Create new Layer from selected layers

[andrewsimper]

The same operation that Group and Ungroup currently do, but create a layer instead.

Also it would be super handy to be able to switch a group to a layer, or vice versa with a single command.

[fde101]

You can group the layers then rasterize the group?

[andrewsimper]

The point is to keep it vector but allow direct selection of each sub layer.

[walt.farrell]

5 hours ago, andrewsimper said:

The point is to keep it vector but allow direct selection of each sub layer.

But creating a Group allows that. What benefit do you gain by making a layer out of them, instead?

Of course, if you want them in a layer, you can get that today by adding a layer (Layer > New Layer, or click the Add Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel) and then moving the other layers into it. Are you simply asking for a one-step operation that does that?

[andrewsimper]

Layers and groups are different, please read this:

And no, adding a "new layer" is not an option as this will place it at the top of the layers view panel. Moving it back into place, and then manually dragging the previously selected layers onto it takes a lot of time for even an moderately complex set of layers.

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, andrewsimper said:

Layers and groups are different,

Yes, they're different, but the only substantive difference that MEB discussed in that thread is that you need an extra click the first time you want to select something that's in the group. That seems like a very minor difference, to me.

You're right that New Layer adds the layer at the top of the stack. If you suddenly decide that you'd like some objects in the middle of the stack to be in a new layer, that's inconvenient. On the other hand, if you organize as you go along, when the objects are still at the top of the stack, it's easy. Or if you're organized enough to create the Layer before you create the objects, it's also trivial. Create the Layer layer, and any objects you then create are immediately created in that Layer. When you are done creating objects for that Layer, do another Add Layer, and create the next set of objects. Etc.

Nonetheless, yes, it would be convenient to be able to create the Layer at a later time, in the same way one can create a Group, especially for those times when one wasn't organized enough from the beginning

[MEB]

3 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Yes, they're different, but the only substantive difference that MEB discussed in that thread is that you need an extra click the first time you want to select something that's in the group. That seems like a very minor difference, to me.

It does have more impact than it looks. In complex illustrations where you have groups nested inside other groups several levels deep in the layer stack, the double-clicking quickly becomes a chore and it's way less precise/prone to errors than layers where you can select all objects directly and still move them all as a "group" if needed selecting the respective layer from the Layers panel.

It's always also possible to use the cmd+click method to select objects directly on canvas, even if buried down inside several groups or layers.

[dominik]

42 minutes ago, MEB said:

In complex illustrations where you have groups nested inside other groups several levels deep in the layer stack

Maybe @fde101's suggestion of 'layer tags' would be worth a thought?

 

d.

[Fixx]

12 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Yes, they're different, but the only substantive difference

What is exactly the difference? I think they behave exactly the same.

[walt.farrell]

4 hours ago, Fixx said:

What is exactly the difference? I think they behave exactly the same.

I mentioned what MEB said in the post that andrewsimper referenced: With a Group to select an object in the group you need to double-click on the canvas/artboard, vs a single-click if the object is not grouped.

In the post after mine MEB expanded on that answer.

[Fixx]

Only difference is selection method? OK...

[andrewsimper]

I would be happy with not having a specific layer creation / flatten and leaving just the cmd+g and shift+cmd+g to group and ungroup if there was another easy command to switch the item between being a group and a layer, eg alt+cmd+g

[cleggwd]

+1! Would love to be able to add selected objects to a new layer or to switch from a layer to a group (+ vice versa). Also just want to add that I really love having both layers and groups as an option so thank you for that feature!

[loukash]

42 minutes ago, cleggwd said:

+ vice versa

Layer > Promote Group To Layer

[prophet]

46 minutes ago, loukash said:

Layer > Promote Group To Layer

Didn't know about that one. Why not make it available in Publisher too?

[walt.farrell]

4 minutes ago, prophet said:

Didn't know about that one. Why not make it available in Publisher too?

It is available in Publisher, if you switch to the Designer Persona.

[prophet]

And just found a potential bug.

New Designer file. made 2 objects, grouped, promoted to layer, tried to File > Edit in Publisher…get the "Failed to Launch…" message.

I can Save the Designer file and open it interdependently in Publisher, but there's something about a layer created in this fashion that prevents a smooth hand off.

[prophet]

1 minute ago, walt.farrell said:

if you switch to the Designer Persona

I love Studio Link as much as the next guy, but…I mean…it would be an easy thing to just include in Pub, right?

[walt.farrell]

2 minutes ago, prophet said:

And just found a potential bug.

New Designer file. made 2 objects, grouped, promoted to layer, tried to File > Edit in Publisher…get the "Failed to Launch…" message.

I can Save the Designer file and open it interdependently in Publisher, but there's something about a layer created in this fashion that prevents a smooth hand off.

I see the same thing. I suggest you post a bug topic for that.

I can't even Undo and get Edit in Publisher to work.

[prophet]

9 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

I suggest you post a bug topic for that.

Done.

 

[cleggwd]

1 hour ago, loukash said:

Layer > Promote Group To Layer

Awesome, thanks! I would still like to be able to add selected objects to a new layer, but at least I can easily group them and then use this function.