Last Updated: May 5, 2026
ARTBOARD SETUP & PANEL MIGRATION
OVERVIEW
Alright, I transferred the base panels from the old style into the new style in the master folder, then I deleted the old master since we do not need it anymore. I worked top down from the biggest size to the small size, starting with the Adult 3X sleeve layer, replacing the sew and cut paths inside the correct symbol layers, and making sure everything sits at zero, zero for instant feedback. I set up sew lines as dotted .5 and cut lines at two pixels, and I kept the container structure while replacing only the relevant paths. I did QC at the end, fixing any sew lines that still had the unwanted bottom line. No action is requested from you.
STEP-by-STep guide
1. Remove the old master file and work only in the master/beta folder 0:00
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The base panels have already been migrated to the new sizes.
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Delete the old master file since it is no longer needed.
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Do not save changes back into the live folder.
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Continue working behind the scenes in the master folder as part of the beta launch process.
2. Start with the largest size and work downward 0:51
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Begin with the largest size first, such as Adult 3X.
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The workflow can be done top-down from the artboard or directly from the Symbols panel.
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The speaker prefers to start with the sleeve system first, then move through the rest of the panels.
3. Move the sew line into the sew symbol and keep the cut line in the cut symbol 1:32
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Open the base symbol for the panel.
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Identify the sew line and the cut line.
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Remove the sew line from the base and paste it into the sew symbol.
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Keep both the sew line and cut line inside the sew symbol so the full shape remains available for manipulation.
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In the cut symbol, keep only the cut path/line.
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If nothing appears after pasting, it usually means the artwork is in the wrong layer.
4. Use layer feedback to confirm the artwork is placed correctly 2:42
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Illustrator’s graphic styles act like instant feedback.
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If the pasted artwork looks wrong or disappears, it is likely not in the correct layer.
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The easiest method is often:
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select everything,
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delete the old paths,
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paste the new paths into the correct symbol.
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When placed correctly, the sew and cut styles automatically update to the proper appearance.
5. Repeat the same replacement process for the front panel 3:39
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Go to the front panel base.
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Copy the correct paths from the base.
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Remove the sew path from the base and paste it into the sew symbol.
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Then update the cut symbol with the correct cut path.
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For front, back, and sleeves, remove the bottom line when it represents a fold-over edge.
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Set the relevant paths to 0,0 so the symbols align correctly.
6. Update sew and cut together for faster workflow 5:37
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One action can update both sew and cut symbols at the same time.
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Replace the sew path, set it to 0,0, and add/remove anchor points as needed for sleeve shapes.
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The graphic styles are already preconfigured:
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base layer = front-based setup,
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sew layer = dotted line at .5,
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cut layer = 2 px cut line.
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Because the styling is already built in, the main task is just replacing the paths correctly.
7. Continue through the remaining sizes from largest to smallest 7:30
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After finishing the largest size, duplicate the process for the next sizes down.
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The speaker switches to working from the sleeve upward through the symbol layers.
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For each size:
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copy the base,
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replace the sew path,
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set alignment to 0,0,
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add/remove anchor points if needed,
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then update the cut symbol.
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Check each panel as you go to make sure the shape and alignment are correct.
8. Verify the graded files and keep the sew lines for production 8:36
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Confirm that the front, back, and sleeve panels look clean and attached properly.
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The sew lines can remain in the graded files for seamstresses and production use.
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This step is mainly about confirming the symbols are behaving correctly before moving on.
9. Periodically save and catch mistakes early with QC checks 12:59
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Save the file periodically to avoid losing work or crashing Illustrator.
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Do a few panels, then save, then continue.
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Use quick QC checks to catch panels that were missed or set up incorrectly.
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If something looks off, go back and correct it before moving on.
10. Finish the remaining panels and do a full quality check 18:12
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Once all panels have been transferred from base to sew to cut, do a full QC pass.
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Check that all symbols are aligned and that the correct lines were removed.
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Later in the process, the speaker notices some sew lines still have the bottom line and removes them during QC.
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This final review ensures the master files are consistent and production-ready.
11. Confirm hems/bottoms, then save the versioned master file 44:27
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Review all bottoms, hems, and fold-over areas.
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Make sure every symbol is set at 0,0 so everything lines up perfectly.
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Some panels may look off simply because they belong to a different size, such as 4XL.
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Save the file using the correct version naming convention.
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The master version is updated and saved before moving on to the next file.