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joel prestonsmith
joel prestonsmith
Known Participant
May 31, 2020
Answered

How to keep Illustrator from switching layers?

  • May 31, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 2635 views

I'm creating a logo with about 10 graphic elements. I create a layer. I activate the "target" button. I create an object. 

 

Illustrator sends it to a different layer. Whether I'm creating text, or objects, the elements land on a layer I'm not working on. 

 

How do we ensure that the layer we're working on is where our work appears? 

 

Said in reverse: How do we keep Illustrator from telling itself, "I'm bored with this layer. I'll send your work somewhere more interesting." 

 

Thank you. 

Correct answer tromboniator

The target button is not the right choice for this purpose. It's for applying effects/appearances to all the objects that are in the layer, not for selecting the layer to add objects to it. Click to the right of the layer name to select the layer. In my example image I had Layer 2 selected when I created Layer 3, then targeted Layer 3 and drew the rectangle. So Layer 3 was targeted for appearance changes (e.g. through the Appearance panel), but Layer 2 was still selected, so that's where the rectangle went.

 

Peter

 

1 reply

tromboniator
Community Expert
tromboniatorCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 1, 2020

The target button is not the right choice for this purpose. It's for applying effects/appearances to all the objects that are in the layer, not for selecting the layer to add objects to it. Click to the right of the layer name to select the layer. In my example image I had Layer 2 selected when I created Layer 3, then targeted Layer 3 and drew the rectangle. So Layer 3 was targeted for appearance changes (e.g. through the Appearance panel), but Layer 2 was still selected, so that's where the rectangle went.

 

Peter

 

    joel prestonsmith
    joel prestonsmithAuthor
    Known Participant
    June 3, 2020

    Thank you, Trombinator. I appreciate your spelling it out so clearly. I've been following your advice for the last couple of days and haven't had any more problems. I'm grateful for the help. 

    tromboniator
    Community Expert
    tromboniatorCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 3, 2020

    You're welcome, Joel. I'm delighted that you found it useful.

     

    Peter

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