: Illustrator: All objects in same layer (or in sublayers) I need sometimes re-edit Illustrator files made by somebody else and i have noticed that all objects are in same layer and it's sublayers.

@BetL875

If I understand the question right, you mainly want to get pieces separated and organized.

If objects are in separate Sub-Layers, you can select each one you want in the pallet and choose Collect to New Layer and then drag that new Layer out on it's own, however, this does not help with objects within Groups.

For Grouped objects, I would just select each piece of text or whatever with the White Arrow tool, Cut, Create a New Layer, then Paste in Front (ctrl + F). — Seams to be the quickest way.

You could also use Select / Object / Text Objects to grab all type at once. Then Cut, make a New Layer, and Ctrl + F to paste in front.

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@XinRu324

Yes, having all illustrator objects/paths in the same layer (and not just grouped) can be necessary when you need to export an SVG-file for the web.

Example

I did this for a map with regions, where I needed all the small islands to be included in the exact same layer (and name). Otherwise the islands in that region would be read as it's own individual object/path.

Wrong



Correct



Solution


Select the different objects you want to be in the exact same layer/path.
Choose Object > Compund Path > Make (or cmd+8)
Done!


Hope this was useful! :)

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@Shelley591

Some designers just tend to design everything on a single layer and use "bring forward" and "send backward" functions instead of layering. It tends to be old school designers who've been working with vector pre-layers. It's def bad practice nowadays, but such is life when you're collaborating.

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@Phylliss782

Are you trying to say that text has been flattened onto the image or they are in the same layer/group?

The arrangement of layers is certainly a subjective thing. There is no functional concern outside of the special case of groups (which also relates to clipping masks).

Appearance settings (effects and the like) can also be applied at the group or layer level. When reorganizing things you have to watch for those little shaded circles in the layers panel.

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@Miguel516

First check if the objects are grouped than you can simply ungroup them, else you need to redraw.

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