How to Add a Page in Illustrator

Pages are the canvas we see when opening a new project in Illustrator. The broad white background provides a base for all types of projects and artwork. However, there are instances when you need to use different artboards, and knowing how to create them on the fly is a handy time saver. So how do you add pages in Illustrator?

You can add a page in Illustrator by clicking Shift+O or by clicking the artboard tool and dragging it into the grey area of the project. There are also ways to adjust the dimensions of the page that will fit different projects.

Illustrator is a program that offers so many options that a person can find themselves lost when they begin a new project. Don’t stress over it! Read on and learn all you need about adding pages in Illustrator.

Adding Pages in Illustrator

Adding pages in Illustrator is an easy process that allows the user to create several different artboards. Each artboard can produce a distinct look of a logo or design and can be saved separately if needed.

The First Step in Adding Pages is to Open a New Project

Opening a new project is one of the most simple actions in the application and should be one of the first actions you learn as a user. It applies an empty artboard to the grey area that populates the center of the workspace, and adding another page or artboard can be done quickly with the menus or keystrokes.

The steps to open a new project are as follows:

  1. Find File – File is one of the most critical options in the program. It allows you to create new files and open those you have worked on previously. It is often in the top menu and will drop down another menu when you click on it.
  2. New/Open – Once in the File Menu, you can choose from a few different options, but the one you should look for depends on your situation. If you have an old file you wish to continue working on, you should choose Open, as it will take you to the list of saved projects. For new projects, you should select New.

The artboard or a piece you have been working on will appear on the screen. Once the new screen has populated, you can begin to scan the outer edge of the pop-out menu to look for the next step in the process.

The Add Page Icon is in the Pop Out Menu

You can find the icon for adding a page by checking the options in the pop-out menu. It looks like a page with dashes going up and to the left. Again, several options exist; this one is above the stroke and background color changer.

The steps to add a page using the pop-out menu are as follows:

  1. Browse Pop-Out – While looking through the pop-out menu on the left-hand side of the application, you will notice many options. For example, the choice you need to add a page is located above the stroke, and the background color-changing options look like a page with dashes on the top left corner heading outward.
  2. Click Add Page – Once you see the paper with the dashes icon, you should click on it. You will see another blank canvas appear somewhere in the workspace by clicking. The new page should be clean and ready for your unique project or a continuation of an old one.

A pop-out menu is a valuable tool that should be used regularly. In addition to the Add Page icon, there are ways to impact the color of the artboard and text. If you make several versions of a logo, using these tools with the Add Page option can give you several options when you add color and size.

Dragging with the Add Page Icon is Magic 

Once you have the icon clicked, it will change the pointer on the screen into the square with the dashes on the top left. It will allow you to drag and drop the sections of the page you want. Playing around with drag and drop is a good idea because it not only makes a new artboard but also allows you to create shapes and sizes quickly.

A few options you can choose when using the Add Page icon are:

  1. Size – The first thing you can do with the drag-and-drop Add Page tool is controlling the artboard size. Choosing the height will allow you to get a few different designs for your projects. Clients aren’t always going to go for the first design you show them, and it is always good to have a few others for them to pick.
  2. Orientation – Another helpful thing that you can choose when using the drag-and-drop Add Page tool is orientation. Orientation is how the artboard will be set either in Portrait or Landscape.
  3. Reference Point – Choosing a Reference Point is something you can do when the artboard is created. The pop-out menu should have a series of dots in a square. By choosing one, you shift the focus of the design to that area. Reference Points are a nice touch that will allow you to begin your design in any section.

The Add Page icon is an intelligent tool that gives you lots of functionality and creating options. You should find ways to work these options into your designs and improve your skill. Knowing essential functions like Add Page adds flair and originality to your designs that could pay dividends.

Conclusion

Adding a page in Illustrator is a simple task that can be done quickly and easily with the Add Page icon. Add Page will let you create several artboards of varying shapes and sizes across the workspace.

By creating artboards, or pages, of different sizes and orientations, you give clients several options to choose from and provide yourself with a load of good practice. For example, learning how to Add a Page in Illustrator is a breeze and tons of fun to practice.