How to Copy in Adobe Illustrator

In this post, I will show you, How to Copy in Adobe Illustrator. There are many methods you can use to do this. Mastering the different methods will help you create designs or prepare artwork with ease.

This article will explain different techniques you can use to duplicate shapes, elements, artboards, and layers when working. You can either use shortcut keys or your Mouse to do it.

Before we start, make sure your Layer Panel is open. If not go to Window> Layer on the top navigation.

How to Copy and Paste Using Your Mouse

If you are copying elements, you first need to have them on your artboard.

Step 1: Go to Window>New to create an artboard

Step 2: Go to the type tool or Shape tool to create a shape 

Step 3: Hold the text or shape, drag it, and press the Alt key while dragging. You’ll notice the cursor changes to two arrows, indicating the object is being copied.

Copy Pasting elements Using the top menu

Alternatively, you can use your Illustrator navigation menu. After creating the artboard and text or shape element follow the below steps.

Step 1: Select the element you want to duplicate.

Step 2: Go to Edit>Copy or Control+C

Step 3: Go to Edit>Paste, Paste in front,  Paste in Back or Paste in place

Copying in Front or Behind an Object

You can use the below shortcuts to paste respectively.

• Paste – Control+V
• Paste in front – Control+F
• Paste in Back – Control+B
• Paste in place – Shift+Control+F

How to Duplicate Artboards in Illustrator

As you set up your project, you can create multiple artboards on the start menu window.

To duplicate an artboard, click Shift+O to select the current artboard. A selection appears around the page. Click ALT and drag to duplicate the artboard. 

If you click and drag at the edge of the artboard, you can drag to scale the size of the artboard.

Alternatively, you can go to Window>Artboards to bring up the Artboard panel. Click the 3 lines on the top right of the panel for options then choose a duplicate artboard. Your artboard will be duplicated.

You can use this panel to organize your artboards in case you have too many.

How to Copy Layers in Illustrator

Creating Multiple layers will help you organize your work. There are two ways you can create multiple layers. First of all, go to Windows>Layers to open the layers panel. Select the layer you want to duplicate. Click the 3 lines on the menu and choose a duplicate layer. Your layer and any elements on it are duplicated.

Alternatively, You can select the layer you want to duplicate and then drag it to the Create New layer icon at the bottom when holding ALT. Your layer will be duplicated.

Copy Object in a Straight Line

To duplicate an element in a straight line, make sure to Click your Mouse and Drag as you hold the Alt + Shift keys. For MAC users, make sure to click the Command Key instead of Control and Option instead of Alt. For example, you will click  Control+V on a PC keyboard and Command+V on a MAC keyboard.

Related Posts: How to use Illustrator

How to merge layers in Illustrator

There are several differences between the grouping and merging of layers. When you merge layers, you join all elements in a layer with all elements in another layer to form one layer.

Once you form a layer, going back to separate the layers is not easy.

Grouping, on the other hand, refers to combining different elements even in different layers to be in one group. Once you group layers, going back and separating them is easy. You just need to select the group and ungroup.

To merge 2 layers into one, click on one layer, hold shift, and click on the other to select both layers that you want to merge. From the layers, panel click the top right corner and choose merge-selected. Once you do this, your layers are merged into one.

Both elements in layers 1 and 2 are joined to one layer.

1. Go to the window then Group to open the layers panel
2. Select the layer you want to merge
3. Hold down the control and click on the other layer
4. Choose Merge selected from the Layers Panel

How to unmerge layers in Illustrator

To unmerge layers, you can choose the elements you want to be on a different layer. Click cut or control + x to create a new layer then control + f to paste in the second layer. Alternatively, you can select the hidden menu on the layers panel. Choose the options and select release layers.

Grouping in Adobe Illustrator

In Adobe Illustrator, it is impossible to group layers into one. However, you can group elements in different layers to form one group.

To group elements in different layers, just select elements in one layer, then hold down shift and select the elements on the other layer. You will notice the highlights are in different colors to show different layer objects.

1. Select the object you want to group
2. Hold down Shift then select the other elements
3. Go to Object>Group or Control+G shortcut on PC nad Command+G on MAC.
4. Elements are Grouped

To move a group of elements from one layer to another, select and click Control + X to cut the elements. Create a new layer the Control + V or Control + F to paste on the new layer.

Conclusion

You now know how to merge layers and the difference between grouping and merging. Although they sound similar, it is clear that they are quite different procedures especially if you intend to edit the artwork in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions