How to Merge Layers in Illustrator

Merge in just a few clicks!
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
1 minute

If you’ve got multiple layers to manage in Adobe Illustrator, you may want to combine a few. Merging layers in Illustrator is similar to the process used in Photoshop but with tools placed in slightly different locations.

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1

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Select Layers IllustratorSelect Layers Illustrator

Identify which layers you want to merge and select them from the layer window. To choose multiple layers at once, hold Ctrl and left click on the layer you want to be merged.

Illustrator Settings MenuIllustrator Settings Menu

Right-clicking won’t open the options menu we need as it does in Photoshop. With Illustrator, instead, click on the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Layers window box.

Illustrator Merge LayersIllustrator Merge Layers

Choose Merge Selected from the list. Any selected layers will be combined into one.

If you want to undo merge, you have to act fast. The more actions you take like drawing lines, moving layers, etc will add to the edit history of your document. You can only undo recently made changes.

User Ctrl + Z to undo the merge.

There’s more than one way to draw a cat.
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
0

Drawing in Illustrator is a broad concept. There are so many tools available that you can use to create graphics, the best we can do is recommend a few basic ones to help you get started.

How to Merge Layers in Illustrator

Merge in just a few clicks!
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
1 minute

If you’ve got multiple layers to manage in Adobe Illustrator, you may want to combine a few. Merging layers in Illustrator is similar to the process used in Photoshop but with tools placed in slightly different locations.

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Select Layers IllustratorSelect Layers Illustrator

Identify which layers you want to merge and select them from the layer window. To choose multiple layers at once, hold Ctrl and left click on the layer you want to be merged.

Illustrator Settings MenuIllustrator Settings Menu

Right-clicking won’t open the options menu we need as it does in Photoshop. With Illustrator, instead, click on the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Layers window box.

Illustrator Merge LayersIllustrator Merge Layers

Choose Merge Selected from the list. Any selected layers will be combined into one.

If you want to undo merge, you have to act fast. The more actions you take like drawing lines, moving layers, etc will add to the edit history of your document. You can only undo recently made changes.

User Ctrl + Z to undo the merge.

There’s more than one way to draw a cat.
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
0

Drawing in Illustrator is a broad concept. There are so many tools available that you can use to create graphics, the best we can do is recommend a few basic ones to help you get started.

 
1

How to Merge Layers in Illustrator

Merge in just a few clicks!
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
1 minute

If you’ve got multiple layers to manage in Adobe Illustrator, you may want to combine a few. Merging layers in Illustrator is similar to the process used in Photoshop but with tools placed in slightly different locations.

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Select Layers IllustratorSelect Layers Illustrator

Identify which layers you want to merge and select them from the layer window. To choose multiple layers at once, hold Ctrl and left click on the layer you want to be merged.

Illustrator Settings MenuIllustrator Settings Menu

Right-clicking won’t open the options menu we need as it does in Photoshop. With Illustrator, instead, click on the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Layers window box.

Illustrator Merge LayersIllustrator Merge Layers

Choose Merge Selected from the list. Any selected layers will be combined into one.

If you want to undo merge, you have to act fast. The more actions you take like drawing lines, moving layers, etc will add to the edit history of your document. You can only undo recently made changes.

User Ctrl + Z to undo the merge.

There’s more than one way to draw a cat.
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
0

Drawing in Illustrator is a broad concept. There are so many tools available that you can use to create graphics, the best we can do is recommend a few basic ones to help you get started.

How to Merge Layers in Illustrator

Merge in just a few clicks!
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
1 minute

If you’ve got multiple layers to manage in Adobe Illustrator, you may want to combine a few. Merging layers in Illustrator is similar to the process used in Photoshop but with tools placed in slightly different locations.

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

How to Merge Layers in Illustrator

Merge in just a few clicks!
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
1 minute
Ash
 
1
Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator ×1
Adobe Illustrator
Table of Contents

Steps to Merge Layers in Illustrator:

  1. Select the layers to be merged
  2. Open the settings menu
  3. Merge selected
  4. Undoing a merge
 
1
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Select Layers IllustratorSelect Layers Illustrator

Identify which layers you want to merge and select them from the layer window. To choose multiple layers at once, hold Ctrl and left click on the layer you want to be merged.

Illustrator Settings MenuIllustrator Settings Menu

Right-clicking won’t open the options menu we need as it does in Photoshop. With Illustrator, instead, click on the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Layers window box.

Illustrator Merge LayersIllustrator Merge Layers

Choose Merge Selected from the list. Any selected layers will be combined into one.

If you want to undo merge, you have to act fast. The more actions you take like drawing lines, moving layers, etc will add to the edit history of your document. You can only undo recently made changes.

User Ctrl + Z to undo the merge.

There’s more than one way to draw a cat.
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
0

Drawing in Illustrator is a broad concept. There are so many tools available that you can use to create graphics, the best we can do is recommend a few basic ones to help you get started.

Select Layers IllustratorSelect Layers Illustrator

Identify which layers you want to merge and select them from the layer window. To choose multiple layers at once, hold Ctrl and left click on the layer you want to be merged.

Select Layers IllustratorSelect Layers Illustrator

Identify which layers you want to merge and select them from the layer window. To choose multiple layers at once, hold Ctrl and left click on the layer you want to be merged.

Select the layers to be merged

Illustrator Settings MenuIllustrator Settings Menu

Right-clicking won’t open the options menu we need as it does in Photoshop. With Illustrator, instead, click on the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Layers window box.

Illustrator Settings MenuIllustrator Settings Menu

Right-clicking won’t open the options menu we need as it does in Photoshop. With Illustrator, instead, click on the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Layers window box.

Open the settings menu

Illustrator Merge LayersIllustrator Merge Layers

Choose Merge Selected from the list. Any selected layers will be combined into one.

Illustrator Merge LayersIllustrator Merge Layers

Choose Merge Selected from the list. Any selected layers will be combined into one.

Merge selected

If you want to undo merge, you have to act fast. The more actions you take like drawing lines, moving layers, etc will add to the edit history of your document. You can only undo recently made changes.

User Ctrl + Z to undo the merge.

If you want to undo merge, you have to act fast. The more actions you take like drawing lines, moving layers, etc will add to the edit history of your document. You can only undo recently made changes.

User Ctrl + Z to undo the merge.

Undoing a merge

Illustrator Basics
Drawing BasicsVectorize an ImageAdobe Illustrator Transparent BackgroundAdobe Illustrator Add An ArtboardMake a Dotted Line in IllustratorTrace an Image in IllustratorCurve Text in Adobe IllustratorMake a Pattern in IllustratorMake a Triangle in IllustratorCrop an Image with IllustratorEmbedding an Image in Adobe IllustratorDraw in Adobe IllustratorMerge Layers in IllustratorVectorize Image Illustrator
There’s more than one way to draw a cat.
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
0

Drawing in Illustrator is a broad concept. There are so many tools available that you can use to create graphics, the best we can do is recommend a few basic ones to help you get started.

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How to Draw in Adobe Illustrator
There’s more than one way to draw a cat.
Ash Ash (323)
Dec 28, 2020
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Let’s straighten this process out.
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Turn your sketches into clean line art!
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