Illustrator Weird Object Selection! What's going on?

Question

I'm getting a very odd (and not useful) selection feature occurring. Perhaps I've hit a keystroke and ended up with some weird preference:

If I have more that one image selected, ONE of them will have an extra-thick selection border around it. This then means that this object becomes the item to which others in the layout are "pinned" for want of a better word. For example - if I try to align objects evenly I can't because they will gather underneath the extra-highlighted object. Please see the image I've included. Note how the red circle has this odd thing going on. I want to un-set this feature/bug but can't find a preference anywhere!

Thanks Ian

ceyhun_akgun · Accepted Answer

Key Object determination function is active in alignment operations.

In the Align Panel, the object-based selection must be marked.

It is a practical function to perform the alignment accordingly by making the key object by clicking on the one you want among all the selected objects.

John Mensinger · Answer

"This then means that this object becomes the item to which others in the layout are "pinned" for want of a better word." Yes, it's a native feature designating the "key" object. It is normally executed by an additional click on one of the already-selected objects. If it's working correctly, re-clicking on it should release it as the key object and leave it normal-selected. If you're getting a key object in every multi-selection, without applying the additional click to set it, you should try resetting preferences.

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