Use artboards to lay out designs

Last updated on Oct 6, 2026

Select the Artboard tool, draw on canvas, and resize as needed to design for multiple screens in one document.

Artboards streamline workflows when you need to preview how a design works across different screen sizes or create variations side by side.

This procedure creates a new artboard on an existing canvas. Use artboards when designing for multiple devices, comparing layout variations, or organizing page designs within a single Photoshop document. For creating new documents with artboards already configured, select File > New and enable the Artboards checkbox instead.

Draw and configure an artboard

Select the Artboard tool from the toolbar. If you don't see it, select and hold the Move tool to reveal related tools, then choose Artboard.

Drag on the canvas to draw your artboard at any size.

Resize the artboard if necessary. From the tool options bar, select a preset size from the Size pop-up menu. Alternatively, you can leave the artboard custom-sized.

With the artboard selected, select Layer > Rename Artboard, type a descriptive name, and press Return or Enter.

Add your design elements. You can add smart objects, layers, and layer groups directly to the artboard.

Once you've created an artboard, all contained elements are clipped to its boundaries and grouped in the Layers panel. You can add more artboards using the + icons that appear alongside a selected artboard, or by repeating the procedure for each new layout.

Tip

Hold Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and select a + icon to duplicate an artboard with all its contents intact.

Artboards work independently, so you can apply different adjustments, filters, or styles to each one without affecting the others. To export individual artboards as separate files, select File > Export > Artboards To Files.

For more control over artboard appearance, adjust matte color and border settings in Preferences > Interface > Appearance > Artboards.