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pierret18811376
Inspiring
Sep 15, 2026 3:28 PM UTC
Answered

how to scale the view

Hello,

In Illustrator, when I create a project in A4, it opens the artboard in A4.

Now I would like to design an object which goes beyond the page limits, so I need to change the scale view of the A4 page : by example 1/10   or 1/100, etc …   How to set this scale view ?

    Monika Gause
    Monika GauseCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Sep 17, 2026 8:55 AM UTC

    You can set up a larger artboard.

    Or if the object is larger than 6 m then you can set up a large canvas document.

    Or you can just work at 1/10 of the size.

    In any case: talk to whoever is producing the artwork on how they want the file.

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    10 replies

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Sep 15, 2026 8:30 PM UTC


    Can you post a sketch that shows what you are looking for (before and after).

    As per your initial description I’m not quite sure what you want to do.

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    pierret18811376Author
    Inspiring
    Sep 15, 2026 8:40 PM UTC

    ​@Kurt Gold 

    In fact, I would like to design a stepped wall (with stepped foundations) in a sloping terrain (180 cm for each step), with a total length of 20 meters, and in 3D. Is it possible to have this in Illustrator inside an A4 page ?

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    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Sep 15, 2026 9:31 PM UTC

    Without taking a look at a sketch from you, I do not know why you may think that it would not be possible on A4, A5, A6 etc.

    You may want to clarify. And show a sketch if you think it may help.

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    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Sep 15, 2026 7:17 PM UTC

    You cannot set up a scale in an Illustrator file.

    What you can do is set up the measuring tool so that it puts measurements in scale. 

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    pierret18811376Author
    Inspiring
    Sep 15, 2026 8:17 PM UTC

    ​@Monika Gause 

    What do you do when you have an object that is more big than the page, in order it could be inserted in the A4 page ?

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    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Sep 17, 2026 8:55 AM UTC

    You can set up a larger artboard.

    Or if the object is larger than 6 m then you can set up a large canvas document.

    Or you can just work at 1/10 of the size.

    In any case: talk to whoever is producing the artwork on how they want the file.

    Translate
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