Quick Tip: Guides In Multiple Artboards
Tricks | January 8th, 2009
I have been using the new Multiple Artboards feature in Illustrator CS4 more and more lately. I use it for setting up identity packages, multiple logo options , illustration variations, and so on. One thing that annoyed me, was using guides with multiple artboards. By default, guides span all artboards. Luckily, there is a simple solution to set guides to only span a particular artboard.
Set Guides To Span A Single Artboard
To set the guides for a single artboard, use the Artboard tool (Shift + O) and select the desired artboard. Once selected, drag a guide into the artboard. That’s all! Below is a quick sample collateral piece of how this can be used.
It horrifies me that Adobe added that functionality to Illy, and that folks are using it. Why don’t people realize that InDesign is the proper program for typesetting and LAYOUTS?
@C.GO
Maybe my preview image gave everyone the wrong idea. I do all my page layout in InDesign or Quark. The Multiple Artboards won’t take the place of these programs anytime soon. Illustrator’s Multiple Artboard doesn’t even compare to the control that InDesign or Quark give you when dealing with Multiple Pages.
But… Illustrator is better for some things compared to InDesign or Quark.
Multiple Artboard has drastically improved my work flow when creating illustrations, logos, and other design elements.
Multiple Pages works great in these instances. I can easily create numerous logo comps in one document on different artboards then quickly export them for proofing.
Same goes for illustrating. I can have multiple instances of an illustration on different artboards and export them for proofing.
So I’m extremely happy there are now multiple artboards!
Still I think you are right, many people are going to abuse this feature and try to layout brochures or even books with Multiple Artboards.
Hi,
Thanks for the tips.
Regards.
Omair Rais
http://www.omairarts.com
Packaging is much easier done in a drawing app than in a layout application. Period.
I also always start paper systems in an illustrating app and then rebuild properly and create masters in the layout app once a design has been chosen. I do tons of logos, for me multiple pages or crop areas is superior to the kludgy workaround of having every logo option on its own layers stacked upon one another.
Its Which is better drawing in a layout app or laying out in a drawing app? Six of one – half dozen of the other.
I am not actually switched to new CS4 yet..but can I ask, what’s most useful features in Illustrator You find useful, besides new interface?
@ Dainis
My favorite new features are the Blob Brush and updated Gradient tool and Gradient panel.
I used the Calligraphic brush all the time with my Wacom. It used to be that I would have to Expand all the brush strokes, but with the Blob brush, it pretty much takes that step out.
The updated Gradient panel and tool makes it much easier to edit and control gradients.
@ SILICONJONES:
How is packaging easier in Illustrator than InDesign? I’ve googled how to do this and I can’t find out out how. I use InDesign the most and all you do is go to File>Package. How much easier can it be? I’m looking forward to your feedback as I’m been trying to find this out for a while–thanks!!
He means designing packaging is easier in Illustrator – it’s kind of the unwritten standard for packaging layouts.
Packaging the files, on the other hand, is sorely lacking from Illustrator. I swear Adobe doesn’t include that just to try to make people use both Illustrator and InD.
Good tip – in related matters – do you know how to add identical vertical guides on all the pages? It’s driving me crazy!
Are all the artboards on top of one another? If they are, just a guide outside of the artboards to cover all the artboards.
Thanks for posting this!
In my case, the artboards are arranged vertically. I can easily put one vertical guide that runs across everything, but I can’t figure out how to do one horizontally that appears on all the boards.
Do people normally stack all their artboards? I’m getting back into Illustrator, and artboards are new to me.
I don’t know of any way of creating a Horizontal Guide that appears on ever artboard when the artboard are aligned vertically. What I do is create one artboard with the guides exactly how I want them on all artboards, make sure the guides are unlocked, then use the Artboard tool, hold down Option/Alt a drag a copy of the artboard and guides, creating a exact copy.
The Artboard feature is new in CS4 so I think people are still finding out works best. Really, I think whatever works best for you is the right way to go.