• work with the layers panel.c08_ill_cs4.indd 237 10/14/08 7:33:58 pm next you’ll change the...

8 WORKING WITH LAYERS

Lesson overviewIn this lesson, you’ll learn how to do the following:

Work with the Layers panel.•

Create, rearrange, and lock layers, nested layers, and groups.•

Move objects between layers.•

Paste layers of objects from one fi le into another.•

Merge layers into a single layer.•

Apply a drop shadow to a layer. •

Make a layer clipping mask.•

Apply an appearance attribute to objects and layers.•

Isolate content in a layer.•

Th is lesson will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. If needed, remove the previous lesson folder from your hard disk and copy the Lesson08 folder onto it.

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Layers let you organize your work into distinct levels that can be edited and viewed individually or together. Every Illustrator document has at least one layer. Creating multiple layers in your artwork lets you easily control how artwork is printed, displayed,and edited.

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Getting startedIn this lesson, you’ll fi nish the artwork of a wall clock as you explore the various ways to use the Layers panel.

To ensure that the tools and panels function as described in this lesson, delete 1 or deactivate (by renaming) the Adobe Illustrator CS4 preferences fi le. See “Restoring default preferences” on page 3.

Start Adobe Illustrator CS4.2

� Note: If you have not already copied the resource fi les for this lesson onto your hard disk from the Lesson08 folder on the Adobe Illustrator CS4 Classroom in a Book CD, do so now. See “Copying the Classroom in a Book fi les” on page 2.

Choose File > Open, and open the L8end.ai fi le in 3 the Lesson08 folder, located in the Lessons folder on your hard disk.

Separate layers are used for the objects that make up the clock’s frame, face, hands, and numbers, as indi-cated by the layer names listed in the Layers panel. Below you can see the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and descriptions of the icons.

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Choose View > Fit Artboard In Window. If you like, you can leave the fi le open 4 as a visual reference. Otherwise, choose File > Close.

To begin working, you’ll open an existing art fi le that is incomplete.

Choose File > Open, and open the L8start.ai fi le in the Lesson08 folder, located 5 in the Lessons folder on your hard disk.

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� Note: If the Layers panel in your workspace does not look exactly like the fi gure below, that’s okay. At this point, you just need to familiarize yourself with the panel.

A. Visibility column

B. Layer color

C. Layers panel menu

D. Current layer indicator

E. Selection column

F. Target column

G. Template layer icon

H. Edit column (lock/unlock)

I. Expand/collapse triangle

J. Make/Release Clipping Mask

K. Create New Sublayer

L. Create New Layer

M. Delete Selection


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Choose File > Save As, name the fi le clock.ai, and select the Lesson08 folder. 6 Leave the Save As Type option set to Adobe Illustrator (*.AI) (Windows) or the Format option set to Adobe Illustrator (ai) (Mac OS), and click Save. In the Illustrator Options dialog box, leave the Illustrator options at their default settings, and click OK.

About layersWhen creating complex artwork, it’s a challenge to keep track of all the items in your document window. Small items get hidden under larger items, and selecting artwork becomes diffi cult. Layers provide a way to manage all the items that make up your artwork. Think of layers as clear folders that contain artwork. If you reshuffl e the folders, you change the stacking order of the items in your artwork. You can move items between folders and create subfolders within folders.

The structure of layers in your document can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. By default, all items are organized in a single parent layer. However, you can create new layers and move items into them, or move elements from one layer to another at any time. The Layers panel provides an easy way to select, hide, lock, and change the appearance attributes of artwork.

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Example of composite art and how layers break out individually.

Creating layers By default, every document begins with one layer. You can rename and add layers at any time as you create artwork. Placing objects on separate layers lets you easily select and edit them. For example, by placing type on a separate layer, you can change the type all at once without aff ecting the rest of the artwork.


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Next you’ll change the default layer name, and then create a layer and a sublayer.

If the Layers panel isn’t visible, click the Layers panel icon (1 ) on the right side of the workspace, or choose Window > Layers.

Layer 1 (the default name for the fi rst layer) is highlighted, indicating that it is active. Th e layer also has a triangle ( ) in the upper right corner, indicating that objects on the layer can be edited.

In the Layers panel, double-click the layer name to open the Layer Options 2 dialog box. Type Clock in the Name text fi eld, and then click OK.

Now you’ll create a layer for the clock face elements and a sublayer for the clock numbers. Sublayers help you organize content within a layer.

Click the Create New Layer button (3 ) at the bottom of the Layers panel, or choose New Layer from the Layers panel menu ( ).

Double-click Layer 2. In the Layer Options dialog 4 box, change the name to Face, make sure red is chosen in the Color menu, and click OK.

Th e new Face layer is added above the Clock layer and becomes active.

Click the layer named Clock once and then5 Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Create New Sublayer button ( ) at the bottom of the Layers panel to create a new sublayer. Th e Layer Options dialog box appears. Creating a new sublayer opens the layer to show existing sublayers.

A sublayer is a layer within another layer. Sublayers are used to organize content within a layer without grouping or ungrouping content.

� Note: To create a new sublayer without setting options or naming the sublayer, click the Create New Sublayer button without using Alt or Option. Layers and sublayers that aren’t named are numbered in sequence, for example, Layer 2.

Alt-click or Option-click to create a sublayer.


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In the Layer Options dialog box, change the name to 6 Numbers, and click OK. Th e new sublayer appears directly beneath its main layer, Clock, and is selected.

Layers and colorBy default, Illustrator assigns a unique color (up to nine colors) to each layer in the Layers panel. The color displays next to the layer name in the panel. The same color displays in the illustration window in the bounding box, path, anchor points, and center point of a selected object.

You can use this color to quickly locate an object’s corresponding layer in the Layers panel, and you can change the layer color to suit your needs.


Each layer and sublayer can have a unique color.

Moving objects and layersBy rearranging the layers in the Layers panel, you can reorder layered objects in your artwork. You can also move selected objects from one layer or sublayer to another. Layers higher in the Layers panel list are in front of objects on the artboard that are in layers lower in the list. First you’ll move the clock numbers into theirown sublayer.

In the Layers panel, click and drag the row for the 1 11 object and drag it onto the Numbers sublayer. Release the mouse button when you see the large black triangles at either end of the Numbers sublayer. Th e large triangles indicate that you are adding something to that layer. Notice the arrow that appears to the left of the Numbers sublayer after releasing the mouse button. Th is indicates that the sublayer has content.


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2 Click the triangle to the left of the Numbers sublayer thumbnail to open the sublayer and see its contents.

Repeat step 1 for each of the remaining numbers in 3 the Layers panel. Th is better organizes the Layers panel and makes it easier to fi nd content later.

4 Click the triangle to the left of the Numbers sublayer to hide its contents. Hiding layer and/or sublayer contents makes the Layers panel easier to work with.

Choose File > Save.5

Now you’ll move the clock face to the Face layer, to which you’ll later add the map, hands, and brand name of the clock. You’ll also rename the Clock layer to refl ect the new organization of the artwork.

In the artwork, with the Selection tool (6 ), click behind the numbers to select the clock face. In the Layers panel, an object named <Path> becomes active, as indicated by the selected-art indicator ( ) to the right of the top <Path> layer.

Click and drag the selected-art indicator (7 ) on the <Path> sublayer in the Layers panel up to the right of the target icon ( ) on the Face layer.

Th is action moves the <Path> object to the Face layer. Th e color of the selection lines in the artwork changes to the color of the Face layer, which is red in this case.

Because the Face layer is on top of the Clock layer and the Numbers sublayer, the clock numbers are covered. Next you’ll move the Numbers sublayer into a diff erent layer and rename the Clock layer.

Choose Select > Deselect.8

In the Layers panel, drag the Numbers sublayer into 9 the Face layer. Release the mouse button when you see the indicator bar with large black triangles at either end of the Face layer in the Layers panel.

Now you can see the numbers again because they are on the top (Face) layer.

� � Tip: Keeping layers and sublayers closed can make it easier to navigate content in the Layers panel.

� � Tip: To select multiple layers or sublayers quickly, select a layer and then Shift-click additional layers.

Selected-art indicator showing that <Path> is selected.


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Double-click the Clock layer to display the Layer 10 Options dialog box. Change the layer name to Frame, and then click OK.


Locking layersAs you edit objects on a layer, use the Layers panel to lock other layers and prevent selecting or changing the rest of the artwork.

Now you’ll lock all of the layers except the Numbers sublayer so that you can easily edit the clock numbers without aff ecting objects on other layers. Locked layers can-not be selected or edited in any way.

Click the triangle to the left of the Frame layer to collapse the layer view.1

Select the edit column to the right of the eye icon on the Frame layer to lock the 2 layer. Th e lock icon ( ) indicates that a layer and all its content are locked.

Repeat the previous step for the <Path> sublayer 3 below the Numbers sublayer.

You can unlock individual layers by deselecting the lock icon ( ). Clicking again in the edit column relocks the layer. Pressing Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you click in the edit column alternately locks and unlocks all other layers.

Now you’ll change the type size and font of the numbers.

Click the Selection column to the right of the 4 Numbers sublayer in the Layers panel to select all the content on that layer.

Th e Numbers sublayer now has a large green square, indicating that everything on that sublayer is selected. On the artboard, you can see that the numbers are selected as well.

Next you will change the font, font style, and font size for the selected numbers.


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In the Control panel, choose Myriad Pro from the 5 Font menu, Semibold from Font Style menu, and type 28 in the Font Size fi eld.

� Note: Myriad Pro is an OpenType font that is included with Illustrator CS4.

Use the Color panel (6 ) if you want to change the color of the selected numbers.

In the Layers panel, deselect the lock icons (7 ) next to the <Path> and Frame layers to unlock them.



Viewing layersTh e Layers panel lets you hide layers, sublayers, or individual objects from view. When a layer is hidden, the content on the layer is also locked and cannot be selected or printed. You can also use the Layers panel to display layers or objects individually in either preview or outline mode.

Now you’ll edit the frame on the clock, using a painting technique to create a three-dimensional eff ect on the frame.

1 In the Layers panel, click the Frame layer to select it, and then Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the eye icon ( ) to the left of the Frame layer name to hide the other layers.

Alt-click or Option-click the eye icon to deselect visibility for all other layers.

Using the Selection tool (2 ), on the artboard, click the inside circle of the frame to select it. Th en Shift-click the next largest circle to add it to the selection.

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With the Numbers layer selected, you can change the font, font style, and font size of the numbers.

� � Tip: Alt-clicking or Option-clicking the layer eye icon alternately hides and shows a layer. Hiding layers prevents them from being changed.


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With the two circles selected, click Fill color in the Control panel, and then 3 select the clock.frame swatch in the Swatches panel that appears to paint the circles with a custom gradient.

Shift-click the largest circle to deselect it. Th e inside circle remains selected.4

5 Select the Gradient tool ( ) in the Tools panel. Drag the tool in a vertical line from below the top of the circle straight down to the bottom to change the direction of the gradient. Release the mouse button.

Th e Gradient tool works only on selected objects that are fi lled with gradients. To learn more about the Gradient tool, see Lesson 9, “Blending Shapes and Colors.”

Choose Select > Deselect, and then File > Save. Try selecting the larger circle and 6 changing the direction of the gradient with the Gradient tool.

In the Layers panel, choose Show All Layers from 7 the panel menu ( ).

As you edit objects in layered artwork, you can display individual layers in outline mode, keeping the other lay-ers in preview mode.

� Note: When you fi rst select the Gradient tool, a horizontal line appears in the selected circle. This is the default direction of the gradient fi ll.

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Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) the eye icon (8 ) next to the Face layer to switch to outline mode for that layer.

Th is action lets you see the gradient-fi lled circle behind the clock face. Displaying a layer in outline mode is also useful for viewing the anchor points or center points on objects without selecting them.

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Ctrl-click/Command-click the eye icon to enter outline mode.

Control-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac 9 OS) the eye icon ( ) next to the Face layer to return to preview mode for that layer. Choose Select > Deselect.

Pasting layersTo complete the clock, you’ll copy and paste the fi nish-ing pieces of artwork from another fi le. You can paste a layered fi le into another fi le and keep the layers intact.

Choose File > Open, and open the Details.ai fi le, 1 located in the Lesson08 folder in the Lessons folder on your hard disk.

To see how the objects in each layer are organized, 2 Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the eye icons in the Layers panel to alternately display each layer and hide the others. You can also click the triangles ( ) to the left of the layer names to expand and collapse the layers for further inspection. When you’re fi nished, make sure that all the layers are showing and that they are collapsed.

Choose Select > All, and then Edit > Copy to select and copy the clock details to 3 the clipboard.

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Choose File > Close. If a warning dialog box appears, click No (Windows) or 4 Don’t Save (Mac OS) to close the Details.ai fi le without saving any changes.

In the clock.ai fi le, choose Paste Remembers Layers from the Layers panel menu 5 ( ). A check mark next to the option indicates that it’s selected.

Selecting the Paste Remembers Layers option indicates that when multiple layers from another fi le are pasted into the artwork, they’re added as individual layers in the Layers panel. If the option is not selected, all objects are pasted into the active layer.

Choose Edit > Paste In Front to paste the details into 6 the clock. Choose Select > Deselect.

Th e Paste In Front command pastes the objects from the clipboard to a position relative to the original position in the Details.ai fi le. Th e Paste Remembers Layers option causes the Details.ai layers to be pasted as four separate layers at the top of the Layers panel (Highlight, Hands, Brand, Map).

Now you will reposition some of the layers.

7 Close any open layers by toggling the arrow to the left of the layer names. Move the Frame layer above the Highlight layer, and then the Face layer above the Frame layer. If necessary, drag the bottom of the Layers panel down to reveal all the layers.

Release the mouse button when the indicator bar with black triangles extends the full column width above the Frame and Highlight layers. (You want to create a separate layer, not a sublayer.) If any content is still selected on the artboard, chooseSelect > Deselect.

Now you’ll move the Hands and Brand layers into the Face layer, and the Highlight layer in front of the Frame layer.

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� � Tip: As you drag layers in the Layers panel, the panel scrolls up or down for you.

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In the Layers panel, select the Highlight layer, and drag it up between the Face 8 and Frame layers.

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Click the arrow to the left of the Face layer to show the sublayers.9

Click the Hands layer, and Shift-click the Brand layer.10

Drag the selected layers up between the Numbers and <Path> sublayers. When 11 the insertion bar appears between those sublayers, release the mouse button to make the Hands and Brand layers sublayers of the Face layer.

� Note: You may want to resize the Layers panel by clicking and dragging the bottom of the Layers panel down so it is easier to see the layers.

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Creating clipping masksTh e Layers panel lets you create clipping masks to control whether artwork on a layer (or in a group) is hidden or revealed. A clipping mask is an object or group of objects whose shape masks artwork below it so that only artwork within the shapeis visible.

Now you’ll create a clipping mask with the circle shape in the Face layer. You’ll group it with the Map sublayer so that only the map shows through the circle shape.

Drag the bottom of the Layers panel down to reveal all the layers.1

In the Layers panel, drag the Map layer up until the double lines of the insertion 2 bar are highlighted above the <Path> sublayer within the Face layer. Release the mouse button when the indicator bar appears.

In the Layers panel, a masking object must be above the objects it masks. Because you want to mask only the map, you’ll copy the circular <Path> object to the top of the Map sublayer before you create the clipping mask.

Click the selection column in the Layers panel to the right of the <Path> 3 sublayer. Notice that the path is selected on the artboard.

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and click and drag the selected-4 art indicator ( ) on the <Path> sublayer straight up to the right of the target icon ( ) on the Map sublayer.

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Click the triangle (5 ) to the left of the Map sublayer in the Layers panel to expand the layer view.


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Make sure that the <Path> sublayer is at the top of the Map sublayer, moving it if 6 necessary. (Clipping masks must be the fi rst object in a layer or group.)


� Note: Deselecting is not necessary to complete the next steps, but it can be helpful for viewing the artwork.

Select the Map sublayer to highlight it in the Layers panel.8

9 Click the Make/Release Clipping Mask button ( ) at the bottom of the Layers panel. Notice that all the sublayer dividing lines are now dotted and the fi rst path name has changed to <Clipping Path>. Th e clipping path name is also underlined to indicate that it is the masking shape. On the artboard, the <Path> sublayer has clipped the parts of the map that extended outside of the clock face.

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Click the triangle next to the Map sublayer name to collapse the layers in the 10 Layers panel.


Merging layersTo streamline your artwork, you can merge layers. Merging layers combines the contents of all selected layers into one layer.

Click the Numbers sublayer in the Layers panel to 1 highlight it, and then Shift-click to highlight the Hands sublayer.

Notice the current layer indicator ( ) shows the last highlighted layer as the active layer. Th e last layer you select determines the name and color of themerged layer.

� Note: You may not be able to see the entire name <Clipping Path> in the Layers panel.

� Note: Layers can only merge with other layers that are on the same hierarchical level in the Layers panel. Likewise, sublayers can only merge with other sublayers that are in the same layer and at the same hierarchical level. Objects can’t be merged withother objects.

Shift-click to select the Numbers and Hands sublayers.


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Choose Merge Selected from the Layers panel menu 2 ( ) to merge the Numbers sublayer into theHands sublayer.

Th e objects on the merged layers retain their original stacking order, and are added above the objects in the destination layer.

Now click the Highlight layer to select it, and then Shift-click the Frame layer. 3

Choose Merge Selected from the Layers panel menu (4 ) to merge the objects from the Highlight layer into the Frame layer.


To consolidate layers and groupsMerging and fl attening layers are similar in that they both let you consolidate objects, groups, and sublayers into a single layer or group. With merging, you can select which items you want to consolidate; with fl attening, all visible items in the artwork are consolidated in a single layer. With either option, the stacking order of the artwork remains the same, but other layer-level attributes, such as clipping masks, aren’t preserved.

To fl atten layers, click the name of the layer into which you want to consolidate • the artwork. Then select Flatten Artwork from the Layers panel menu.



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• work with the layers panel.c08_ill_cs4.indd 237 10/14/08 7:33:58 pm next you’ll change the...

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