To resize the overall size of your document in Adobe Illustrator, you need to adjust the artboard dimensions. This essentially changes the canvas size for your artwork.
Here's how you can resize the document size (artboard) in Illustrator, according to the provided reference:
You can resize your artwork in Illustrator by going to File, Document Setup. In this window, change the units to millimetres and click Edit Artboards and change the dimensions at the top. Now is a good time to add bleed to the document.
This process allows you to set the exact height and width of your document space.
Step-by-Step Guide to Resizing Your Artboard
Resizing the artboard is a fundamental task, often needed when starting a new project with specific output dimensions or when adjusting existing artwork for different formats.
Here are the detailed steps:
- Access Document Setup: Go to the menu bar at the top and select File > Document Setup.
- Change Units (Optional but Recommended): In the Document Setup window that appears, locate the "Units" dropdown menu. It's often helpful to change this to your preferred unit (like Millimeters, Inches, or Pixels) as mentioned in the reference. This makes inputting precise dimensions easier.
- Enter Artboard Editing Mode: Click the Edit Artboards button within the Document Setup window. This action takes you out of the general document settings and into a mode specifically for modifying artboards.
- Modify Artboard Dimensions: With the Artboards tool active (you might see handles around your artboard), look at the Control panel usually located at the top of the Illustrator window. Here, you'll find fields for Width (W) and Height (H). Enter the new desired dimensions for your artboard in these fields.
- Consider Bleed: As the reference notes, this is also an excellent time to add bleed. Bleed is the area extending beyond the trim edge of your document, essential for printing to ensure no white edges appear if there are slight inaccuracies during cutting. You can typically set bleed dimensions in the Document Setup window before clicking "Edit Artboards," or sometimes within the Artboards panel itself depending on your Illustrator version.
- Exit Artboard Editing: Once you have set the new dimensions and bleed (if needed), you can exit the Artboard editing mode by selecting any other tool (like the Selection Tool 'V') or pressing the Escape key.
Your document now has the updated size based on the new artboard dimensions you entered.
Key Considerations
- Artboard vs. Artwork: Resizing the artboard does not automatically resize the artwork placed on it. Your artwork will remain at its original size relative to its position on the artboard. If you need to resize the artwork itself, you would typically use the Selection Tool (V) or Direct Selection Tool (A), select the objects, and then drag a corner handle while holding Shift (to constrain proportions) or input dimensions in the Transform panel.
- Multiple Artboards: If your document has multiple artboards, the steps above will apply to the currently selected artboard. You can switch between artboards or select multiple artboards in Artboard editing mode to resize them.
- Presets: Illustrator offers predefined artboard size presets for common print, web, and mobile sizes, which you can select when creating a new document or within the Artboard options.
By following these steps, you can effectively control and change the size of your document's canvas in Adobe Illustrator.
