Artboard set size?

[softsound]

Hey I was wondering if there was an easy way to create artboards set to print sizes?
I see that I can set them to mobile/device sizes but is there a quick way I can resize an artboard to print sizes?

I didn't see anything at first glance. Also is there a way to set the size of certain artboard to be like 4x6 and others to be like 6x8?

I didn't see a way to manually set size without trying to drag the artboard nodes to the right size, I'd like to be able to type in artboard sizes and create them that way.

[softsound]

Ah, nvm I found I can just set size in the transform tool. It would be nice if I could just directly type it in though while creating it.

[v_kyr]

Quote

Adding (and removing) artboards

Artboards can be created with new documents or added to your current document at a preset or custom size at any time.

Adding artboards

When creating a new document, you can automatically create your first artboard using the settings in the New Document dialog.

Once you have an document open, you can add artboards using the Artboard Tool.

Artboards can be created:

• using the original document's dimensions—perfect for creating multi-page documents
• using preset sizes—perfect for device-specific designing
• using the current selection's dimensions
• at a custom size
• by copying or duplicating other artboards
• by converting a selected object

• Adding (and removing) artboards

[softsound]

@v_kyr That shows it's not possible to manually type it in, thank you. I'll request the feature later.

[v_kyr]

@softsound Though ...

Quote

To resize an artboard:

With an artboard selected, do one of the following:

• Using the Artboard Tool or Move Tool, drag the artboard's selection handles.
• On the Transform panel, adjust the W (width) and/or H (height) settings.

• Selecting, moving and resizing artboards

And AFAI recall you can convert objects to artboards, thus you can create/define a rect and then convert that to an artboard. However, it's probably not the detour way you want to go.

[softsound]

Yes, but this seems like something I should be able to do in the beginning. I made a quick mock-up of my idea.

Just saves a few extra steps.

Also I would not get rid of the document option, just temporarily removed it for the mock's sake. I would probably remove double insert artboard buttons too.

(I suppose X & Y would be W & H but same idea. Would be also nice if I could save artboard templates like affinity has there)

[v_kyr]

1 minute ago, softsound said:

Just saves a few extra steps...

...and makes probably more sense, if it could be size defined directly during creation.

[walt.farrell]

When you create a new document, you can use the Photo category in Presets to get a photo-sized document, and you can check "Create Artboard" to get a photo-sized artboard. You can then duplicate that artboard to get more.

If you have a common set of photo-sized artboards that you want in the same document, just create them individually using the Artboard Tool and the Transform panel as needed, then save that document as a Template using File > Export as Template.... Then you can create other documents with that set of artboards by using the template during File > New....

[v_kyr]

I believe the OP wants to be able to type in artboard sizes directly in numerical values for creation.

[walt.farrell]

36 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

I believe the OP wants to be able to type in artboard sizes directly in numerical values for creation.

Perhaps, but they can get all the common sizes automatically during File > New processing, if they only need 1 artboard.

[R C-R]

14 hours ago, softsound said:

Also is there a way to set the size of certain artboard to be like 4x6 and others to be like 6x8?

I didn't see a way to manually set size without trying to drag the artboard nodes to the right size, I'd like to be able to type in artboard sizes and create them that way.

You can resize any artboard by selecting it with the Move Tool (click on the artboard name) or in the Layers panel, & then set its size in the Transform panel numerically. Since that panel accepts expressions in field values you can use that to set the aspect ratio, for example by setting the H field to w*(6/4) after setting the W field to the desired width.

If in the New document window you tick the "Create Artboard" checkbox, the Move Tool & that artboard will be selected when you click the Create button, so you just need to type in the desired values in the Transform panel. The same applies when you create a new artboard with the Artboard Tool -- it is selected so you can reset its size to whatever you want in the Transform panel.

[softsound]

I think the point of art boards is to be able to have different sizes in one document, I understand I can just create a bunch of documents and copy and paste it over or use the transform  to transform but these workarounds seem unnecessary if they just gave the option for custom sizes upfront.  

I submitted my suggestion here.

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, softsound said:

I think the point of art boards is to be able to have different sizes in one document...

All different or all the the same or a mix of both, the choice is up to the user.

[WhiteX]

Would be nice if we could edit the presets from that dropdown when adding a new artboard. Or at least give more variety, some print presets too.

[Pu Koh]

Just have dimension fields in the top context toolbar. Why wouldn't you just make it obvious instead of forcing people to use the transform panel, which not everyone would have open all the time.

[Alfred]

1 hour ago, Pu Koh said:

Just have dimension fields in the top context toolbar. Why wouldn't you just make it obvious instead of forcing people to use the transform panel, which not everyone would have open all the time.

For what context(s)? The Context toolbar is populated with whatever options the devs have chosen for the context in question, and it can’t be customized, so you might not always have access to the dimension settings there. The Transform panel, on the other hand, is available all the time.

[Pu Koh]

The context toolbar in AI is way more useful

 

 

Affinity Designer only has a preset dropdown. there's plenty of space. There's no reason not to just let us type in the size we want right there.

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, Pu Koh said:

Affinity Designer only has a preset dropdown. there's plenty of space. There's no reason not to just let us type in the size we want right there.

Then consider adding it in the Feedback forum  https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/52-feedback-suggestions/