Artboard background colour looses artwork on top (white type)

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
November 8, 2025
2 replies
162 views

Hi - so I hate having to draw a black rectangle to get a artboard that is black. So I tried File > document setup> colour > simulate colored paper and discard white overprint in Output (I have also tried to uncheck this box)

I currently have white type on top of a black background (using the black rectangle as a bg colour)

It is a pain to always get the rectangle to align exactly with the artboard--- anyhow.

when I try and use the document setup > simulate coloured paper options; I loose all of my white type on top - tried cut/pasting - different layers - grouping etc.

how come and what can I do about it?

thanks

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Illustrator sees white as paper color, if you change the paper color to black you will see the white disappear in CPU and Overprint Preview.

Carlos suggestion is a good one, but Artboard color is a work in progress and will not always export/print.

J

Jean30905418arn0Author

Participant

So you're saying the white type will not show with the black background?
What's the point of changing the airport colour if the artwork on top or
the type on top does not show.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

White is seen as No Ink in Illustrator. If you want to change the paper color to simulate black paper and you want to use white, you can create a white spot color.

It is easier and less confusing to use a black rectangle in the background or upgrade to Illustrator 2026 I (version 30) and use an artboard color.