Adobe Illustrator boasts a plethora of tools and features that equip you with the ability to produce stunning and impactful designs. One such tool is the option to group objects together. This allows for seamless movement, transformation, and application of effects to multiple objects as if they were one. If you’re unfamiliar with Adobe Illustrator or need a quick reminder, this guide will walk you through the steps of grouping objects in the program.
Step One: Select Your Objects
The first thing you need to do is select the objects you want to group together. You can do this by clicking on each object while holding down the Shift key. Alternatively, you can use the Selection Tool (V) to click and drag a selection box around the objects.
Step Two: Group Your Objects
Once your objects are selected, go to the top menu and click on Object > Group. Or, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+G (Windows) or Command+G (Mac).
Select Menu > Object > Group Or Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl + G (Win), Command + G (Mac)
After using either method, your objects will now be grouped together, and you can treat them as a single entity. If you want to edit one of the individual objects within the group, you can use the Direct Selection Tool (A) or double click on the group to enter Isolation Mode.
Step Three: Ungroup Your Objects
If you change your mind and want to ungroup your objects, the process is just as simple. All you need to do is select the group, go to the top menu and click on Object > Ungroup. Or, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+G (Windows) or Shift+Command+G (Mac).
Select Menu > Object > Ungroup Or Keyboard Shortcut: Shift + Ctrl + G (Win), Shift + Command + G (Mac)
Now, your objects will be individual entities once more, and you can edit them separately.
Conclusion
Grouping in Adobe Illustrator is a powerful feature that can simplify your design process, especially when working with complex compositions. By mastering grouping and ungrouping, you’ll be able to manipulate multiple objects simultaneously and streamline your workflow. Happy designing!