Use Artboards option disabled when exporting as PDF – even in new multi-artboard documents
Description:
In the current Illustrator version, the ‘Use Artboards’ checkbox in File ▸ Export ▸ Export As... ▸ PDF is greyed out and cannot be selected.
This happens even in a new document with multiple artboards (e.g. 3 pages with simple shapes).
Steps to reproduce:
1. Create a new document with 3 artboards
2. Add simple objects on each artboard
3. Go to File ▸ Export ▸ Export As… ▸ Select PDF
4. → “Use Artboards” option is greyed out
Expected result:
“Use Artboards” should be selectable so that Illustrator exports each artboard as a separate PDF file.
Actual result:
Option remains disabled; Illustrator exports a single combined PDF instead.
Environment:
- Illustrator version [29.8.2, e.g. 28.0.1 Windows 11]
- Tested with and without PDF-compatible AI saving
- No linked or embedded content involved
Impact (Urgency):
This issue prevents multi-page export workflows, critical in professional environments (e.g. signage, print production, packaging).
It requires manual scripting or third-party tools to achieve basic multi-page PDF export, which significantly slows production and increases error risk.
Please confirm if this is a known issue and if a fix is planned.
Thank you - this is a critical production blocker for multi-artboard workflows.
R
shared this idea
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Disabled for me as well...
The workaround with Export for Screens and using PDF format there to export artboards still works.
