Change Artboard Background Color in Photoshop

Customizing the background color of individual artboards in Adobe Photoshop is an efficient way to organize multi-screen projects, visualize different color themes, or prepare assets for export without manually creating solid fill layers. In Photoshop, each artboard acts as an independent canvas with its own dedicated properties. This guide outlines the exact setup required to configure unique, custom background colors for individual artboards using the Properties panel.

Step-by-Step Setup in the Properties Panel

The primary and most flexible method to configure individual artboard background colors is through Photoshop’s Properties panel.

  1. Select the Target Artboard: Click directly on the artboard’s name in the canvas view, or select the artboard folder in the Layers panel (F7). You can also use the Artboard Tool (nested under the Move Tool, shortcut V or Shift + V) to click inside the artboard.

  2. Open the Properties Panel: If not already visible, navigate to the top menu and select Window > Properties.

  3. Locate the Artboard Background Setting: With the artboard active, the Properties panel will display the artboard dimensions and a dropdown menu labeled Artboard background color.

  4. Select a Custom Color: Click the dropdown menu. By default, it may be set to White, Black, or Transparent. Select Custom to open the Adobe Color Picker.

  5. Apply the Color: Choose your desired hue, enter a specific Hex code, or sample a color from your document using the Eyedropper tool. Click OK to apply the color instantly to the selected artboard.

Configuring Background Color During Artboard Creation

You can also set custom colors as you create new artboards:

  1. Select the Artboard Tool (Shift + V).
  2. In the options bar at the top of the screen, open the Background dropdown menu before drawing the artboard.
  3. Select Custom, pick your desired color, and click and drag on the canvas to generate the artboard with that pre-configured background.

Managing Multiple Artboards Independently

Because this setting applies on an individual basis:

  • Unique Colors: Repeating the process on different artboards allows each artboard in a single .psd document to maintain a completely different background color.
  • Batch Adjustments: To change the background color of multiple artboards at the same time, hold Shift (or Ctrl/Cmd) and select multiple artboard names in the Layers panel, then choose a color from the Properties panel to apply it to all selected boards simultaneously.
  • Export Behavior: When using File > Export > Export As, artboards with custom background colors will render with that color intact unless the background is explicitly set to Transparent and exported as a transparent PNG or SVG.