The fastest way to change your artboard background

Open the Artboard panel on the right side of your screen. If you don't see it, go to Window > Artboards. Click the artboard you want to change in that panel, then look for the small icon that looks like a filled square — that's the artboard color button. Click it, pick your color from the swatch panel that opens, and your background changes when ready.

If the Artboard panel isn't visible, you can also right-click directly on your artboard (the white or colored rectangle where you draw) and select Artboard Options. In the dialog that opens, you'll see a Color dropdown. Click it, choose a color, and click OK.

Key Takeaways

  • The Artboard panel (Window > Artboards) holds the color button for your background — it's the small filled square icon next to your artboard name.
  • Right-clicking the artboard itself and selecting Artboard Options opens a dialog where you can change the color from a dropdown menu.
  • The background color you set here is what prints and exports with your file — it's not just what you see on screen.
  • You can set different background colors for different artboards in the same document by selecting each one and changing its color separately.

Using the Artboard panel to change color

The Artboard panel is the most direct route. Open it by clicking Window in the menu bar, then Artboards. You'll see a list of all artboards in your document on the right side of the screen.

Click the artboard whose background you want to change. Once it's selected, look for a small square icon next to the artboard name — this is the color swatch button. Click that square, and a color picker appears. Choose your color from the swatches, or click the color field to open a full color dialog where you can enter specific RGB or hex values.

The change takes effect when ready. If you want to undo it, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac).

Changing background color through Artboard Options

Right-click anywhere on your artboard — the colored or white rectangle where you're working. A context menu appears. Select Artboard Options from that menu.

The Artboard Options dialog opens. Near the top, you'll see a Color dropdown that currently shows your artboard's background color. Click that dropdown to see preset colors, or click the color swatch next to it to open a full color picker. Select your new color and click OK.

The difference between artboard background and canvas background

Illustrator has two different backgrounds you might want to change. The artboard background is the colored rectangle where you actually draw — this is what prints and exports with your file. The canvas background is the gray or checkered area outside the artboard, which is just what you see while working and never prints.

If you want to change the gray area around your artboard instead, go to Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac). Look for Canvas Color and choose a new color. This change affects all documents you open, not just the current one.

Setting background color for multiple artboards at once

If you have several artboards and want them all the same background color, you can select them together. In the Artboard panel, click the first artboard, then hold Shift and click the last artboard to select a range. Or hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click individual artboards to select them one by one.

Once multiple artboards are selected, click the color swatch button in the Artboard panel. The color you choose applies to all selected artboards at once. This saves time if you're working with a document that has many artboards.

Exporting and printing with your chosen background color

The artboard background color you set is included when you export or print your file. If you export as PDF, PNG, or JPG, the background color appears in the final file. If you export as SVG or AI (Illustrator's native format), the background color is preserved.

When you print, the artboard background prints as well — so if you set a dark background, it will use ink or toner to print that color. If you want to print without the background, you'll need to either change the artboard color to white before printing, or delete the background object if it's a separate shape rather than the artboard color itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The artboard background color option only accepts solid colors. If you want a pattern or image background, create a rectangle the size of your artboard, fill it with a pattern or place an image inside it, send it to the back (right-click > Arrange > Send to Back), and lock it so you don't move it while working.

Why doesn't my background color show up when I export as PDF?

Check your export settings. When exporting to PDF, make sure Preserve Illustrator Editing Capability is unchecked if you want the background to appear as a solid color in the PDF. Some PDF settings flatten the artboard background differently.

How do I change the background back to white?

Open the Artboard panel, select your artboard, click the color swatch button, and choose white from the color swatches. Or right-click the artboard, select Artboard Options, click the Color dropdown, and pick white.

Can I have different background colors on different artboards in the same file?

Yes. Select each artboard individually in the Artboard panel and set its color separately. Each artboard remembers its own background color, so you can have one artboard with a blue background and another with a green background in the same document.