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rama_ai11751598
Community Manager
Community Manager
April 18, 2017
Answered

Workflows that need large canvas / artboard

  • April 18, 2017
  • 44 replies
  • 111447 views

Illustrator supports maximum artboard size of 227 x 227 inches / 577 x 577 cm.  In which workflows you would use canvas / artboard size greater than 227 x 227 inches / 577 x 577 cm?

Those who create design for billboard and large format printing, would you prefer design in actual size instead of scaled design (1/10 or reduced proportion of actual size)

-Rama

Illustrator Team

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ton Frederiks

This is an old thread. 

Have a look ath the large canvas that was introduced since then:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/large-sized-artwork.html

 

44 replies

Participant
April 19, 2017

Hello Rama,

Currently, am working on wall maps/artwork which are various sizes but include:

- 2700 x 2100 mm

- 2970 x 2128 mm

and

- 86000 x 2700 mm

---

Our work-flow changes depending on the artwork, but goes something like this:

- Export from QGIS / ArcGIS / Other GIS Software

- Import files and re-size to fit area

- Mix hand-drawn / Illustrator / Photoshop to create artwork in multiple layers (20-30) - reduced scale 1:10 say

- Create layers again in Photoshop to 1:1 scale, 300dpi

- Output as flat Large PSD file

We are working on the over 8m one now and developing a style guide to help list all the style features/swatches/line thickness etc, so any mods to Illustrator to work 1:1 scale in Illustrator rather than having to convert would be really, really helpful.

Look forward to hearing from you soon, Rama.

Best wishes,
Caroline

rcraighead
Legend
April 18, 2017

Rama,

I tried to private message you but the system would not let me:

I am please Adobe is asking questions. As a 30-year user I have a question. It is posted here and in multiple other posts and "feature requests". This simple loss if AI functionality means I can no longer work effectively with the pencil tool. Please read it and, if you do not understand my frustration please ask questions. I feel this is a terribly overlooked flaw in the current versions of Illustrator.

Why does Illustrator change what works?

​Thank you,

​Ray Craighead

rama_ai11751598
Community Manager
Community Manager
April 19, 2017

Hi Ray,

I read your post on issue with pencil tool, I will forward this to right person in the team.

-Rama

rcraighead
Legend
April 19, 2017

Thanks, Rama. I am ready and willing to talk with someone at Adobe about this.

Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 18, 2017

Working at actual size would be easiest as you do not need to recalculate items but enter the actual amounts. For example at the tradeshow entranceway to the Pennsylvania Convention center, they have an arched bridge that we put a vinyl banner across. To make the die for the banner we need to take one measurements for the width, and atleast 6 for the height(s). We then draw a rectangle and apple an arc, but expand the path and modify to meet the various heights.

Other items such as wooden or metal structures have more detail, so if you do enough of them you eventually will make a calculation or entry or transposition error when you have to scale every dimension.

Even if the max was to increase to 500" that would allow many more projects to be done at actual scale, or at worst 1/2 scale for a large bus graphics.

carlosgarro
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 18, 2017

Working on a scale is the best for me.

What about people who need to print fabrics? Do you have contact with some?

It seems to me that it is a workflow that has special needs.

Best Regards