How To Use Layers In Adobe Illustrator

[@nf3126]

Hi Mike! Thanks for this straight-to-the-point video. I've always been a bit clunky using layers (either I forget to separate or I have a hard time moving things around or identifying them). This video helped a lot. You made it look so easy! I also appreciate that you got right to it and didn't have a 7-minute intro about everything under the sun (so many KZbinrs do that and it's really tedious). Gonna go check out your process video now (from sketch to digital)...

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thanks for the amazing comment! Happy you like my format. Hope the process video was helpful. More content coming soon 🤘

[@abbeyv6806]

Thank you for making this video. Some of us just need to get by using AI (I'm not even close to being a graphic designer)- so we appreciate you making the seemingly "boring" videos. Helped me out a lot

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Happy to help with the boring stuff!

[@TalSh]

Great tip about the template option. I didn't know it hid the image when using outline mode. Thanks!

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thanks Tal! I just learned about that option a few weeks back. I had been using the Lock and Dim method but wanted to still see my sketch while doing some work in outline mode.

[@divinevex]

Thank you very much Mike for this kind tutorial. Greeting from Thailand.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

You are very welcome

[@elissaconoscente8054]

Hi there, great video. I'm still quite new and teaching myself as I go along in AI. Recently I was asked to provide the artwork for my bracelets on two layers. One with the bracelet shape and the other with the artwork. I'm not sure why they want this but then I also don't know if I should use 'add layer' or 'add sublayer' . How do I know what each of them does?

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Always love hearing that someone is teaching themselves, that's how I've learned everything I know! You may want to reach out to whoever is asking for this separation to find out their purpose for wanting the artwork on a different layer. Regarding which one to use, I would assume they need to have the shape on a separate layer for either cutting or printing purposes, possibly for alignment - I'm not sure on the process you're sending your artwork out for - if this is the case then you would want to use the New layer and not sublayer. Sub layers are best for grouping content together where you still want separation for example a large art piece that has multiple characters and background elements you would have a main layer for all of the outlines and then sublayers under each main layer for things like fills, shading, highlights, etc. I hope that helps!

[@elissaconoscente8054]

@@MikePickettDesignCo Thanks so much. Yes they will be using the shapes to cut out but I had trouble understanding why they dont just print on to the cutout but nevermind, I'll let them work it out. Thanks for your help

[@a7xfanben]

Thanks for the tips!

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Always happy to help!

[@Glow0110]

Epic video bro. So efficiently expressed and shown

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thanks! I appreciate the compliment 🤘

[@ヤイレニス]

Omg this tutorial took my stress off! Thank you so much

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

You’re welcome! Happy to hear it could help.

[@elmafudd9703]

Thank you for your time. Do you have any clue why, even when setting up my own workspace with layers set to a specific size? Panel options: 50 mm; it reverts back to the standard on every document. I am using a 4K monitor, and it is becoming very tiring to do this every time. The same goes for the background grid. I set it to 1mm, and every document I open has different preferences. Any guidance will help keep me sane. Thank you again.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Preferences like the ones you’re talking about are only saved to the document you’re working on. Have you taken a look at this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYi8o3mtbMeCq68si=4JsQw6SMxKJpoYIZ

[@valeriesurprenant9904]

Very clear and helpful instructions!

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Always happy to help.

[@kevinsiasico4841]

Sir, I did like the content. for me as beginner it's a big yes

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thanks!

[@martinpoll6435]

Did you mention alt click om eye og lock icon, I use that a lot.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

I didn't in this one Martin, but that's going to be something I share in another Layers Panel video I have scheduled.

[@stevesculptor1]

At 7:22 animation, can this be done into Cartoon Animator (Reallusion) ?

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

I haven't worked with that software before, but a quick Google search looks promising that it can be done.

[@M4789-f8i]

hey im in my first year of Graphic Design and i love learning Illustrator i just wanted to ask.. is it possible to have a layer specifically for color like for example layer 1 is for Tracing and Layer 2 just for color?

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Yes it is.

[@kevinbusalla5424]

I subscribed, liked and hit the notification bell. Looking forward to your tutorials!

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Welcome aboard! Hope you're still here after my extended break from uploading! I'm back and working to create new content at least once a week.

[@MiniatureChickenChannel]

Super helpful....appreciate it! So go easy on me as I'm a newb...what's the best way to backup entire layers? Just make a copy of them....and then hide them? Or do the copies still reflect the changes made on the active layers being worked on? I'll test here in a second...but maybe there's a better way? 🙏🙏

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Sorry your comment got lost in my queue, I'm sure you've found a solution by now.

[@MiniatureChickenChannel]

@@MikePickettDesignCo It's all good...there's no way one can keep up with all the comments here....Cheers dude

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

It’s saying this comment is from 3 years ago… sorry if o didn’t respond but it just came up in the app today!!

[@aleksanderwade6835]

James Hetfield - best teacher ever )))

[@mathict]

Very nice and excellent tutorial, go ahead.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Many many thanks

[@Lauba496]

Thank u so much u save my life my little brother's got rid of my layers by mistake

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Happy to hear it was helpful.

[@Dendr3]

Thank you for the video :)

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

You’re welcome!

[@waelalzahaykah6972]

That was excellent

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

[@kevinsiasico4841]

Can i ask how to fill my font from rectangle black background sorry if my english is not good. I hope you understand. Thank you

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Hope you found a solution.

[@vertusmatjaz]

gr8-tnx

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

You’re welcome! Hope it helped.

[@divvyamalaviya6070]

Great video!

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@marlonoreilly9097]

Great video. It's amazing that all of these videos are on KZbin yet the one I need doesn't exist. I want to embed or make my fonts available for a printing company to view and use. How do I attach them to my file??? It's driving me NUTS!! AHHHHHHHHHH! :-)

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Not something that can be done with Illustrator. You’ll either have to send them as a separate zip file or complete all the text work on your files and then Outline Fonts.

[@aymanraouf8010]

Two questions: 1. Is there an automatic way for you to create an outline? 2. Why did you move your outline to the left?

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Sorry for the delay in responding, hope you found the solution.

[@wendyburnham9179]

best intro

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thanks Wendy... still kind of came out like a Dad joke?!

[@wendyburnham9179]

@@MikePickettDesignCo Oh ya... 100%. That's why I love it.

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

Is there a way to drag a layer out of a layer without dragging it above?

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

You can only drag above or below, if there is no open or empty layer below you would need to create one. I'm not really sure that answers your question, if not please clarify what it is you're trying to accomplish and I'll see if I can provide a more detailed response.

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

@@MikePickettDesignCo Thank you. The thing is - I can only drag above. Below the layer always ends up in the group I am dragging it below (unless it is closed). There must be something I am missing.

[@hippityhopp4227]

Hey what about when I copy and reflect one eye and it stays in the same layer? I want each eye to be independent but it keeps staying at the same layer

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

You'd either have to copy / paste into a newly created layer or make your adjustments, create a new layer and then move the object to the new layer. This can be done by selecting the object, then clicking on the layer you want to move the object to in the layers panel, then right click on the object and select Arrange > Move to Current Layer

[@hippityhopp4227]

Mike Pickett Design Co. tysm

[@jmorris1830]

Hey Mike, I have a quick question. I hired a designer to create a tee-shirt design for me. When I open the AI file I see the entire design is in one layer. It is not broken down into text, objects , etc. Can you share how I can take one entire design and turn it into individual layers so I an edit text, colors, objects etc? I greatly appreciate any further assistance you can provide. Thanks,

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Hey Jason, thank you for commenting! The short answer - you'll want to create the various layers you'd like to separate the file into through the layers panel. Then you can move each piece to the respective layer - I do this by selecting the item on the artboard, then clicking on the layer I want to move it to, and then right clicking the selected item > Arrange > Move To Selected Layer. If you want some help with this please feel free to email me - you can find my email address on the About tab.

[@giabaker3077]

What if the image is designed with holes in it? There are multiple layers. Cutting this design on Cricut.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

I'm not sure I follow your question, but will try to answer. If you need to cut each layer separately you could export them one by one and then import to the Cricut software. I'm not sure how Critcut will handle layered files.

[@giabaker3077]

@@MikePickettDesignCo The file was not in correct format to make changes. The designer resent in EPG format and so now I am able to layer it. The image is designed to purposefully look distorted. Lots of details. I wish I could send a picture. Not sure how to define it. My goal is to cut the vinyl on Cricut to make T-shirts. I’m unsure how I can layer this so it is cut out without looking distorted.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

@@giabaker3077 I had to look up the EPG file format... haven't heard of that one before. If the image isn't already in layers, have you tried working with the Image Trace Tool: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2Gxh6KHgJuBa7M While it may not pickup all of the small details, at the very least you would then have some elements in vector format and could then work from a copy of the original to add in the finer details that were lost in the conversion.

[@giabaker3077]

@@MikePickettDesignCo I really appreciate the advice. New to graphics. I thought about an outline and will most definitely check that out. Thanks so much!

[@dkgjayathissa]

top youtube .thanks my brother .can i help you

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thank you for the compliment, not sure what you mean by “can I help you”?

[@Thetoppic94]

7:40

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

???

[@daskleineichbinich3999]

I Think you should layer the layers to hide the layers under the other layer *which is also under a layer (psst this is secret layer layer trick) ;)

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

But only if you name the layers the layer to hide the layers under.

[@daskleineichbinich3999]

@@MikePickettDesignCo i like it :)

[@Blue-eu5qn]

Me coming from Photo Shop... Ah, Layerception, interesting.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Hope it helped. Sorry for the delay in responding, your comment got lost in my queue.

[@thabisomazibuko1804]

I'm new

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Welcome! Hope you have some fun and learn a lot!

[@ivisiongraphicsprinter9236]

better if you put practice files

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@beeg693]

Review to much stuff in beginning doesn't help. Teach basic for your first layer and add a layer. Repeat that. Repeat, don't keep adding. You are not a very good teacher if you are reviewing or looking at to much stuff...

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

🤷🏼‍♂️

[@beeg693]

@@MikePickettDesignCo Thanks for the reply. I know you know a lot. I am sorry about that yesterday. I was frustrated..I didn't have a lot of time. I am not a designer, so I know exactly nothing. they are tough. Not intuitive at all to me. I am using an old program 2011. I tried to put an .eps file over a JPEG. It was two layers. I wanted to the look of bullet holes on something. I had purchased a .eps file ie the bullet holes. I wanted to convert it all into a JPEG and then put it in my video. I am a teacher. One has to repeat the step several times. If your viewers aren't learning then what is the point? Maybe you really aren't teaching to people like me? I am a total beginner. I certainly wasn't learning. I think you were teaching to intermediates myself or above. .....Perhaps you can have a basic in the beginning of a video , and move on from there? The beginning for people like me who know nothing. You state and on screen "basic", "intermediate" and so on and so forth. Promising your audience harder, more challenging work.. Can you teach that way in Abobe Illustrator ??? Mike I wish you the best in your videos. I hope maybe this will give you some ideas? I am a film maker and I work with final Cut Pro 7, but it has been a while. Best wishes.

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

My content is targeted at new Illustrator users, however this subject is one that assumes the user has a basic understanding of image types and transparency options for each. When you drop into anyone's videos and leave a comment such as "You're not a very good teacher", be happy for the response you got and not just simply having it removed for the pure ignorance of the comment. You took your frustration of a piece of software out on me. The video has over 70,000 views and 1500 likes, which is actually a good ratio. Maybe next time you choose to leave a rude, nasty comment on someone's video - take a walk before doing so and consider how you would feel if someone were to tell you the same - especially when you're the minority, I can't recall a single other comment on this video calling me out for not being able to teach or for it being anything other than a beginner level. Your comment appears to be nothing more than transference with a touch of online bullying. Do better.

[@beeg693]

@@MikePickettDesignCo Thanks Mike for your feedback. I heard what you had to say. I was not offended by anything you said because it is about honesty and I will look at that and make adjustments in my life. I take it as feedback and it is nothing personal to me. I could chose to be offended, but I don't. We had a conversation. Lots of people aren't okay with feedback. I wasn't bullying you to make you feel anything. You are a smart man. You are the bigger man then those people who would cancel me. Cancel culture can not handle feed back. Blocking others is the easy solution? I am a reflective practitioner. Yes, people aren't like me. So 2% is good? Maybe I will watch that video again sometime. Do you know the modalities of learning?

[@marcelojesustorresarroyo4176]

I dont have that side menu with all those icons, tho i have the layer icon... How do i get the other ones?, is there some box i need to check on settings somewhere?

[@MikePickettDesignCo]

I assume you're meaning the left side tool bar? For this you can go to Window > Toolbars > Advanced If it's something different you're asking for please let me know!