Last Updated: May 5, 2026
Artboard Setup & Panel Migration
OVERVIEW
In this session, you will learn how to migrate the legacy 4003 shooting shirt panels into the newest master artboards and prepare the file for production.
We begin by reviewing the layer color system so you can quickly understand what you are looking at in any master file:
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Red indicates the 2D | Design Layers.
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Yellow indicates the 3D | eCom Layers.
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Green indicates the 1D | Production Layers.
You will also see how right and left panels are color‑coded, which helps you avoid swapping sides when you move content between artboards.
Next, the video demonstrates how to shift and resize artboards so they stay within the 28" x 45" printer limit. This teaches you how to keep layouts production-ready while still maintaining a clear, organized artboard structure.
You will then learn how to build out youth sizes by:
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Duplicating existing symbols, and
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Updating the primary cut, sew, and base components for each new size.
This step is important because it ensures that every size has its own correctly linked, size‑specific production symbols.
The walkthrough closes by modeling good version control: you will see how to request a final review and confirm that version v5.01 is approved before moving on.
STEP-by-STep guide
1. Start from the latest master and identify the base size 0:00
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Open the latest file from the Signature Style Live folder.
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Confirm you are migrating from the latest master to the newest master.
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Identify the base size for the style:
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Men’s: Adult Large is the base size.
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Women’s: Adult Small is the base size.
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For this workflow, the master is linked around Adult Large and sizes are arranged high to low.
2. Understand the layer color system before editing 2:09
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Use the layer colors as a quick guide:
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Red = 2Ds / design layer
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Yellow = 3Ds / e-commerce layer
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Green = production layer
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Today’s work is focused on the production layer and specifically the 1Ds.
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The master is organized into top, middle, and bottom layers.
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Most of the setup work happens in the middle layer and production panels.
3. Turn on the production panels and review panel color meanings 4:06
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Turn on the production panels to see the style’s panel layout.
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Use the panel colors to identify parts quickly:
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Pink = front panel
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Teal = back panel
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Yellow = right side
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Orange = left side
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Lime green = collar
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Other colors may represent items like bottom binding or special facets
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Check the Graphic Styles panel for the full color-to-part mapping.
4. Clear out outdated placeholders and prepare the artboards 1:48
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Delete any “coming soon” placeholders that are no longer needed.
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Turn on the necessary layers and unlock what needs to be edited.
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If the largest size is missing, you may need to shift the artboards to make room for the new size set.
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In this example, the file is being adjusted because the current largest size is not the final target size.
5. Remove the old largest size and shift the artboards 7:13
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Use Document Setup > Edit Artboards.
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If the largest size is missing, shift the existing artboards left to make room.
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Hide any linked items that would block the move, such as the collar stripe symbol.
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Move the artboards carefully so the layout stays aligned.
6. Rebuild the artboard set for the missing sizes 6:25
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Determine which sizes need to be added back in.
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In this example, the setup needs:
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Youth Medium
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Youth Small
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Youth Extra Small
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Create the missing artboards before migrating panel content.
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This setup step saves time later because everything can be shifted and linked correctly from the start.
7. Reposition the artboards and clean up extra content 11:25
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Select the active artboards and drag them into the correct position.
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Align them so the set is organized consistently.
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Delete any artboards or contents that are no longer needed.
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Save the file once the layout is corrected.
8. Move the file into the correct folder and version it properly 22:37
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Return to the ReadyForDan folder.
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Do not overwrite or disturb Dan’s working files.
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Move the updated file into the proper master location.
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Archive the old version if needed.
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Save the working file as the next version, such as v5.0.1, while reserving v5.0 for the final release.
9. Rename and reorder the new youth artboards 28:04
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Rename the new artboards to match the correct sizes:
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Youth Small
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Youth Extra Small
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Reorder the artboards from smallest to largest.
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Confirm the artboards are arranged in the correct size progression:
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Extra Small
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Small
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Medium
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Large
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10. Copy labels and panel content into the new sizes 29:08
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Lock the fabric layer before pasting so content lands in the correct place.
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Copy the labels and paste them into the new size artboards.
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If labels or panel names appear on the wrong artboard, move them manually.
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Make sure each size has the correct labels and panel references.
11. Clean up hidden or misplaced content 30:17
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Turn on all relevant layers to verify what transferred correctly.
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Move any hidden content that ended up on the wrong artboard.
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Delete unnecessary content from sizes that should not contain it.
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Check that each artboard only contains the panels and labels intended for that size.
12. Update digital measurements and size-specific labels 33:17
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If digital measurements are hidden or misplaced, select them and drag them into the correct artboard.
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Use the labels layer to paste the correct size labels.
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Update the symbol names so they match the new size:
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Youth Large
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Youth Medium
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Youth Small
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Youth Extra Small
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This keeps the master organized and prevents symbol conflicts later.
13. Copy panel symbols into each size artboard 36:30
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Copy the panel symbols from the existing size.
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Paste them into the next size layer.
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Repeat for each size so every artboard has its own panel set.
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Make sure each panel has the correct size-specific symbol attached.
14. Duplicate and relink primary symbols for the new size 38:06
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Understand that each panel is built from a primary symbol containing sub-symbols:
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Cut
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Sew
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Base
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For a new size that does not already exist, duplicate the primary symbol.
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Rename the duplicated symbol so it matches the new size.
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Replace the linked sub-symbols inside the primary symbol so the new size is independent.
15. Reassign front, back, sleeve, and collar symbols correctly 39:18
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Update each panel type one by one:
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Front
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Back
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Sleeves
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Collar
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For sleeves, pay attention to left vs. right because they flip.
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Use the arrows and orientation as a visual check.
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If a symbol does not change when edited, that is a sign the link is still pointing to the wrong size.
16. Use instant feedback to verify symbol linking 43:19
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After relinking, test the symbol by changing one size.
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If the panel updates correctly, the link is working.
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If nothing changes, the symbol is still tied to the wrong master.
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This is the fastest way to catch mistakes before moving on.
17. Update the internal symbol links inside the duplicated master 44:07
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Even after duplicating a size, the internal symbols may still point to the old size.
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Open the primary symbol and replace the internal links:
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Large → Extra Small
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Large → Small
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Large → Medium
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Do this for cut, sew, and base layers so the new size is fully independent.
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This prevents changes in one size from affecting another.
18. Verify sleeve direction and panel orientation 49:00
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Check sleeves carefully because they are directional.
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Confirm the arrow direction matches the correct side.
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Use the base symbol orientation as a quick visual check.
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If the arrow points the wrong way, the sleeve symbol is incorrect and must be swapped.
19. Update the header width for the new artboard count 52:12
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The artboard count changed, so the header space must be updated.
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Search for the header layer and change the count from 15 to 17.
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Unlock the fabric layer if needed to read the width.
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Use the direct selection tool to update the header width reference.
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Lock the header again after the adjustment.
20. Finish the setup and hand off to the next phase 53:56
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Confirm the master is ready for panel migration.
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Save the file as the updated minor version.
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This portion of the workflow is complete once the artboards, symbols, labels, and header are all set.
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The next step is transferring the actual panels into the prepared master.