How do I change file dimensions in Illustrator?

To change the file dimensions (specifically, artboard size) in Adobe Illustrator, go to File > Document Setup, then click "Edit Artboards". This activates artboard editing mode, allowing you to resize each artboard individually.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Access Document Setup: Navigate to the File menu at the top of your Illustrator window and select Document Setup....

2. Edit Artboards: In the Document Setup dialog box, locate and click the Edit Artboards button. This action puts you into Artboard Tool mode. Alternatively, you can select the Artboard Tool directly from the Tools panel (it looks like a rectangle with corner handles).

3. Select the Artboard: Click on the artboard you want to resize. A dashed line with handles will appear around it, indicating it's selected.

4. Resize the Artboard: You have several options for resizing:

   • Dragging Handles: Click and drag any of the handles on the selected artboard's border to visually resize it. Hold down the Shift key while dragging to maintain the artboard's aspect ratio.

   • Using the Control Panel: With the Artboard Tool active and the artboard selected, the Control Panel (usually at the top of the screen) will display artboard dimensions (Width and Height). You can directly enter new values in these fields. You can also set a reference point for resizing in the Control Panel.

   • Artboard Properties Panel (Window > Artboard): Open the Artboard panel to adjust options such as presets, orientation, and X/Y position.

5. Complete the Edit: Once you have resized your artboard click outside of the artboard or select another tool.

Key Considerations:

• Document Setup vs. Artboard Size: Remember, you're resizing artboards, not the entire document canvas. The document canvas is virtually infinite, and artboards define specific areas for your artwork.
• Multiple Artboards: Illustrator allows you to have multiple artboards in a single document. You can change the size of each artboard independently using the steps above.
• Scaling Content: Resizing an artboard does not automatically scale the artwork contained within it. If you want to scale the artwork along with the artboard, you may need to manually select all the content and resize it proportionally. Alternatively, in Preferences > General, you can tick the box "Transform panel: Scale Strokes & Effects". Then, when you transform the artboard via the Transform panel, the strokes and effects will scale along with the size of the artboard.