Separate artboards into single AI files?

[passlocks]

Have a magazine type spread I'm working on for client. I made an a file with about 18 artboards. Everything was working great until it wasn't. Illstrator is being way too slow only on that file. I'd like to separate threm all into their own files so I can work in peace. I tried using the libraries but it saves everything as "artwork" and I'm no longer able to edit my assets unless I save single asset one by one and sometimes that doesn't work. I tried clicking "Save" and no "illustrator options" pannel shows up. "Save as" greys out "Save as different artboards". Any advice? Project is due by tomorrow at latest.

[Met1]

You don't get this?

I get it with Save, Save As and Save a Copy...

[Met1 · Accepted solution]

I think you might need to trash your prefs, no reason this shouldn't work.

But, if it doesn't work, try using export for screens and choose pdf...

[passlocks]

I got the export settings that show with with file manager confused with the illustrator options pannel LOL. Thanks sm for trying to help a newb. 

[RShwayder]

Hi, A little different question but I'm trying to work with a 16-page stock brochure template which downloaded with all pages on one artboard and can't figure out how to separate the pages.

Can you direct me to how I would do that without creating a new document (which I assume is the point of using a stock template, not having to start from scratch).

Thank you, Rachel

[Monika Gause]

Illustrator is not adequate to create this kind of design at all.

You can create new artboards using the artboard tool and/or the artboard panel.  And then put the pages onto them. 

[RShwayder]

When I create documents from scratch I use InD but this stock template came in Ai.

I did notice that the stock InD templates also look like all the pages are on one artboard but I didn't want to waste a credit to find out.

[Bobby Henderson]

Adobe InDesign is far better suited for creating multiple page publications. Adobe Illustrator will allow someone to put mulitple "pages" of a document on multiple artboards. But the approach is very limited compared to InDesign. Illustrator and Photoshop are great for creating and editing individual visual elements to place into a multi-page publication.

[RShwayder]

Yes,  when I create documents from scratch I use InD but this stock template came in Ai.

I did notice that the stock InD templates also look like all the pages are on one artboard but I didn't want to waste a credit to find out.

[Monika Gause]

It's probably less work in the end to re-create this in InDesign. 

[Ton Frederiks]

If there is only a single artboard in the Artboards panel, you can create rectangles that have the size of the page behind each page and while selected choose Object > Artboards > Convert to Artboards. You can then remove the original large artboard.

[RShwayder]

Thank you! This works. I think it is still preferable to start InD but this was a great learning experience!

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you've got it working. And nice to see we all agree on the InDesign solution 🙂