Being that its 2018 and almost 2019, should we even be discussing eps files anymore? Most everything is pdf now.. Yes there are some old shops that still use eps but that is far and few now. As said.. use no embedded preview if its absolutely necessary.. AND if you don't want to use a larger size!!! DONT... use a scale ration like you are already doin,. the rest of us want 1:1 scale for our documents.

@Keith, I've just done your experiment with the following results:

Illustrator document
- FileSizeTest-1in.ai: 1,133,720 bytes (1.1 MB on disk)
- FileSizeTest-220in.ai: 1,134,304 bytes (1.1 MB on disk)

Illustrator EPS with embedded 8-bit TIFF preview
- FileSizeTest-1in.eps: 951,233 bytes (958 KB on disk)
- FileSizeTest-220in.eps: 8,819,797 bytes (9.5 MB on disk)

Illustrator EPS without embedded preview
- FileSizeTest-1in-nopreview.eps: 938,945 bytes (946 KB on disk)
- FileSizeTest-220in-nopreview.eps: 939,066 bytes (946 KB on disk)

PDF with Illustrator default settings
- FileSizeTest-1in.pdf: 78,567 bytes (82 KB on disk)
- FileSizeTest-220in.pdf: 78,700 bytes (82 KB on disk)

So the only options where there is any material difference in file size is with EPS with embedded preview.

I haven't tested a file with a placed and embedded raster image, but in any case when we create graphics in any software we generally need to be aware of file sizes, so Illustrator is no different in this respect.

I therefore propose that the file-size argument is a side issue and has no bearing on the matter of canvas size.

What I am saying, create a file and make a black square 1”x1”. Now save it. Now make it 220”. Save that. 2 file sizes. Now save as a eps both ways or pdf.

"Infinite" canvas size would not neccessarily increase file size - file size would depend on how many objects are in the file. Infinite canvas is going to be about how to represent the coordinates. and at what precision. Other programs do not place a limit of the canvas so it is very possible to do this - but there's more than one way.

It's likely going to be about how much work adobe would need to do to implement the change. The easy way would be to trade precision for size, i.e., as the canvas gets larger, the precision would go down. This would effectively be the same as how we have to design at a different scale now to fit very large spaces - it would just happen internally. It would not be "infinite" since as some point the precision would be so low as to become rediculous. A better solution (and the one I hope Adobe implements eventually) would be to allow a truely infinite canvas board. I image that there would be a lot of changes that would have to be made to make this happen, which is why Adobe has not addressed this yet with such a popular request thread. Other parts of the program would need to be considered as well - i.e. exporting images (file type limits/compatability), PDF compatability, etc...

I do hope Adobe eventually responds to this thread with something promising.

You need to use a smaller scale if something is too big to fit within the canvas, so it's relevant here.

POINT OF CLARIFICATION.....this is about CANVAS size.... NOT about Artboards! Canvas = the entire work area Illustrator allows you to have. ARTBOARDS are placed inside the canvas. The CANVAS should be unlimited so I can arrange as many ARTBOARDS as possible. The issue of scale is a completely different conversation. Thanks!

The other problem with scaling is that the system rounds to 2 decimal points. So when increasing the size, the precision is lost. When making signage or precision objects that need to align over a very long distance, what is only a little off at the start becomes a lot off when finished. Increasing the artboard or making a true scale feature where you can assign a 1:2 ratio or greater woudl be much more precise.

Yes, scaling is an option, BUT whenever I use effects on vehicle wraps for instance at 1/20 scale, they ALWAYS get muffed up when I scale them at full size. Drop shadows get distorted for example, and I have to spend double the time fiddling around with it to look right again. Also, let's say I'm designing graphics for a Transit or something with a long wheelbase, I go to scale and it's like FIVE INCHES over the artboard and I can't do it. Just give us SOMETHING Adobe. Let's try 300 inches at very least. AND GET RID OF THAT **** AT THE TOP OF THE NEW HOME SCREEN!!!! I don't need a personalized message or presets for A4, postcards, a web page, an I phone app, or HDTV. It's a waste of space that I could be using to see my recent files.

Tip for everyone until Illustrator addresses this monstrous oversight.

Use a 1:10 scale for large files. For people bad at math (me) this just means moving a decimal place over to the left once space.

So: 10.5" becomes 1.05"
392" = 39.2"
etc

If you ever need to blow it up to final size (an element that's small enough to allow that), just double click the scale tool and increase it by 1000%, and to reduce something down to 1:10 just reduce it to 10%

I label my files with the scale at the end, so if the printer needs to blow it up in their software they know what to do.

Hope that helps anyone. I found it much easier than using any other scaling method.

I honestly hit this problem at least once a week. Today I'm making a range of logos which are set to 2400px wide, so I've got three artboards in a row and want to duplicate one, but I can't because it suddenly hits the canvas limit, so I have to fiddle around rearranging my artboards on the canvas. It's nothing to do with file size, this is just a little bit of vector.

Keith, infinite canvas does not mean larger files.. a 200" square and a 1" square each on its own document with corresponding page sizes are the same.. Only the amount of content you put in a file increases size.. working in half scale or full scale results in the same file sizes.. NO SCALE TOOL. The current way of working is unacceptable. We need to be able to do a 1:1 drawing of any content. Billboards, bus wraps, wall hangings etc. and any architectural work should be able to be done within this program. 19 feet long is the max size that can be made. Even if they bumped it up to 100 feet that would satisfy 99.999% of users complaining.. but we still hear nothing except.. Need More Info....???? what??? I think we have provided that enough already.

Infinite canvas means HUGE file sizes. But a simple scale tool retains file size

I work on architectural graphics and not having been able to work with real measures it is always a burden.
Please, please let me get infinity canvas
(morrissey dixit)

YES PLEASE ALREADY. I work in the sign industry and while scaling is obviously an option it would be so nice to be able to work in full scale.
Adobe, stop giving me encouraging messages on my home screen (I make great graphics every day on my own thank you) and make the **** artboard bigger, seriously. This is madness.

OMG yes please, infinite artboards,
I would love to be able to work at 100% for oversize jobs.

I am tired of paying Cadtools $250 for what should be default adobe functions.

I have been requesting this for years. either increase the canvas size or allow scaling.

Please make the overall bigger. Please. corel draw has it alway has. Help.

I don't understand why they don't make this feature happen, especially nowadays (2019). Corel Draw has this feature available since in 1998 (when I started work with graphic design) @adobecare please take care of us!!!

I think it's fairly typical of Adobe to concentrate on new apps and adding more new features — which are then launched at flashy promotion events — than to do the unglamorous grind of refining the actual things we use in everyday work. I mean, I do like the new apps and features, but I wish they'd skip a year and focus instead on smoothing all these bumps which add friction in daily use.