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Layers palette: cannot tell the difference between layers and groups

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
June 29, 2017
5 replies
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Hi,

I have a small issue when working with the layers palette. In larger documents I typically rename some of my layers and groups. After renaming both my layers and groups look exactly the same in the layers palette. In my case the only way to tell the difference seems to be double clicking the layer or group name in order to open layer/group properties dialogue box.

What should I do in order to see the difference between layers and groups without double clicking?

I have tried various ways to modify my user interface preferences but unfortunately without luck. I hope that there would be a way to make the background color of text "Layer 1" and "<Group>" different.

BR Markku

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Monika Gause

That has been the case in all recent versions, but they took it away.

Please make a feature request:

Feature Request/Bug Report Form

ericc19576445

Known Participant

I, 1000% agree with this. Especially if you name layer, sublayers, and groups. They are indistinguishable and are a nightmare to navigate through on large files. Especially if you use Character Animator.

Attn: Adobe Product Managers!!! There are way too many UX flaws in Illustrator. For those of us who work in UX it's even more upsetting.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

This thread is 6 years old.

Please create a new one and show a screenshot of what you are referring to.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

Another discreet indicator is the black triangle at the top right corner of the layer items. Given that at least one object is selected on the artboard, only main layers and sub layers show the black triangle. Groups don't do that.

rcraighead

Legend

Very good point, Kurt. It seems obvious now. The only time that fails is if there is nothing in a layer since, by definition, groups cannot exist without content.

But there is still nothing to differentiate sublayers from groups, at a glance, other than the naming convention.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

I'm not quite sure if it is right to say that it fails. Of course, an empty layer does not allow you to select any object because there is precisely nothing inside it. You can only highlight (and target) it to show the black triangle indicator.

jane-e

Community Expert

ext-padawan wrote
What should I do in order to see the difference between layers and groups without double clicking?

I do two things:

Use my Appearance panel and
Name my Layers and Groups with the words Layer, Group, and Sublayer (Note that I did not do that here, and that I have a sublayer named Design and a Group named Design, which would cause confusion extraordinaire!)

Example 1: Artwork layer selected; Appearance panel indicates Layer

Example 2: Design sublayer selected; Appearance panel indicates Layer

Example 3: Design group selected; Appearance panel indicates Group

.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

But nothing beats this:

rcraighead

Legend

Related to this question; I notice a flaw in the way AI (CC 2015) updates Layer colors.

If I add a group to a layer then change the layer color, the group color-indicator remains the original color in the Layer Panel, even though the group elements reflect the new color on the Artboard. If additional objects are added to the layer they are properly color-coded in the Layers Panel.