Illustrator Weird Object Selection! What's going on?

[Ian Renshaw]

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

[tromboniator · Accepted solution]

The first thing to try is to go to the Align panel and click on the icon under Align To: and choose Align to Selection. If that does not correct the problem, I would suggest (as you haven't said which version of Illustrator you are using) that you should update Illustrator. This was part of a known problem that was recently fixed.

Peter

[ceyhun_akgun · Accepted solution]

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.

[Ian Renshaw]

Thank you everyone for the replies,

As illustrated by Ceyhun AKGUN this was the issue! I would never have found this without your help! What a daft feature I can't see any use for it but.. now I have my trusty Illustrator back running as I prefer it.

Again - huge thanks, much appreciated.

Ian

[John Mensinger]

"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.