How can you save your Illustrator document as a template?

Saving an Illustrator document as a template is best achieved by selecting the option that allows you to specifically choose the template format during the save process. By choosing File > Save As and then selecting the appropriate template format, you ensure that all settings, layers, artboards, and other document-specific attributes are retained for future use. This method creates a .ait file, which is the standard template format for Adobe Illustrator, allowing other users or future iterations of your work to access the template easily while ensuring the original design elements remain unchanged.

The other methods do not lead to the creation of an Illustrator template. For instance, exporting in template format is not a standard option, while saving as a PDF will convert the file into a non-editable format that does not preserve Illustrator's editing capabilities. Therefore, the chosen method allows for flexibility and reusability within the Illustrator environment, making it the correct option for saving your work as a template.