Effortlessly Copy and Organize Artboards with Separate Layers in Illustrator

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Steps to Copy the Artboard to a New Artboard with Its Own Layers
   • Creating New Layers for the Second Artboard
   • Duplicating the Artboard
   • Placing New Artboard Elements into Their Layers
3. The Problem: Elements in the Same Layers
   • The Solution: Separating the Elements into Different Layers
4. Considerations When Duplicating an Artboard
   • Locked Objects
5. Conclusion
6. Resources

🎨 How to Copy an Artboard to a New Artboard with Its Own Layers

Artboards are a great way to organize and Present your designs in software like Adobe Illustrator. However, there may be times when you need to copy an artboard to a new one while maintaining its layers. This can be a useful technique when creating variations of a design or when working on different iterations of a project. In this article, I will guide you through the steps to copy an artboard to a new artboard with its own layers, ensuring that the elements are properly organized. So let's get started!

1. Creating New Layers for the Second Artboard

To begin the process, the first step is to create new layers for the second artboard. This will allow us to keep the elements separate and organized. In software like Adobe Illustrator, you can easily create new layers by selecting the Layers panel and clicking on the "New Layer" button. For simplicity, let's name these layers "elements2" and "background2". Ensure that the layers are in the correct order, with the background layer below the elements layer.

2. Duplicating the Artboard

Once the new layers are created, it's time to duplicate the artboard. To do this, use the zoom tool to zoom out a bit for a better view. While holding the space key, navigate to the artboard you want to duplicate. Next, select the artboard tool (shortcut: Shift + O) located in the toolbar. Now, while holding the Alt/Option key, click and drag to duplicate the artboard. If you end up with a white artboard without any objects, it means that you had the "Include Objects" feature disabled. Make sure it is enabled for the duplication to work properly.

3. Placing New Artboard Elements into Their Layers

After duplicating the artboard, we face the problem of having all the elements still in the same layers. To solve this, we need to separate the elements into different layers. Start by selecting the objects on the second artboard. You can do this by pressing the V key to activate the selection tool. There are two ways to select the objects: either click and drag to select all the elements in your selection, or click on the artboard and then press Alt + Ctrl + A (Option + Command + A on Mac) to select all objects on the currently selected artboard.

Now, here comes the cool trick. On the right side of the workspace, you'll Notice selection indicators. If you open up the "elements2" layer, you will see that multiple objects are selected, which belong to the second artboard. On the other HAND, the objects that are not selected belong to the first artboard. To separate the selected elements, simply close the "elements2" layer and click and drag the indicator to move the selection to the desired layer. This will create separate layers for each set of elements, making it more convenient to work with.

4. Considerations When Duplicating an Artboard

When duplicating an artboard, it's essential to be aware of locked objects. Only unlocked objects will be copied to the new artboard. So if you have any locked objects on the original artboard, they will not be included in the duplication. If you happen to have multiple locked items, you can easily unlock them all at once by clicking and holding the lock icon and then deselecting all the locks. This will ensure that all the desired elements are duplicated correctly.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, copying an artboard to a new artboard with its own layers can be a valuable technique when working on design projects. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily duplicate the artboard, create new layers, and organize the elements accordingly. Remember to consider locked objects and ensure they are unlocked before duplicating the artboard. With these techniques, you can efficiently manage and iterate on your designs, saving time and effort in the process.

6. Resources

• Adobe Illustrator
• Martin's Illustrator Tutorial on Udemy

Highlights

• Copying an artboard to a new artboard with its own layers can be achieved in a few simple steps.
• By creating new layers for the second artboard, you can keep the elements separate and organized.
• Duplicating the artboard allows you to create variations of your design or work on different iterations of a project.
• Separate the elements into different layers by selecting and moving them using the selection indicators.
• Be mindful of locked objects as they will not be copied to the duplicated artboard.

FAQs

Q: Can I copy multiple artboards with their own layers? A: Yes, you can repeat the process for each artboard you want to copy, ensuring that each artboard has its own set of layers.

Q: What if I forget to unlock an object before duplicating the artboard? A: If you forget to unlock an object, it will not be copied to the duplicated artboard. You can simply unlock the object and duplicate the artboard again.

Q: Is this technique applicable in other design software? A: While this article focuses on Adobe Illustrator, similar techniques can be applied in other design software that supports layers and artboards. Adjust the steps accordingly to the software you are using.