, orientation (portrait or landscape), and units of measurement (pixels, inches, etc.) based on whether you’re designing for print or digital platforms.

Experiment With Different Colors

To begin, follow these straightforward instructions:

Launch Adobe Illustrator on your computer.
Open the document for which you want to change the artboard color.
Locate the “Artboard” panel by going to Window > Artboards (or press Shift + O).
In the Artboard panel, you’ll see a list of all the artboards in your document.
Select the artboard that you wish to modify by clicking on it.

Now that you have selected the desired artboard, it’s time to change its color:

Go to the “Properties” panel by navigating to Window > Properties (or press Shift + F8).
In the Properties panel, locate and click on the “Fill” option.
A color picker will appear, allowing you to choose a new color for your artboard.

Here are some additional tips and tricks:

You can select from a variety of colors within Illustrator’s built-in swatches or create custom colors using RGB or CMYK values.
If you want a transparent background instead of a solid color, simply set the opacity value of your chosen fill color to 0%.
To apply the same background color or pattern across multiple artboards simultaneously, hold down Shift while selecting them in step 5.

By following these steps, you can easily change and customize the artboard color in Adobe Illustrator according to your personal taste or project requirements. So go ahead and give it a try – unleash your creativity with vibrant backgrounds that complement your designs!