Beginner alert!

[debdoris]

I'm fairly proficient in photoshop and thought i could figure out illustrator.  nope.  i have an eps file that i got with my shutterstock account.  it is a long narrow document and all i want to do is make the colorful background more square and then move around the other pieces onto it.  This would be simple in layers in photoshop, but i cannot figure out how to make that colorful layer in illustrator a different size.  i've googled and no luck.  please help.  i'm betting its something simple but i'm at a loss.

[Ton Frederiks]

Check your selection in the Layers panel.

What do you see there?

[debdoris]

I see the layer that would be the bottom layer or background in photoshop.  but how i change the size of just that layer, and keep the color the same?

[Ton Frederiks]

If it is unlocked and you can select it, you can change the size. If it is vector, you can change the fill color.

Can you show the expanded Layers panel with the layer names visible?

[debdoris]

the layers list is really long.  here is a snap of top of list and bottom of list.

[Met1 · Accepted solution]

From the selection in your screenshot it looks like you have a clipping mask, so first off you need to release that.

Select then Object → Clipping Mask → Release.

It's possible there are several clipping masks so you may have to repeat this until just that item is selectable - bear in mind that it's possible that a clipping mask is building that look and releasing it undoes it, so proceed with caution...

Of course if your item is locked, it might not even be in the clipping mask selection in your screenshot... Object→unlock all (also Unlock all layers from the Layers flyout menu) before the above clipping mask release(s)...

[debdoris]

I released the clipping mask, so assuming that was the issue, what do i do now to resize it?  object transform?

[Ton Frederiks]

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/transforming-objects.html