How do I set default settings in Illustrator?

Answered by Ricardo McCardle

To set default settings in Illustrator, you can follow the steps below:

1. Close Illustrator: Make sure to close Adobe Illustrator if it is currently open on your computer.

2. Locate the preferences folder: On a PC, navigate to the following folder: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [Version]\[Language]\ (replace [Your Username] with your actual username and [Version] with the version of Illustrator you have installed). On a Mac, go to: Macintosh HD/Users/[Your Username]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator [Version]/[Language]/.

3. Rename the preferences folder: Once you have located the preferences folder, rename it to something like “Old Adobe Illustrator [Version] Settings” or any other name of your choice. This step ensures that Illustrator creates a new preferences folder with default settings when it is launched.

4. Open Illustrator: Launch Adobe Illustrator again. It will now generate a new preferences folder with default settings, as if you are launching the application for the first time.

5. Adjust settings if necessary: At this point, you can customize the default settings according to your preferences. Modify options such as units, grid settings, color settings, and any other preferences you commonly use.

6. Save your custom settings: Once you have adjusted the settings to your liking, you can save them as your new default settings. To do this, go to the “Edit” menu, select “Preferences,” and then choose “General” (PC) or “Illustrator” (Mac). In the preferences dialog box, click on the “Reset Preferences” button. A confirmation dialog will appear asking if you want to reset the preferences. Click “Yes” to confirm.

7. Restart Illustrator: Close and relaunch Illustrator to ensure that your new default settings are applied.

By following these steps, you can easily set default settings in Adobe Illustrator and customize them according to your needs. Remember that you can always reset preferences to the factory defaults by renaming the preferences folder again and repeating the process.

I hope this detailed explanation helps you in setting the default settings in Adobe Illustrator.