Adobe Illustrator CS3 - Manual (Page 223)

ILLUSTRATOR CS3
User Guide
217
Change the stacking order using the Layers panel
The stacking order of objects corresponds to the hierarchy of items in the Layers panel. Artwork at the top of the
Layers panel is at the front of the stacking order, while artwork at the bottom of the Layers panel is at the back of the
stacking order. Within a layer, objects are also stacked hierarchically. By creating multiple layers in your artwork, you
can control how overlapping objects are displayed.
❖ Do any of the following:
• Drag the item’s name and release the mouse button when black insertion marks appear in the desired position.
Black insertion marks appear either between two other items in the panel or on the left and right edges of a layer
or group. Items that are released over a layer or group are moved above all other objects in the item.
• Click in the item’s selection column (between the target button and the scroll bar), drag the selection color box to
a different item’s selection color box, and release the mouse button. If the item’s selection color box is dragged to
an object, the item is moved above the object; if it’s dragged to a layer or group, the item is moved above all other
objects in the layer or group.
• To reverse the order of items in the Layers panel, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) and click the
names of the items whose order you want to reverse. The items must be at the same level in the layer hierarchy.
For example, you can select two top-level layers, but you cannot select two paths that are in different layers. Then
select Reverse Order from the Layers panel menu.
Note: You cannot move a path, group, or collective element to the top position in the Layers panel—only layers can reside
at the top of the layer hierarchy.
See also
“Layers panel overview” on page 211
Change the stacking order using commands
❖ Do any of the following:
• To move an object to the top or bottom position in its group or layer, select the object you want to move and choose
Object > Arrange > Bring To Front or Object > Arrange > Send To Back.
• To move an object by one object to the front or one object to the back of a stack, select the object you want to move,
and choose Object > Arrange > Bring Forward or Object > Arrange > Send Backward.
Duplicating objects
Duplicate objects by dragging
1 Select one or more objects.
2 Select the Selection, Direct Selection, or Group Selection.
3 Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the selection (but not a handle on the bounding box).
Duplicate objects by using the Layers panel
You can quickly duplicate objects, groups, and entire layers by using the Layers panel.
1 Select the items you want to duplicate in the Layers panel.