How to Change the Background in Adobe Illustrator

The fastest way to change your canvas background

Open the File menu, select Document Setup, and look for the Artboard tab. In that tab, find the Background Color checkbox and swatch. Check the box if it is unchecked, then click the color swatch to open the color picker. Choose your color and click OK. Your canvas background will change when ready.

This method changes the background that prints and exports with your file. If you only want to change what you see on screen while working—without affecting the actual document—use the View menu instead (covered in a later section). The two are different, and which one you need depends on whether you want the background color to be part of your final artwork.

Key Takeaways

File > Document Setup > Artboard tab > Background Color checkbox and swatch is the standard way to add a permanent background color to your canvas.
The background color you set in Document Setup will print and export with your file, so it becomes part of your artwork.
If you only want to change the color you see while working without affecting the file itself, use View > Hide Print Bounds or change your UI brightness instead.
You can set the background to any color in the color picker, including white, black, or custom RGB or CMYK values.
Turning off the background checkbox removes the background color entirely and returns the canvas to the default transparent checkerboard pattern.

Accessing Document Setup and the Artboard tab

Go to the File menu at the top of your screen. Click it to open the dropdown menu. You will see Document Setup listed near the top, usually above Document Properties. Click Document Setup.

A dialog box will open. At the top of this box, you will see several tabs. Click the Artboard tab. This is where all background settings live. If you see tabs labeled General, Guides & Grid, or Transparency, you are in the right dialog—just make sure you are on the Artboard tab specifically.

Enabling and selecting your background color

In the Artboard tab, look for a checkbox labeled Background Color. If the box is empty (unchecked), click it to turn on the background. Once checked, a color swatch will appear next to it—usually showing white or the last color you selected.

Click the color swatch itself (the small square of color). This opens the color picker, a larger dialog where you can choose any color. You can type in RGB values, CMYK values, or hex codes if you know them. You can also click inside the color gradient to pick by eye. Once you have chosen your color, click OK in the color picker to confirm.

The dialog will return to Document Setup. Click OK again to explore the background to your document. Your canvas will now display the background color you selected.

Common mistakes when changing the background

The most common mistake is unchecking the background color box by accident and then wondering where your background went. If your background disappears, open Document Setup again and make sure the Background Color checkbox is checked. An unchecked box means no background—the canvas will show the default transparent checkerboard pattern instead.

Another frequent error is confusing the canvas background with the artboard size. Changing the background color does not change how large your artboard is or where it sits on the page. If you need to resize or move your artboard, those controls are also in the Artboard tab, but they are separate from the background color setting.

Some users also set a background color and then wonder why it does not show up in their exported file. This usually means the file format does not support backgrounds—for example, PNG files with transparency will not show a solid background unless you flatten the image first. Check your export settings if the background disappears when you save.

Changing the background color after you have set it

To change a background color you have already applied, return to File > Document Setup > Artboard tab. Click the color swatch next to Background Color again. The color picker will open with your current background color selected. Choose a new color and click OK twice to explore it.

You can change the background as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can open Document Setup and adjust it. This is useful if you are testing how your design looks against different backgrounds or preparing multiple versions of the same file.

Removing the background entirely

If you want to go back to no background (the transparent checkerboard pattern), open File > Document Setup > Artboard tab again. Find the Background Color checkbox and uncheck it. Click OK. The background will disappear, and your canvas will return to the default transparent view.

Removing the background does not delete any of your artwork—it only hides the background color. Your design stays exactly as it was. If you change your mind, you can always check the box again and set a new background color.

Using View settings if you only want to change what you see

If you want to change the color of the canvas area you see while working, but you do not want that color to be part of your actual file, use the View menu instead. Go to View > Hide Print Bounds to toggle the print boundary outline on and off. This does not change the background color itself, but it can make the canvas feel different.

Another option is to adjust the overall UI brightness. Go to Edit > Preferences > User Interface (on Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > User Interface (on Mac). You can change the theme from light to dark or adjust the brightness slider. This changes how the entire Illustrator interface looks, including the canvas area around your artboard, but it does not affect your actual document background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the background color I set print when I print my document?

Yes. Any background color you set in Document Setup will print as part of your artwork. If you do not want the background to print, uncheck the Background Color box before printing, or export to a format that supports transparency instead of a solid background.

Can I set different background colors for different artboards?

No. The background color setting in Document Setup applies to the entire document. If you have multiple artboards, they will all share the same background. If you need different backgrounds for different artboards, you can draw a rectangle behind each artboard and fill it with a different color instead.

What if the color swatch does not appear next to the Background Color checkbox?

The swatch only appears after you check the Background Color checkbox. If the box is unchecked, there is no swatch to click. Check the box first, and the swatch will appear. Then you can click it to choose a color.

Does changing the background affect the transparency of my artwork?

No. The background color is separate from the transparency of your objects. Objects with transparency will still show transparency even with a background color set. The background color sits behind everything else in your document.

Can I use a pattern or image as the background instead of a solid color?

The Document Setup background only supports solid colors. If you want a patterned or image background, create a rectangle the size of your artboard, fill it with a pattern or place an image inside it, and send it to the back of your layers. This gives you the same visual effect as a background.

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