Layers, groups, and locks

Follow these steps

1. 1

   Change stacking order

   EditorLayers

   Find the object in Layers and drag its row to reorder it; the dots at the left of the row show it can be moved. Alternatively, right-click and use Bring Forward, Send Backward, Bring to Front or Send to Back. Selecting in Layers keeps the panel on Layers, so you can keep working through the list.

2. 2

   Name a layer

   EditorLayers

   Double-click the name in the row, or press the pencil that appears when you hover over the row. Type the name and press Enter to save or Esc to cancel; leaving it empty brings back the default name. Locked rows cannot be renamed.

   The name is also used as the file name when you export the selection as PNG.

3. 3

   Create a group

   LayersGroup

   Select objects and choose Group in Layers or the context menu, or press Cmd/Ctrl+G. Expand the group row to inspect members. Use its pencil icon to rename, then Enter or the check icon to save; Esc cancels.

4. 4

   Ungroup

   LayersUngroup

   Select the group and choose Ungroup. Its objects remain on the page and can be edited separately. This does not release a mask or reverse a Pathfinder operation.

5. 5

   Distinguish visibility and locking

   EditorLayers

   Use the eye control to hide or show an object and the lock to prevent accidental edits. A locked object cannot be selected on the canvas: clicks, marquee selection and Select All skip it, and a click reaches the object underneath. To unlock, use the lock icon in the list or right-click the canvas and choose Unlock all on page. Cmd/Ctrl+L locks the selection and Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+L unlocks it.

   Hiding is not deleting. Keep objects that must appear in the publication visible.

Related lessons

• Pathfinder
• Set the reading order
• Selection and everyday editing