How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Wondering How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

You’ve come to the right place! In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about adding a new artboard in Adobe Illustrator. How do you know this is the best, most complete guide?

I’ve been a graphic designer since 2005 and have extensive experience with Adobe Illustrator, a vector-based software. I’m eager to share these insights with you, helping you get the most out of this powerful tool in your design process.

When you first open up Adobe Illustrator, you will be prompted to either open an existing file or start a new document with an empty rectangular or square-shaped artboard.

But if you wish to add more artboards, there isn’t a button on the screen with a plus + sign like how Canva works.

Although industry experts and graphic design pros have vetted these methods for ease and efficiency, how to add a new artboard may not be obvious if you are an Illustrator beginner.

Ready to discover the steps to add a new artboard in Illustrator? Let’s get started!

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

What Is an Artboard in Adobe Illustrator?

Think of an artboard as your canvas—your personal space in the Illustrator document where your design comes to life. The artboard tool is your key to this realm.

In Illustrator, an artboard represents the space where you’ll place vectors, graphics, and text. The flexibility to have multiple artboards can give you a different perspective on your design process.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Why Do You Need Multiple Artboards?

The number of artboards you use can be like having several sheets of paper on your desk, each labeled in the Artboards Panel.

It’s especially handy when working on projects with multiple elements or pages, like a brochure or a set of icons for different social media platforms. Having additional artboards can streamline your design process.

How to Add a New Artboard In Simple Steps?

Adding a new artboard is simple! Here’s your quick guide:

Step 1: Launch Adobe Illustrator and either open an existing file or create a new file by going to the top menu bar and selecting File > New.

Step 2: Go to the Toolbar, and select the Artboard Tool (the icon looks like a crop symbol).

Or open the Artboard Panel by going to the top menu bar and selecting Window > Artboards.

Click the New Artboard Button: You can find it at the bottom of the panel or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + N.

Step 3: Click and Drag on the workspace to create a custom-sized artboard manually.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Navigating the Artboard Panel

The Artboard Panel or “Artboards Panel” is a control panel that helps you manage your artboards. To open it:

1. Go to Window in the top menu.
2. Select Artboards from the dropdown.

In this panel, you’ll find a list of artboards and different options for management.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Artboard Presets and the New Document Dialog Box

Save time by using artboard presets. You set these up in the New Document Dialog Box. Here, you can specify the size of your artboard, file format, and color mode for individual artboards.

Rearranging and Resizing Artboards

Rearranging artboards brings a different order to your creative process. Use the Move Tool to rearrange artboards in the Artboard Panel or use the Artboard Options Dialog Box for different versions.

1. Resizing an Existing Artboard: Select the artboard you wish to resize, and drag the bounding box handles.
2. Move Artwork: If you need to move artwork along with the artboard, press Shift while using the Move Tool.

Deleting and Duplicating Artboards

1. Delete Key: To remove a specific artboard, select it and press the Delete or Backspace key.
2. Duplicate Artboards: Alt + Click (or Option + Click for Mac) on the artboard you want to copy.

Additional Tools and Panels

1. Layers Panel: Keep track of objects across different artboards.
2. Properties Panel: Adjust specific settings for the selected artboard.
3. Rectangle and Selection Tools: These are part of your broader tools panel and tools palette that will help you in your design tasks.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Final Tips and Next Steps for Effective Artboard Management

1. Use Shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + N can save you a lot of time.
2. Privacy Policy and Terms of Service: Always keep these in mind when sharing files.
3. Document Setup and Save As: Use different file formats and consider creating a separate file for different artboard sizes.

Remember, this is a living document, always evolving based on new tools and methods, and your feedback is invaluable. Ready to take the next step in your Adobe Illustrator journey?

Please note that some of the features and shortcuts mentioned may depend on the version of Adobe Illustrator you’re using and your browser type. Always refer to the most updated terms of service, cookie policy, and privacy statements when using new software.

Add A New Artboard In Illustrator: FAQs

1. Start Adobe Illustrator: Open the program and either initiate a new file through the New option in the File menu or open an existing document.
2. Locate the Artboard Tool: In the tools panel, look for the Artboard Tool, recognizable by its crop-like icon.
3. Use the New Artboard Button: You can click this button located at the bottom of the control panel or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + N for quick access.
4. Click and Drag: Create your new artboard by clicking and dragging anywhere on the workspace. You now have a custom-sized artboard!

Presets Are Your Friend

If you find yourself frequently using specific artboard dimensions, go ahead and save them as presets through the New Document Dialog Box.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

1. Open Your Document: Launch Adobe Illustrator and open the existing file where you want to add the artboard.
2. Select the Artboard Tool: This is located in the Tools Panel.
3. Manually Create or Duplicate: You can either manually click and drag to form a new artboard within the existing document or duplicate an existing one.
4. Rearrange if Needed: If you have multiple artboards, you might want to rearrange them. Just drag and drop within the Artboard Panel or use the Move Tool.

Quick Tips for Multiple Artboards

If you’re dealing with different social media platforms or various versions of a design, labeling your artboards in the Artboard Panel is a pro move. Also, remember that Illustrator allows you to have different artboards with varying sizes, all within a single document.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

1. Open Adobe Illustrator: Navigate to the File menu and select Open or Import depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
2. Select the File: Browse to the Illustrator document (.AI) or other compatible file format containing the artboard you wish to import.
3. Import Options: A dialog box may appear, depending on the file type, where you can select specific artboards or import all artboards from that file into your current Illustrator document.

Alternative Method: Copy-Paste

1. Open Both Files: Have the source and destination Illustrator documents open.
2. Select and Copy: Use the Selection Tool to select the artboard you wish to import in the source file, then copy it.
3. Paste in New File: Go to your destination file and paste. The artboard and its contents will now appear as a new, additional artboard in your existing Illustrator document.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Create Additional Artboards in a New File

1. Start a New File: When you launch Adobe Illustrator, create a new file by navigating to the File menu and choosing New.
2. Specify the Number of Artboards: In the New Document Dialog Box, look for the Number of Artboards option and input the desired number.
3. Set the Size and Arrangement: While you’re at it, specify the size of your artboards and how they should be arranged in your Illustrator document.

Adding to an Existing Document

1. Open Your Document: Simply open the Illustrator file where you want to add another artboard.
2. Select the Artboard Tool: Located in the Tools Panel, this tool allows you to add new artboards to your existing document.
3. Click and Drag: Manually create a new artboard within your workspace, or click on the New Artboard icon located at the bottom of the control panel.

Quick Tips

Use the Artboard Panel to manage, rename, and rearrange your multiple artboards. Plus, the Layers Panel will let you separate your designs into distinct layers within each artboard, offering you a different perspective on your designs.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Manage with Artboard Panel

To get a quick overview of the number of artboards you have, open the Artboard Panel by going to Window > Artboards. Here, a list of artboards will be displayed. You can easily manage and navigate through this list to jump to specific artboards.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

1. Select Your Object: First, use the Selection Tool (V) to select the object you want to copy.
2. Copy the Object: Use Ctrl + C on Windows or Comand + C on a Mac to copy the selected object.
3. Navigate to the New Artboard: Use the Artboard Tool or the Artboard Panel to navigate to the artboard where you want to paste the object.
4. Paste in Place: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V on Windows or Command + Option + Shift + V on a Mac to paste the object in the exact same place on the new artboard.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

1. Activate the Artboard Tool: Either use the shortcut Shift + O or manually select the Artboard Tool from the Tools Panel.
2. Click and Drag: Create your first artboard by clicking and dragging within the workspace.
3. Artboard Options Dialog Box: Double-clicking the Artboard Tool will open the Artboard Options Dialog Box where you can input specific dimensions for your custom-sized artboard.
4. Properties Panel: After creating an artboard, the Properties Panel on the right will display size options. You can adjust the size of your artboard here.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Steps to Show Multiple Artboards

1. View Menu: Go to View in the top menu bar.
2. Navigate to ‘New Window’: This will open the same document in a new tab.
3. Tile Windows: Go back to View > Arrange > Tile to display multiple windows side by side.
4. Navigate Between Artboards: Use the Hand Tool (H) or the Navigator Panel to focus on different artboards within each window.

Artboards Panel for Quick Navigation

For easier management, open the Artboards Panel (Window > Artboards) to get a list of artboards in your document. You can quickly jump between them by clicking on the artboard names.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

How to Save Individual Artboards

1. Navigate to File Menu: Go to the top left corner and click on the File menu.
2. Select ‘Export’: From the dropdown, click on Export > Export As.
3. Choose File Format: In the dialog box, select your preferred file format like JPEG, PNG, SVG, etc.
4. Select Artboards: Under the Range option, specify the artboard number you want to export.
5. Final Step: Click Export.

Additional Tip: Use ‘Save As’

Alternatively, you can use the Save As option and deselect artboards that you do not want to save. This will generate a new Illustrator document containing only the selected artboards.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Steps to Duplicate an Artboard

1. Select the Artboard Tool: Go to the Toolbar on the side and pick the Artboard Tool. It looks like a crop symbol.
2. Choose Your Artboard: Click on the artboard you want to duplicate. You’ll notice that it becomes the selected artboard.
3. Alt + Click (or Option + Click for Mac): Hold down the Alt key (or Option key for Mac users) while clicking and dragging the selected artboard to a new location.

Duplicate Via Artboards Panel

Another method to duplicate an artboard is via the Artboards Panel, by first selecting Window > Artboards. Here, you’ll see a list of all your artboards. Simply select the one you wish to duplicate and click the New Artboard icon at the bottom of the panel.

How To Add A New Artboard In Illustrator?

Simple Drag-and-Drop Method

1. Select the Artboard Tool: Locate the Artboard Tool in the Toolbar and select it.
2. Select Your Artboard: Click on the artboard you wish to drag. This will highlight the artboard, indicating that it’s ready to be moved.
3. Drag and Drop: Click and hold down the mouse button to drag the artboard to a new location in your workspace.

Dragging Using the Artboards Panel

The Artboards Panel (Window > Artboards) also allows for easy dragging and rearrangement of your artboards. Simply click and drag the artboard name in the list to a new position. This will rearrange the artboards in your Illustrator document.

Keyboard Shortcuts

You can also move artboards using the arrow keys while the Artboard Tool is selected. This is useful for making minor adjustments to the artboard position.