How to Change the Background Color in Adobe Illustrator

The fastest way to change your canvas background

Open the File menu, select Document Setup, and look for the Artboard tab on the left side of the dialog box. Under Background Color, check the box next to "White" or click the color swatch to pick a different color. Click OK. That changes the background you see on screen and what prints or exports with your file.

This method works for a single artboard. If you have multiple artboards and want them all the same color, you will need to repeat the step for each one — there is no "explore to all" button in the dialog. If you want to change only what you see on screen without affecting the exported file, use the View menu instead (covered below).

Key Takeaways

File > Document Setup > Artboard tab > Background Color checkbox is the standard way to add a permanent background color to your artboard.
The background color you set in Document Setup will print and export with your file unless you delete it before saving.
If you have multiple artboards, you must change the background color for each one separately.
Use View > Hide Print Bounds if you want to see only the artboard without the gray canvas area around it.
The View menu lets you change what you see on screen without changing what exports, useful for reducing glare while you work.

Changing the background color permanently in Document Setup

The Document Setup dialog is where Illustrator stores the artboard background. Open File > Document Setup. In the dialog that opens, click the Artboard tab if it is not already selected. You will see a checkbox labeled "Background Color" with a white swatch next to it.

Check the box if it is unchecked. The checkbox turns the background on or off; the swatch controls the color. Click the swatch to open the color picker. Choose your color and click OK in the color picker, then OK again in the Document Setup dialog. The background now appears behind your artwork and will be included when you export or print.

If you later want to remove the background, return to File > Document Setup, uncheck the Background Color box, and click OK. The background disappears but your artwork stays.

Handling multiple artboards with different backgrounds

When you have more than one artboard, each one can have its own background color. Select the artboard you want to change by clicking on its name in the Artboards panel on the right, or by clicking directly on the artboard itself. Then open File > Document Setup and change the background color as described above.

Repeat for each artboard. There is no shortcut to explore one background color to all artboards at once, so if you have ten artboards and want them all the same color, you will need to go through the dialog ten times. Many users find it faster to set the background color on the first artboard, then copy and paste the artboard (which copies its settings) rather than creating new ones from scratch.

Changing the view background without affecting your file

If you want to change the color of the canvas area you see on screen — the gray space around your artboard — without changing what exports, use the View menu instead. Open View > Hide Print Bounds to remove the gray border and see only the artboard. Open View > Show Print Bounds to bring it back.

You cannot change the gray color itself through the View menu. If you find the gray distracting, your only option is to add a background color to the artboard itself using Document Setup (which will then export with your file), or to zoom in so the gray area is less visible.

What happens when you export or print with a background color

Any background color you set in Document Setup will be included in your exported file. If you export as PDF, PNG, or JPG, the background color appears in the final image. If you export as SVG or EPS, the background is preserved as a rectangle shape behind your artwork.

If you do not want the background in your export, delete it before saving. Open File > Document Setup, uncheck Background Color, and click OK. Then export. The background will not appear in the exported file, but it will still be stored in your Illustrator document if you save the .ai file, so you can turn it back on later.

Using a color swatch or gradient as a background alternative

Some designers avoid the Document Setup background and instead create a rectangle that covers the entire artboard, then fill it with color or a gradient. This gives you more control — you can explore effects, adjust opacity, or use a gradient that the Document Setup background does not allow.

To do this, use the Rectangle tool to draw a shape the exact size of your artboard. Send it to the back by right-clicking and selecting Arrange > Send to Back. Fill it with your color or gradient. This method is more flexible but also more manual; if you resize the artboard later, you will need to resize the rectangle to match.

Troubleshooting background color problems

If you set a background color but it does not appear, check that the Background Color checkbox is actually checked in Document Setup. It is straightforward to miss. Also verify that your artboard itself is not hidden — if the artboard is hidden, the background will not show either.

If the background color appears on screen but not in your export, check your export settings. Some export formats (like transparent PNG) will ignore the background color by default. In the export dialog, look for an option like "Transparency" or "Background" and adjust it. If you are exporting to PDF, the background should export automatically unless you have specifically disabled it in the PDF options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gradient or pattern as the artboard background?

The Document Setup background color accepts only solid colors, not gradients or patterns. If you need a gradient background, create a rectangle the size of your artboard, fill it with the gradient, and send it to the back. This gives you the same visual result with more design flexibility.

Will the background color print if I send my file to a printer?

Yes, if you set a background color in Document Setup, it will print. If you do not want it to print, uncheck the Background Color box before sending the file to print, or delete the background and save the file without it.

How do I change the background color for just one artboard when I have multiple?

Click on the artboard you want to change in the Artboards panel or directly on the canvas. Open File > Document Setup and change the background color. That change applies only to the selected artboard. Repeat for each artboard that needs a different color.

What is the difference between the gray canvas and the artboard background?

The gray area is the canvas — the space outside your artboard. The artboard background is the color you set in Document Setup. The canvas color cannot be changed, but you can hide it with View > Hide Print Bounds. Only the artboard background exports with your file.

Can I save a background color as a preset so I do not have to set it every time?

Illustrator does not have a built-in preset system for artboard backgrounds. However, you can create a template file with your preferred background color already set, then save it as a template. Open File > Save as Template, and Illustrator will store it in your templates folder for future use.

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