If you’re a graphic designer or illustrator working with Adobe Illustrator, you’ve likely encountered the need to increase the art board size at some point. Whether you’re creating a larger canvas for a new project or want to scale up your existing artwork, increasing the art board in Adobe Illustrator can be a simple yet essential task. In this article, we’ll explore the step-by-step process of increasing the art board size in Adobe Illustrator.
Step 1: Open Your Illustrator File
Start by opening the Adobe Illustrator file in which you want to increase the art board size. You can either create a new document or work with an existing one. If you’re creating a new document, you can specify your desired art board size in the New Document dialog box.
Step 2: Select the Art Board Tool
Once your file is open, navigate to the toolbar on the left side of the screen and locate the Art Board Tool. It is nested under the same menu as the rectangle tool and can be accessed by clicking and holding on the rectangle icon until the fly-out menu appears. Then, select the Art Board Tool from the options.
Step 3: Adjust the Art Board Size
With the Art Board Tool selected, you’ll notice that the current art board is highlighted with a bounding box and control handles. To increase the art board size, simply click on the edge of the art board and drag it to your desired dimensions. You can also manually input the exact width and height of the art board in the control panel at the top of the screen.
Step 4: Reposition Artwork
After you’ve adjusted the art board size, you may need to reposition your artwork to fit within the new dimensions. Simply click and drag your artwork within the enlarged art board to reposition it as necessary.
Step 5: Save Your Changes
Once you’re satisfied with the new art board size and the position of your artwork, it’s essential to save your changes. You can do this by selecting File > Save or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac) to save the file with the updated art board size.
Increasing the art board size in Adobe Illustrator is a fundamental skill that every designer and illustrator should be familiar with. Whether you’re working on a print project, digital illustration, or web design, the ability to adjust the art board size allows for greater flexibility and creativity in your work. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can confidently increase the art board size in Adobe Illustrator and take your creative projects to new dimensions.
