: Turning traced and expanded image back to single layered image in Illustrator How do I turn a traced and expanded image back to a single layered image? I'm new to Ai.

@Samaraweera207

The merge function in in pathfinder can sometimes crate some weird results and doesn't always work for what you want it to do. From what you are describing, the Shape Builder tool would be your best bet. Here is a tutorial from Adobe on how to use it: helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/creating-shapes-shape-builder-tool.html

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@Caterina889

The Layers Panel in Illustrator is fundamentally different than the layers panel in Photoshop. Illustrator's layers panels is actually a "layers and objects panel" which not only shows layers, but shows the objects on that layer. So, within Illustrator there's no such thing as "one layer" if your document has more than one object. Seeing multiple objects in the Layers Panel inside Illustrator is just how the application works and is not an inherent issue. It's the difference between layers in a vector application as opposed to pixel layers in a raster application.

If seeing object levels really bothers you, you can change what the Layers Panel shows by choosing Panel Options from the Layers Panel Menu and ticking the Show Layers Only option.



This will stop showing you objects and groups and only show layers and sublayers. This does not change the artwork or how it is constructed, only what is visible in the Layers Panel.

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@Si6392903

If you're asking how to get elements from many layers onto one layer, simply Select > All, Group, then copy/paste to a new layer. This will keep your original art on their respective layers, and put a copy of all art grouped together on its own layer (which you can then Ungroup and edit).

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