Adobe Illustrator Background Color: How to Change or Remove It

How to Change Background Color in Adobe Illustrator (Step-by-Step)

By default, Illustrator shows a white background, which isn’t always ideal. Let’s walk through ways to customize background color in Adobe Illustrator.

Change Background Color with a Rectangle

The most straightforward way to add a background color is by drawing a rectangle that covers your entire artboard.

1. Select the Rectangle Tool (M)
2. Click and drag across the entire canvas
3. Choose your preferred fill color
4. Send the shape to the back (Object > Arrange > Send to Back)

Related: Adobe Illustrator Fill Tool

Simulate Adobe Illustrator Background Color in Document Setup

If you want your  background color to be visible without adding shapes:

1. Go to File > Document Setup
2. Enable “Simulate Colored Paper”
3. Choose a background color that suits your design

This won’t print but offers visual aid during design.

When to Use Transparent Bg in Adobe Illustrator

Need your export to have no background? Go transparent:

• Go to View > Show Transparency Grid to preview
• Export as PNG or SVG and ensure “Transparent Background” is selected

This is ideal for logos, icons, and overlays.

Related read: Adobe Illustrator Transparent Background

Choosing Background Color Styles in Adobe Illustrator Projects

Depending on your design goals, your Adobe background color may change:

• Use light backgrounds for icons and UI
• Use darker backgrounds to highlight text or artwork
• Transparent for exporting assets into videos or other platforms

Explore: Adobe Illustrator 3D for more complex visual layering.

Fixing Background Color Problems

Running into issues like unwanted white backgrounds in exports? Here’s what to check:

• Ensure the background isn’t part of the artboard export
• Make sure transparent background is enabled during export
• Use “Save for Web” for better control over transparency

Final Thoughts on Adobe Illustrator Background Color Customization

Mastering how to change or remove background color in Adobe Illustrator gives you more control over design output—whether for print, web, or export.