Skip to main content
Inspiring
January 4, 2017
Answered

Change layer color in Illustrator CC 2017

  • January 4, 2017
  • 5 replies
  • 59349 views

This seems like a dumb question, BUT, When I double click the layer, the Options box comes up and there is no color change option for the layer, just "Change Name", "Lock" and "Show".

Is this a bug or did the color option move?  I am on a 2013 Mac Pro running El Capitan 10.11.6 and the latest version of CC.

Thanks, Chris

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Jeff Witchel, ACI

The only time you can change the Layer Color is when it involves a Layer or Sublayer. If you double-click on a Group or object, the Color Option is not available.

If you really need to change the color, select the Group and under the Options menu of the Layers panel, choose "Collect in New Layer."

5 replies

Participant
July 4, 2018

To access the layer options, double-click on the layer preview window on the left of the layer name in the layers panel.

HakeemTarek89
Participant
May 11, 2018

try this

Jeff Witchel, ACI
Community Expert
Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 4, 2017

The only time you can change the Layer Color is when it involves a Layer or Sublayer. If you double-click on a Group or object, the Color Option is not available.

If you really need to change the color, select the Group and under the Options menu of the Layers panel, choose "Collect in New Layer."

schroef
Inspiring
January 10, 2020

Well it depends if that sublayers ia actually a layers. If you rename objects or groups. There is hardly now way to tell if its a layer or an object. Not quite intuitive i think. You can distuingish them by the smal triangle in the top corner. But that means you manually need to go over and select items one by one for sub-layers. Thats BS!!! Why dont layers use icons like Photoshop has for items. Sometimes feels so weird how different apps UI design are between Adobe applications. Team should work work together better, still after all these years.

 

Working with layers is a bit tedious, photoshop has way more method to control layers. Though illustrator also has powerful functions. The things i really miss is; unfold, fold, move and select layers by using shortcuts.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2017

You can only change the color of layers and sublayers, but not of items on those layers.

Inspiring
January 4, 2017

I am trying to change what I think are sub-layers, the top set of layers labeled A through H.  When I double click "Layer 1" I  get the color option but not on the A-H layers.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2017

Are these groups?

Doug A Roberts
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2017

you don't see this? can you screenshot it?

Inspiring
January 4, 2017

Here is the screen capture. 

Inspiring
January 4, 2017

I feel like there is a menu with display options that are unchecked but I can't find one.