How to Save Multiple Artboards as Separate AI Files
As a designer, you might find yourself working with multiple artboards in Adobe Illustrator. Each artboard can represent a different aspect of your project, whether it’s a series of posters, a set of icons, or a collection of illustrations. When you’re done with your design work, you’ll likely want to save each artboard as a separate AI file. This allows for easier organization and sharing of your work. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do just that.
Understanding Artboards
Before diving into the process of saving multiple artboards as separate AI files, it’s important to understand what an artboard is. In Illustrator, an artboard is a rectangular area on which you can place and manipulate artwork. It’s like a canvas within Illustrator, and you can have multiple artboards within a single document.
Artboards are particularly useful when you’re working on a project that requires multiple elements. For example, if you’re designing a website, you might have one artboard for the header, another for the footer, and so on. This way, you can focus on one part of the design at a time without getting overwhelmed.
Preparation Before Saving
Before you start saving your artboards as separate AI files, there are a few things you should do to ensure the process goes smoothly:
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Save your Illustrator document: Always make sure your document is saved before you start working on it. This way, if something goes wrong, you won’t lose your work.
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Check your layers: Make sure that all the elements you want to save are on separate layers. This will make it easier to select and export them later.
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Export settings: Familiarize yourself with the export settings in Illustrator. This will help you ensure that your files are saved in the correct format and resolution.
The Process of Saving Artboards as Separate AI Files
Now that you’re prepared, let’s go through the steps to save each artboard as a separate AI file:
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Select the artboard: Click on the artboard you want to save. You can do this by clicking on the artboard in the artboard tray on the left side of the Illustrator window.
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Save as: Go to the “File” menu and select “Save As.” Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the file.
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Enter a file name: Type in a name for your file. It’s a good idea to include the artboard’s name or a description of the content in the file name.
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Choose file format: In the “Save As” dialog box, select “Adobe Illustrator (.ai)” as the file format. This ensures that the file will be compatible with Illustrator.
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Export layers: If you want to export the layers separately, you can do so by clicking on the “Export Layers” button. This will create a separate AI file for each layer.
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Save: Click “Save” to save the artboard as a separate AI file.
Repeat these steps for each artboard you want to save. You can also use the “Save As” dialog box to save all the artboards at once by selecting multiple artboards in the artboard tray and then clicking “Save As.” Illustrator will prompt you to enter a file name for each artboard, and you can save them all in a single operation.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips to help you save multiple artboards as separate AI files:
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Use a consistent naming convention: When naming your files, use a consistent format that makes it easy to identify the content of each file. For example, “Header.ai,” “Footer.ai,” and “Sidebar.ai” are clear and descriptive names.
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Organize your files: Create a folder structure on your computer that organizes your AI files by project or by type of design. This will make it easier to find and manage your files later.
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Backup your files: Always keep backups of your AI files. You can use external hard drives, cloud storage services, or other backup solutions to ensure that you don’t lose your work.
By following these steps and tips, you’ll be able to
