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kas8
Known Participant
September 22, 2009
Answered

Backgroundcolor outside the artboard

  • September 22, 2009
  • 22 replies
  • 137239 views

hi,

is it possible to change the background color [outside the artboard] to a dark grey? because i really dont like having a big white screen while working in illustrator.

when you normally work in illustrator, the artboard is indicated by a black border line

but when you select the artboard editor tool, the background changes to dark grey, so it is possible

and that is the effect im looking for, but then permanently...

is it possible to do this via the preferences somewhere, or via a hack?

here is an image to clarify what i mean:

Correct answer MikeV1234

Click on "View"

Click on "Overprint Preview"

22 replies

moojim33151761
Participant
November 15, 2015

Here is what Worked for me in CC.
create your document

go to the artboard panel

right click the artboard tab and select 'user interface/preferences'

now click the white option in 'canvas colour'

the colour changes right away.

save.

Flawless Victory...

Participant
November 10, 2015

I know this is an old question, but I too was confused by it. I know have an answer

If this is what your issue is.. or if you see completely white:

Y1447129020309918_1.jpg

First thing to do is

go to View menu > Show Transparency Grid OR ctrl+shift+D

Y1447129020309918_2.jpg

this should get you to a completely white workspace [the area surrounding your artboard] instead of the transparency grid.

Y1447129020309918_3.jpg

then

go to Edit > Preferences > User Interface

and you want to change the setting regarding Canvas Color

Y1447129020309918_4.jpg

Change it to "Match User Interface Brightness" and hit "OK". You should be left with this

Y1447129020309918_6.jpg

Hope this helps you and anyone else looking for this

Participant
July 20, 2021

THANK YOU BRO>>>

I LOVE YOU...

Participant
September 28, 2015

I was trying to fix that as well because it was so annoying, this option isn't fixing it, but it's a good temporary fix. You make your Artboard and then go over to layer and where it says "Artboard" you right click and then scroll up and select 'ungroup art-board" Hope this works for you.

Inspiring
July 22, 2015

SHIFT/CTRL +  H

Participant
April 12, 2014

Hi,

I've change my pastboard or canvas (area out artboard) color white to grey by changing preference setting..

go to  

Edit>Preferences>User Interface.. and then choose

1.User Interface option to Medium dark or Dark from the drope down menu.

2.Canvas Color option to Match User Interface Brightnes.

3.Now, hit Ok to save your changes.

Troubleshooting tips: If that don't worked for your current opned document then creat new document and do the same. Or restart illustrator and and creat new document and do the same preference setting change

Participant
May 16, 2013

You can change the background grey:

Go to: Preferences/User Interface

Adjust the brightness..

Participant
April 23, 2013

Just figured it out
View > Show Artboards (: or shift+cmd+H

Inspiring
April 23, 2013

As sammib said, in CS6 you can change this color to your own taste.

Participant
November 19, 2012

In CS6: Go to preferences: Interface: The choice will be there to make it as white as you want, or as dark as you want.

Participant
March 29, 2022

This was the one that did it for me, although it's a bit different now. Preferences: User Interface, and under Canvas Color, click "match user interface brightness".

 

Thank you, thank you!

 

MikeV1234
MikeV1234Correct answer
Participating Frequently
November 5, 2012

Click on "View"

Click on "Overprint Preview"

debral89337793
Participant
August 30, 2015

This worked.  Thankyou.

Participant
July 8, 2010

Interesting, I just upgraded from CS3 to CS5, and I want to do the opposite. I want to change the background color back to white. It's maddening to have it be slightly off because I often use the eye dropper to select pure white from the background.

Participant
July 8, 2010

I couldn't figure out how to do what K-Swoosh sought but

Hi Display Type,

the one you are requesting can be achieved via  document setup dialog.

File->document setup, check simulate colored paper and click on the the two colored rectangles to choose their color also set the Grid size to large, if you choose the same color for both the rectangles your artboard will be of uniform color .

Thanks

Participant
July 10, 2010

That doesn't change the background color. I'm not trying to change the artboard color. The method you descibed only allows me to change the artboard color, but does not control the area outside the artboard.

In previous versions of Illustrator the area outside your artboard was still white. Now it's light gray. I want it to be white again, K-Swoosh wants it to be dark gray.

The best solution I've found is to just hide artboards while I'm working, but this is less than ideal.