The fastest way to change your canvas background

Open the File menu, select Document Setup, and click the Edit Artboard button. In the panel that opens on the right side, look for Artboard Background Color and click the color swatch next to it. Choose your color from the picker, then click OK. This changes the background of your artboard — the white or colored space where you actually draw.

If you want to change what you see behind your artboard (the gray checkerboard pattern), that is a different setting. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid (on Windows) or Adobe Illustrator > Preferences > Guides & Grid (on Mac), then look for Canvas Color and pick a new shade. This does not affect your actual file — it only changes what you see on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • The artboard background color (what prints or exports with your file) lives in File > Document Setup > Edit Artboard.
  • The canvas color (the area behind your artboard that you see on screen) is in Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid and does not affect your exported file.
  • You can set different background colors for different artboards in the same document by selecting each artboard and changing its color separately.
  • If you want a solid background shape that prints with your design, create a rectangle, fill it with color, and send it to the back using Object > Arrange > Send to Back.

Changing the artboard background color step by step

The artboard is the actual working space in your document — anything on it will print or export. To change its background, start with File > Document Setup. A dialog box opens. Click the Edit Artboard button (it looks like a pencil icon). The Artboard panel appears on the right side of your screen.

In that panel, find the row labeled Artboard Background Color. You will see a small color swatch (usually white or transparent). Click on it. A color picker opens. Choose the color you want — you can type a hex code, use the color slider, or click anywhere in the color square. Once you have picked your color, click OK to close the picker, then close the Document Setup dialog. Your artboard now has the new background color.

If you have multiple artboards in one document, you can give each one a different background. Just select the artboard you want to change (click its name in the Artboards panel on the right, or click on it directly with the Artboard tool), then repeat the steps above. Each artboard remembers its own color.

Understanding the difference between artboard and canvas color

Adobe Illustrator has two separate background colors, and they do different things. The artboard background is part of your actual document. If you print your file or export it as a PDF or PNG, that background color comes with it. The canvas color is only what you see on your screen while you work — it never exports or prints.

The canvas is the gray or checkered area that surrounds your artboard. Many designers change it to reduce eye strain or to see their design against a different color while working. If you want to change the canvas color, go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid on Windows, or Adobe Illustrator > Preferences > Guides & Grid on Mac. Find Canvas Color and click the swatch to pick a new one. This is purely for your comfort while designing.

Creating a background shape if you want more control

Sometimes you do not want a flat artboard background color. You might want a gradient, a pattern, or a background that sits behind some elements but in front of others. The way to do this is to create a shape — usually a rectangle — and use it as your background.

Draw a rectangle that covers your entire artboard using the Rectangle Tool (press M). Fill it with the color, gradient, or pattern you want. Then send it to the back so everything else sits on top of it. Right-click the rectangle and choose Arrange > Send to Back, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+[ (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+[ (Mac). This background shape will now export and print with your design, and you have full control over what it looks like.

Exporting your file with the background color intact

When you export your Illustrator file as a PNG, JPG, or PDF, the artboard background color comes along automatically. You do not need to do anything special. Just go to File > Export As, choose your format, and click Export. The background will be there in the final file.

If you are exporting as PNG and want transparency instead of a solid background, go to File > Export As, choose PNG, click Export, and in the PNG Options dialog that appears, make sure Transparency is checked. This will make your artboard background transparent in the exported file, even if you set a background color in Illustrator. If you want the background color to show in the PNG, uncheck the Transparency box.

Resetting the background color to default

If you want to go back to the standard white artboard background, open File > Document Setup > Edit Artboard again. Click the color swatch next to Artboard Background Color. In the color picker, set the color to white (hex code FFFFFF) or choose None if you want transparency. Click OK.

To reset the canvas color to its default gray, go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid (Windows) or Adobe Illustrator > Preferences > Guides & Grid (Mac). Find Canvas Color and click the swatch. Set it back to the medium gray that Illustrator uses by default, or look for a Reset button in that preferences panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the background color show up when I print my file?

Yes, if you set a background color on the artboard itself, it will print. If you only changed the canvas color (the area behind the artboard), it will not print — that is only visible on your screen. To avoid printing a background you do not want, make sure you set the artboard background to white or transparent.

Can I have a different background color on each page of my document?

Yes. Each artboard can have its own background color. Select the artboard you want to change, open File > Document Setup > Edit Artboard, and set the color. Repeat for each artboard. When you export or print, each page will have its own background.

What if I want a gradient or pattern as the background instead of a solid color?

The artboard background color setting only allows solid colors. To use a gradient or pattern, create a rectangle that covers your artboard, fill it with the gradient or pattern you want, and send it to the back using Arrange > Send to Back. This shape will export and print as part of your design.

Why does my exported PNG have a white background even though I set it to transparent?

When you export as PNG, check the export options dialog. Make sure Transparency is checked if you want a transparent background. If it is unchecked, Illustrator fills transparent areas with white. You can also set the artboard background to None before exporting to may support transparency.