How to change the UI color and scale, adjust the interface size, and color the artboards and canvases in Adobe Illustrator

Need to make Adobe Illustrator easier on your eyes, or just easier to use? Whether you want a larger interface, a darker background, or a more custom-looking canvas, Illustrator gives you lots of control over how it looks and feels. 

In this quick guide, we’ll show you how to: 

• Change the UI color and scale 

• Adjust the canvas and artboard background 

• Enlarge the anchor points, handles, and bounding box display 

• Use Keyboard Shortcuts to hide or reveal elements 

• Save your Settings for future use 

Note: To fully save any changes to your interface or Preferences, make sure to quit Illustrator properly. Simply closing a file or window won’t update and save your Settings. 

You may also find our guide on how to back up, restore, and sync Illustrator Workspaces useful.

How do I change the UI color in Adobe Illustrator? 

You can switch between four different brightness levels for Illustrator’s interface. 

How to change the user interface color 

On macOS: 

1. Go to Illustrator > Settings > User Interface… 

2. Under Brightness, choose between Light, Medium Light, Medium Dark, or Dark 

3. You’ll see a live preview as you change the Settings

On Windows: 

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > User Interface… 

2. Under Brightness, choose between Light, Medium Light, Medium Dark, or Dark 

3. You’ll see a live preview as you change the Settings

How do I change the UI scale in Illustrator? 

If things are feeling too small (or too large), you can scale the user interface to better match your screen and comfort level. 

How to change the UI scale 

On macOS: 

1. Go to Illustrator > Settings > User Interface… 

2. Find the UI Scaling slider

3. Move the slider left or right to adjust the scale

On Windows: 

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > User Interface… 

2. Find the UI Scaling slider

3. Move the slider left or right to adjust the scale

Tip: Some changes may only take full effect after restarting Illustrator. 

How do I change the background color in Illustrator? 

By default, Illustrator uses a medium gray background around your artboards. You can change this to better suit your project or personal preference. 

How to change the canvas or artboard background color 

On macOS: 

1. Go to Illustrator > Settings > User Interface…

2. Adjust the Canvas Color setting under the Brightness section

3. You can choose Match User Interface Brightness or select a custom option

On Windows: 

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > User Interface… 

2. Adjust the Canvas Color setting under the Brightness section 

3. You can choose Match User Interface Brightness or select a custom option

This changes the area outside the artboards, not the artboards themselves. 

How do I change the artboard color in Illustrator? 

By default, artboards are white. You can give them a different color. Did you know that? Staring at a white, empty artboard can be nerve-wracking or jarring for some. 

How to change the artboard color in Illustrator 

On macOS and Windows: 

1. Open the Document Setup window by going to File > Document Setup… 

2. Check the box next to Simulate Colored Paper

3. Click the top swatch block next to the Transparency Grid Swatch 

4. Choose a new color using the color picker tool

5. Close the color picker, and the Transparency Grid will update to reflect your selection

6. Click OK to apply and close the Document Setup dialog

7. Go to View > Show Transparency Grid to preview the new colors

8. If desired, go to View > Hide Transparency Grid to turn it off

This only affects the on-screen appearance. It won’t print the background color. 

How do I make the anchor points, handles, and bounding box display larger in Illustrator? 

If you’re struggling to grab or see the anchor points and handles in Adobe Illustrator, you may wish to enlarge their display. Unlike the user interface, these are controlled by a separate setting. 

How to enlarge the anchor handles in Illustrator 

On macOS: 

1. Go to Illustrator > Settings > Selection & Anchor Display… 

2. Find the Size slider under Anchor, Handle & Bounding Box Display 

3. Move the slider left or right to adjust the scale

On Windows: 

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display… 

2. Find the Size slider under Anchor, Handle & Bounding Box Display

3. Move the slider left or right to adjust the scale

How do I hide artboards in Illustrator? 

Sometimes you want to focus just on the design, without seeing the artboard outlines. 

How to hide artboards in Illustrator with shortcuts 

On macOS: Press Command + Shift + H 

On Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + H 

Press the same keys again to show the artboards. 

How do I quickly zoom out in Illustrator? 

There are many quick zoom shortcuts you can use in Adobe Illustrator to navigate around your artwork. 

How to zoom in/out with shortcuts 

macOS: Press Command + “+” (zoom in) or “–” (zoom out) 

Windows: Press Ctrl + “+” (zoom in) or “–” (zoom out) 

How to view the entire artboard 

To zoom out and fit your artboard perfectly in the center of the Illustrator window: 

macOS: Press Command + 0 

Windows: Press Ctrl + 0 

How do I save my Illustrator preferences? 

Don’t forget to save your preferences 

Once you’ve made changes to the UI scale, color, or canvas settings, make sure you fully quit Illustrator (not just close a document). This ensures your new Preferences are saved for the next time you open the app. 

If you want to back up and save your Illustrator Preferences and Settings for free, try the Astute Manager Pro Freemium subscription. You can store up to 300MB of data for free, including Workspaces, Toolbar, and Keyboard Shortcuts.