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RaccoonAndRaptor
Known Participant
April 26, 2015
Answered

Canvas color stuck as white

  • April 26, 2015
  • 13 replies
  • 63278 views

Greetings!

Ok, so my canvas colour is stuck as white.

I already know you an change it via user interface, even when I mess with that and have it checked to match user interface (or whatever), its just stuck as white. When I open a new doccument, its the normal dark grey I enjoy, but for some reason in one file its just stuck as white. Anyone know whats going on?

    Correct answer Justin22999439fnzb

    Got to View and choose "View Artboards"  or press Shift + CMD + H.

     

    Hope that helped 🙂

    13 replies

    V
    Vasu Dev_Ghai5254
    Participant
    April 27, 2025

    What worked for me:
    Right click anywhere outside artboard > Select the 'Outline' option > Again right click anywhere outside artboard > Select 'GPU preview' option.
    OR
    Shortcut: 'Ctrl + Y' (2 times)

    I
    intuitive_rebel5EE0
    Participant
    March 21, 2022

    Hi, if your canvas is showing white & you don't want that, follow these steps:

    1. Open illustrator & select any file

    2. Go to "View Menu"

    3. Select option "Show Artboards"

     

    Your issue should be solved.

    J
    Justin22999439fnzbCorrect answer
    Participant
    February 4, 2022

    Got to View and choose "View Artboards"  or press Shift + CMD + H.

     

    Hope that helped 🙂

      J
      jramirez94
      Participant
      February 7, 2021

      I did this by mistake. I turned it white without realizing I hist certain commands to turn it on so I had to look it up online and I found this. However, this thred did not help at all. So I furegured that I made a mistake trying to hit the commands I needed.

       

      Command line: Command + Shift + H

      it will turn your canvas white or grey. Good Luck!!!

      N
      najams73887797
      Participant
      October 5, 2019

      Go to edit, prefernces 
      and do this 


       
      Updating Media
       
      P
      Pietari Visanti
      Participant
      September 2, 2020

      The background is stuck on white but only in one file. Tried every thing this topic offered and no help. There must be some kind of active command somewhere but I can't get out of it. It's possible to continue working as before but the white background is annoying.

      X
      xxx90406331
      Participant
      August 19, 2018

      JUST PRESS ctrl + shift + h

        U
        Ulysses Oliveira
        Inspiring
        September 30, 2018

        Thank you. I had the same problem and you solved. But, please, what does ctrl + shift + h mean?

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 30, 2018

        ulysseso28052165  schrieb

        Thank you. I had the same problem and you solved. But, please, what does ctrl + shift + h mean?

        Just see answer #15

        It's the shortcut for hide artboards/show artboards

        Mac users press Cmd instead of Ctrl

          D
          divyan449747
          Participant
          May 14, 2018

          Try this it fixed my problem

          Ctrl-Shift+H.

          View>Show/Hide Artboards

            L
            Lee James
            Known Participant
            March 13, 2018

            I've just had this problem - I hit some keyboard shortcut and my canvas color changed to white.

            SOLUTION:

            Simply right click anywhere on the canvas and a menu will appear letting you select the canvas color!

            Ton Frederiks
            Community Expert
            Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            March 14, 2018

            That's a solution for Photoshop

            In Illustrator you change the preferences.

            P
            pwildhirt
            Participating Frequently
            December 10, 2015

            I have the same problem, but can't find a "show artboards" only "show artboard names." Where is it?

            R
            RaccoonAndRaptorAuthor
            Known Participant
            April 30, 2015

            Tried all three things you guys suggested and in fact I tried the overprint thing prior to asking this question, nothing. Also sorry, when I did "print screen" i just had my artboard zoomed WAYYY out. the white rectangle is the wierdness that wont turn back to the normal background colour. This is really bizarre. When I click on the white space (i understand what you were thinking) and switch it to none, nothing happens. Unlocked all layers just to make sure. Overprint is not on. I am genuinely stumped at what mystery hotkey I hit to make this happen.

            EDIT: OH MY GOSH THANK YOU GUYS!!!

            Thank you! Your suggestions made me just start checking stuff on and off. "Show artboards" was turned off. I wonder why it had the effect of making the BG white though? Either way THANK YOU GUYS! dougofakkad REALLY APPRECIATE!

              gunnaro57712534
              gunnaro57712534
              Participant
              March 15, 2016

              what did you do?  I'm having the same problem I think.  (Artboards are white, but so is the background canvas/drawing area) and it's driving me insane.  I hit a hotkey by mistake and have no idea which key I've pressed.  I've tried messing with document setup and turned overprint preview on and off a million times.  I've tried turning the fill or stroke off and no change.  I've messed with the "Transparency and Overprint Options" in the Document Setup but nothing helps.  I am getting so frustrated.  Please Help!

                gunnaro57712534
                gunnaro57712534
                Participant
                March 15, 2016

                I figured it out immediately after typing this.  For future people with issues, first I selected all my artboards and made sure their background was white, and not clear. Then, I had to then changed my "Preferences" > "User Interface" >  and chose the "Match User Interface Brightness" option under "Canvas Color:"  Then my canvas was medium dark like my interface and my artboards were white.  Hope this helps.

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