Can You Rotate An Artboard In Illustrator

Yes — You can rotate an artboard in Illustrator and you can rotate all your design elements within that artboard together.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need on how to rotate an artboard in Adobe Illustrator.

How To Rotate Artboard In Illustrator?

The best way to rotate an artboard in Illustrator is to select the Artboard Tool, then hold down the Shift key and spacebar together. Next, drag the Artboard Tool cursor left or right to rotate your artboard at an angle.

Here are a few ways you can rotate an artboard in Illustrator:

1. Using the Artboard Tool and Keyboard Shortcut

The Artboard Tool is unique to Illustrator and doesn’t directly allow you to rotate the artboard. However, you can rotate the artboard with the Artboard Tool together with keyboard shortcuts.

Related: What Is The Artboard Tool In Illustrator?

Select the Artboard Tool from the Toolbar.

You will see dashed lines surrounding your artboard.

Then, hold down the Shift key and spacebar on your keyboard. Your cursor will change to a hand icon with a curved arrow and angled artboard. This is the Rotate View tool.

Still holding down the Shift key and Spacebar (Shift + Spacebar), bring your cursor over the artboard and drag it left and right. You will see your artboard rotating in the direction you drag your cursor to.

Without holding down the Shift and Spacebar keys, the default Artboard Tool can be used to move your artboards and change the artboard size.

2. The Rotate View Tool

Here, the Rotate View tool comes in handy. It’s symbolized by a hand icon in the tools panel or Toolbar.

This tool is the same tool used in the first method where you can temporarily change your canvas view without affecting the object on the artboard.

3. Manually Edit Rotate View

Besides using keyboard shortcuts, the Artboard tool, and the Rotate View tool, you can also rotate your artboard with more precision.

Go to the bottom of your Illustrator file. You will see a field with a zoom-in percentage on the left. Next to that field is the Rotate View field. The default angle is 0°.

Click your cursor in the Rotate View field and manually type in the angle you wish to rotate your artboard. Then, press the Enter or Return key. You will see your artboard rotated to the angle you’ve given.

How To Rotate Content Without Rotating Artboard?

Now that you’ve learned the various methods on how to rotate an artboard in Illustrator, you may be wondering if you could rotate only the content without rotating all the artboards.

To rotate the content inside the artboard, utilize the selection tool (Shortcut V):

1. Select the Content: Using the selection tool or Ctrl+A, select all objects.
2. Locate the Rotate Tool: In the tools panel, find the rotate tool or press R.
3. Set the Anchor Point: This is your reference point for the rotation.
4. Perform the Rotation: Drag to alter the rotation angle of the selected object or multiple objects.
5. Confirm: Release to apply the rotation to your selected artwork.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Over-Rotation: Reset the rotate view if you find the view disorienting.
• Wrong Reference Points: Be cautious while setting the anchor point.
• Not Saving New Views: If you choose a view that works, save it.

Related: Adobe Illustrator Anchor Points Not Showing

Final Thoughts: Artboard Rotation

Now you know how to rotate an artboard in Illustrator and manipulate the rotated canvas view.

You’re familiar with everything from the basic selection tool to the artboard navigation menu, transforming you into a more skillful to quickly create graphics in Illustrator. So, go ahead and bring those creative ideas to life.

FAQs About Rotating Artboards

1. Select the Artboard: Start by selecting the artboard you want to change. Click on the artboard’s name in the Artboards panel to select it.
2. Access the Artboard Options: With the artboard selected, go to the “Object” menu at the top, then choose “Artboards,” and click on “Artboard Options.”
3. Adjust the Orientation: In the Artboard Options dialog box, you’ll see an option called “Orientation.” Here, you can toggle between “Portrait” and “Landscape” by selecting your desired orientation.
4. Confirm Changes: Once you’ve chosen the new orientation, click “OK” to apply the changes.

Your artboard will now be in the orientation you selected, allowing you to work with your design in either portrait or landscape mode.

1. Select the Artboard: Start by selecting the rotated artboard that you want to reset. Click on the artboard’s name in the Artboards panel to select it.
2. Access the Artboard Options: Just like in the previous FAQ, go to the “Object” menu, choose “Artboards,” and click on “Artboard Options.”
3. Reset Rotation Angle: In the Artboard Options dialog box, you will see an option called “Rotate.” If this value is not set to “0 degrees,” it means your artboard is rotated. To reset it, simply enter “0” in the Rotate field.
4. Confirm Changes: After setting the rotation angle to “0 degrees,” click “OK” to apply the reset.

This will return your rotated artboard to its original, unrotated position, ensuring that your design elements are aligned as intended.

1. Select the Artboard: In the Artboards panel (usually located on the right side of the screen), click on the artboard you want to rotate. This will select it.
2. Access the Artboard Options: Go to the top right-hand corner of the Artboard Panel, click on the options button and select Artboard Options in the drop-down menu.
3. Rotate the Artboard: In the Artboard Options dialog box, you’ll find a section labeled Orientation. If your artboard is now portrait, select landscape for it to be rotated 90 degrees from before.
4. Confirm Changes: Click “OK” to apply the rotation.

1. Select the Artboard Tool: Activate the Artboard Tool from the Tools panel (shortcut Shift + O).
2. Select the Artboard: Click on the artboard you want to move with the Artboard Tool.
3. Use Arrow Keys: With the artboard selected, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move it horizontally or vertically.
4. Fine-Tune with Shift: If you want more precise control, hold down the Shift key while using the arrow keys for smaller increments.

This method allows you to move artboards to your desired position within your Illustrator document.