Changing Canvas Size in Illustrator: A Guide

On the surface, this is an incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel tutorial..but information technology'south e'er the simple things in Photoshop and Illustrator that are the nearly frustrating.

Once once more, similar to our previous article, people seem to have a lot of problems regarding how to alter canvas size in illustrator.

The biggest issue in our stance is that a lot of people come over to Adobe Illustrator from Adobe Photoshop, and obviously things are drastically unlike over there, and then when people initially start learning Illustrator they struggle a bit, not understanding that the ii pieces of software, while fabricated by the aforementioned company Adobe, are inherently dissimilar in the style that they operate and function.

Ok, thats enough about that, lets get started with how to alter canvass size in illustrator:

Understanding Canvas / Artboards

Ok then before we go started, the main affair to understand about how to modify sheet size in illustrator is that Illustrator works on "Artboards", despite the fact they are very similar concepts, its the ane thing that always confuses the newbies, they are looking to change canvass and not edit the artboard size, which is where they slip up in the start place. Fundamental thing to note, you can besides make these changes if you use Adobe Illustrator on a standalone graphics tablet.

Ok so at present nosotros have this cleared up, lets begin the first way you lot can change the canvas/artboard in Adobe Illustrator:

File > Document Setup > Edit Artboards

This is one of the places you'd wait the sail/artboard size options to exist in right? Well you lot'd be right. What you want to do is go to File > Document Setup > Edit Artboards, as you tin run across in the photo below:

how-to-change-canvas-size-in-illustrator-step1

From here y'all will discover that your sail/artboard is selected, and now from here you can go ahead and make the artboard smaller/larger depending on your project.

QUICK TIP: Pressing Shift + O will attain the aforementioned effect, its a handy little keyboard shortcut.

how to change canvas size in illustrator

Window > Artboards > Artboard Options

This is our second technique. Basically what you need to do is become to Window > Artboards, from here an Artboards palette window will popular up. One time this handy little window has popped up, you can either exercise the following. Double click on this Artboards Icon below:

how-to-change-canvas-size-in-illustrator-artboard-options

OR y'all tin can do this beneath: Merely click on the horizontal lines acme right paw corner of the panel, click and then become to Artboard Options. From hither you will be able to change the artboard settings, and change the size to whatever yous want.

how-to-change-canvas-size-in-illustrator-artboard-options2

Wrapping Upward

Ok you filthy animals, I think we're done here; at present you know how to change sheet size in illustrator. I know I know, it wasn't the nigh sexy or artful of tutorials, but it got the job washed, and at present yous know how to exercise information technology, you lot'll never forget!

Learning the basics of Adobe Illustrator are really crucial in progressing with the software and becoming a well rounded illustrator. Its not e'er easy as its vastly unlike to Photoshop, only hopefully our basics tutorials are enough to get you started! If you would like to learn more about Adobe Illustrator, then please check out our tutorials section, and other great tutorials such as How to bend text in illustrator