What are Photoshop artboards?

Think of an artboard as a type of layer group in Photoshop. Everything that you add to each respective artboard gets added to the layer group. Each artboard you create, creates a new group in your layers panel. This way you know exactly which elements belong to which artboard. We love working in artboards and find them much easier to use than groups.

Visually, artboards serve as individual canvases within a Photoshop document, which – for us – simplifies and speeds up the design process. Artboards can differ in size.

How we use artboards for email design

We use artboards for responsive email designs, or when we require a series of similar banners for a project. It makes visualising the mailers much easier and ensures consistency, especially when treatments are added to enhance visuals.

Figure C

Figure D

How to create an artboard

How to add more artboards to your current document

1. Using the artboard tool and drawing a new artboard
   • In the tools panel, click and hold the move tool and select the artboard tool
     
   • Use this tool to draw a new artboard on your canvas – don’t worry about getting the exact size
   • Once your artboard is drawn, and still selected, you’ll notice the “Tool options bar” below the menu – you can set the width and height of your artboard here
2. Using the artboard tool and plus icons
   • Select the move tool
     
   • Select an artboard
   • Click on one of the plus icons surrounding the artboard to add a new artboard
     

3. Duplicate an artboard

• Right-click on any artboard in your layers panel and click “duplicate artboard”

Working with artboards

1. How to set the background colour
   • Select your artboard by clicking on its name in the layers panel. Then, in the properties panel, select the colour you wish to use. If you don’t see the properties panel, you can simply go to “windows” and select “properties”
     
2. Move elements between artboards
   • Drag the elements from one artboard to another on the canvas, or in the layers panel
3. Move an artboard
   • Within your canvas, click on the artboard name and drag your artboard to a new position
4. Resize an artboard
   • Using handles
     Click on the artboard you wish to resize. Once you’ve clicked on your artboard, you’ll notice the handles around the artboard display. Simply drag the corner handle inwards or outwards to resize your artboard
     
   • Using the tool options bar
     If you need a more exact size, select your artboard and use the toolbar to set the sizes

5. Rename your artboard

• Double-click the artboard name in the layers panel and type a new name

Change a Photoshop canvas into an artboard

1. In the tools panel, click and hold the move tool and select the artboard tool
   
2. With the artboard tool selected, click and drag over your current canvas to convert it into an artboardWith the artboard tool selected, click and drag over your current canvas to convert it into an artboard
3. Your new artboard will be listed in the layers panel 

Exporting artboards

1. Go to the layers panel. Select the artboard(s) that you’d like to export. Right-click on your selection and choose “export as” from the context menu
2. A preview dialogue will appear. Here you can set the export format and quality
3. Click “export” (note that file names will inherit the artboard name assigned in Photoshop)

That’s it!