You can change the size of a document in Adobe Illustrator by adjusting its artboard dimensions. Here's how:
Resizing Your Artboard in Illustrator
To modify the document size, which is defined by its artboard, follow these steps:
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Access Document Setup: Navigate to the File menu in the Illustrator menu bar.
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Select Document Setup: From the dropdown menu, select Document Setup... .
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Edit Artboards: In the Document Setup dialog box, locate and click on the Edit Artboards button.
- When you click this, the artboard you're currently working on is highlighted with an active dotted line. This dotted line has handles you can use to resize it.
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Resize the Artboard:
- Drag the handles on the dotted line to manually adjust the artboard's dimensions. Drag outwards to enlarge, and inwards to shrink the artboard.
- Use the Artboard Tool: Alternatively, you can select the Artboard Tool (Shift+O) from the toolbar to directly manipulate the selected artboard. In this mode, you can drag the artboard's edges or specify its width and height in the control panel at the top.
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Multiple Artboards: If your document contains multiple artboards, make sure the one you intend to resize is selected. You can also create new artboards by clicking and dragging with the Artboard tool.
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Close the Artboard Editor: When you are finished resizing your artboard, click the Edit Artboards button again or press the Esc key to exit the artboard editing mode.
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Save Your Changes: Remember to save your document to preserve the new dimensions.
Key Takeaways
- Artboards define document size: In Illustrator, the document size is determined by the dimensions of its artboard(s).
- Visual feedback: The active dotted line with handles provides a visual aid for resizing your artboard.
- Multiple resizing methods: Illustrator allows resizing via manual drag-and-drop or by entering precise dimensions using the artboard tool and controls.
- Multiple artboard considerations: When using multiple artboards, ensure you’ve selected the correct one to avoid unintentional modifications.
By following these steps, you can effectively control the size of your document in Illustrator.
