Create, Copy, Arrange and Edit Drawing Layers
A new drawing has a single drawing layer that can contain multiple drawing objects. The number of additional layers you can add to a drawing is limited only by your computer's parameters. In addition to creating simple layers in Artboard, you can create layers by duplicating currently existing layers, or by converting a selection into a new layer.
A new layer appears either above the selected layer or within the selected group. Artboard layers are discrete, similar to layers of transparent mylar – select one layer at a time to work with the objects contained within that layer.
Show Hide To Select and Edit Objects within a Layer
- Click a layer in the Layers panel. The layer is now active for editing.
- Use the Select [s] tool to select objects, and other drawing tools to add and edit objects as desired.
A layer's color-well, to the right of the layer Show/Hide icon, indicates the color of the selection handles when an object on that layer is selected. To set the color, click the color-well and choose a new color from the pop-up palette.
Show Hide To Select a Layer in the Layers panel:
- Click a layer in the Layers panel. The layer is now active for editing.
The active layer is highlighted and shown with a white arrow to the left of the layer name. Layers that are not active, but contain a selected object, are indicated with a white dot to the left of the layer name.
Show Hide To Name or Rename a Layer:
Do one of the following:
- When a layer is added and its name is highlighted for editing, type to add the layer name.
- Double-click the layer name of the layer you'd like to rename in the Layers panel, then type the new layer name.
- Right-click a layer and choose 'Rename' from the contextual menu.
Show Hide To Create a Layer Group:
- Do one of the following:
- Click the 'New Layer Group' icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
- Choose Layer > New Layer Group from the main menu.
2. Then do one of the following:
- With the Layer Group selected, create a new layer. The new layer will be contained within the layer group.
- Select and drag existing layer(s) into the new layer group.
Show Hide To Delete a Layer:
- Click a layer in the layers panel (the layer must be unlocked to delete it).
- Do one of the following:
- Choose Layer > Delete Layer… from the main menu.
- Right-click the layer and choose 'Delete Layer…' from the contextual menu.
A dialog appears indicating the number of objects contained on the layer with a confirmation required to delete the layer.
Show Hide To Convert the Content of a Selection into a New Layer:
- Make a selection of object(s) in your drawing.
- Do one of the following:
- Choose Layer > Move To > New Layer from the main menu.
- Copy and Paste the selection to a new layer that has been added.
- Cut and Paste the selection to a new layer that has been added.
Show Hide To Move the Content of a Selection Among Layers:
- Make a selection of object(s) in your drawing.
- Do one of the following:
- Choose Layer > Move To > … choose from the list of existing layers from the main menu. Note, the move-to layer must be visible and unlocked to accept the objects.
- Copy and Paste the selection to a different layer.
- Cut and Paste the selection to a different layer.
Show Hide To Enable Auto-Activate Clicked Layer
By default, Artboard layers are discrete, similar to layers of transparent mylar – select one layer at a time to work with the objects contained within that layer. A preference enables auto-activating a layer when ever an object contained within that layer is clicked.
- Open Artboard > Preferences… Options pane.
- Check 'Auto-activate Clicked Layer'.
- With the Select [s] tool, click on an object in your drawing. As needed, the layer containing the object is activated dynamically.