The fastest way to change your canvas background

Open the File menu, select Document Setup, and look for the Artboard tab. You will see a field labeled Background Color with a white swatch next to it. Click that swatch to open the color picker, choose your color, and click OK. The canvas behind your artwork will change when ready.

This method changes the background for the entire document. If you want to change only what you see on screen without affecting the actual artboard, or if you want a temporary background just for working, there is a separate approach using the View menu — but the Document Setup route is what most people need.

Key Takeaways

  • The Document Setup dialog (File > Document Setup > Artboard tab) is where you permanently change the artboard background color for your whole document.
  • Click the white color swatch next to "Background Color" to open the color picker and choose any color you want.
  • If you want a temporary background just for viewing while you work, use View > Hide Print Bounds and then View > Show Transparency Grid instead.
  • The background color you set in Document Setup is what will print or export with your file, so choose accordingly.

Using the color picker to select your background

When you click the background color swatch in Document Setup, Illustrator opens its standard color picker. You can enter values directly if you know them: type RGB numbers (0–255), hex codes (like #FF5733), or CMYK percentages depending on your document color mode.

If you want to sample a color from your artwork or another source, look for the eyedropper tool inside the color picker window. Click it, then click anywhere on your screen to grab that color. This is useful if you want your background to complement colors already in your design.

The color picker also shows recently used colors at the bottom, so if you have worked with a particular background before, you can select it again without re-entering the values. This saves time when you are switching between similar projects.

Why the background color matters when you export or print

The background color you set in Document Setup is not just what you see — it is part of your file. When you export to PDF, PNG, or other formats, that background color goes with it. If you export to a format that supports transparency (like PNG), you can choose whether to include the background or make it transparent during export.

If you are printing your work, the background color will print as well. Many designers set the background to white for print, or to a color that matches their intended final product. Test a small print first if the background color matters to your output.

The difference between artboard background and transparency grid

Illustrator shows a checkerboard pattern (the transparency grid) by default to indicate transparent areas. This is not your artboard background — it is just a visual aid. Your actual artboard background is solid and set in Document Setup.

If you want to hide the checkerboard and see only your artboard color, go to View > Hide Transparency Grid. If you want to see the checkerboard instead of your artboard color temporarily, go to View > Show Transparency Grid. These are viewing options only and do not change your actual background color.

Changing background color for multiple artboards

If your document has more than one artboard, the Document Setup method changes the background for all of them at once. If you want different artboards to have different background colors, you will need to edit each one individually.

Right-click on an artboard in the Artboards panel (Window > Artboards if you do not see it), select Artboard Options, and change the background color there. This affects only that artboard. Repeat for any others that need a different color.

Resetting the background to white or transparent

To return your background to white, open Document Setup again, click the background color swatch, and select white from the color picker (RGB 255, 255, 255 or hex #FFFFFF).

Illustrator does not have a true "transparent background" option in the artboard settings — the background is always a solid color. If you want a transparent background in your final output, export to a format that supports it (PNG or SVG) and choose the transparency option during export, rather than trying to set it in Document Setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the background color I set print or export with my file?

Yes. The background color in Document Setup is part of your artboard and will print or export with most formats. If you export to PNG or SVG, you can choose to make the background transparent during export instead of using the solid color you set.

Can I have a different background color for each artboard?

Yes. Use Document Setup to change all artboards at once, or right-click each artboard in the Artboards panel and select Artboard Options to set a different color for individual artboards.

What is the checkerboard pattern I see behind my artwork?

That is the transparency grid, a visual aid showing transparent areas. It is not your artboard background. Hide it with View > Hide Transparency Grid if you want to see only your solid background color.

How do I make my background transparent instead of a solid color?

Illustrator artboards always have a solid background color. To get a transparent background in your final output, export to PNG or SVG format and select the transparency option during export.