How to Use Artboards in DesignScape

In today’s tutorial, you are going to learn how to use artboards in DesignScape. Artboards are a great way to work on various designs at once or multiple options for one design. Once you have the first artboard set up, you can quickly add more in different sizes. We will also show you how to export your artboards. DesignScape is available to Gold Plus Members. If you're not a member yet, sign up for a free 30 Day Gold Plus Membership Trial today!

To show you how artboards work, we will be using designs from this sublimation bundle. We also have a wonderful selection of sublimation designs for you to browse through.

Before you begin, make sure that you have downloaded and unzipped your files.

Step 1 - Create the First Artboard

Once you have opened DesignScape, you will need to create a new artboard to begin with. Go to File > New and the New Project window will open. Here, you can choose from preloaded templates or create a specific sized document.

We chose a document with a size of 1000 x 1500 px and DPI 300. Be sure to tick the box for Artboards then click on Create.

In the workspace area, you will see your blank artboard. You will also see the name Artboard 1 at the top of the document and under the Layers Panel. The artboards will be added as groups with layers.

Step 2 - Create Additional Artboards

Adding additional artboards is very quick and easy. All you need to do is go to the Move Tool on the left side toolbar. Place your cursor over this, click + hold to open the menu options. Now select the Artboard Tool.

Click + drag out a new artboard. To constrain the size hold Shift while clicking + dragging.

This will create Artboard 2, which will be shown above the artboard and in the Layers Panel.

When you release the mouse button, you will see that the new artboard has “+” signs on all sides. If you click on the “+” sign on the right, a new artboard will be placed to the right of Artboard 2. The new artboard will also have the same dimensions as Artboard 2.

Once a new artboard is added, it will also have “+” signs. This is a very quick way to add artboards of the same dimensions.

To move an artboard around, place your cursor over the artboard then click + drag. Be careful not to click + drag the center point. This is the small square in the middle of the artboard that acts as the rotational point of your design. You don't want to move this.

Step 3 - Adjust Artboard Sizes

You can adjust the size of the artboard at any given time. We will adjust the first artboard to show you how to do this. Under the Layers Panel, click on the layer Artboard 1 to select. Then, on the right toolbar, click on the Properties Panel.

Here you can adjust the Width and Height, the position in the work area as well as the color of the background. If you click Custom for the Background, then click on the Color Picker, you can choose a background color. Click OK to apply the color.

We decided to keep our background as white.

Step 4 - Add Designs to Artboards

Now that we have set up our artboards, let us begin adding the designs. Locate the file where your designs are stored. Make sure that Artboard 1 is selected then drag and drop your images onto it. You will see each item placed on its own layer under the Artboard 1 group.

We deleted Layer 1 by right clicking > Delete as it was not needed. You can also scale and transform the images as needed to fit onto your artboard.

Now, click on the layer Artboard 2 in the Layers Panel to select it. Drag and drop your selected images like you did with the layer Artboard 1.

Repeat this for all remaining artboards with your selected designs.

Step 5 - Rename the Artboards

We are just about ready to save our artboards. First, we want to rename the artboards so they are easier to identify. The layer name and name above the artboard will be the file name when saved.

Double click on the layer name, for example, Artboard 1. Then give the layer an appropriate name. We renamed Artboard 1 to Floral Backgrounds and Artboard 2 to Feel Good Quotes.

Step 6 - Export your Artboards

When saving your artboards, each one will be saved as an individual file. Once you are happy with your project, go to File > Export as > JPG. You can save the artboards in any format that you want.

In the export window, don’t worry if your design looks like a single document in the preview. Make sure that the box for As Artboards is ticked. This is essential to saving individual documents instead of a single one.

Leave the dimensions as is in this window. These dimensions are used when saving as a single file. Your artboards will be saved with the dimensions you initially created. Then click Save.

Your artboards will be downloaded to your device as a zip file. Once unzipped, you will see your artboards as individual files.

If you want to save the file to edit later on, then save as a PSD file.

That is how quick and easy it is to use artboards in DesignScape. Artboards streamline your workflow so that you can work between multiple designs at once. We hope that you found this tutorial helpful and can use what you have learned in your future projects.