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1. Re: Trouble creating an object where I want within a layer in CS3/CS2
Doug Katz Apr 27, 2009 1:34 PM (in response to Howard Rudnick)I've never been able to place a newly drawn object where I want it in the layer stack. Since AI10, no matter what object I select in the stack, the new object is drawn at the top.
I've used other programs that behave as you (and I) wish: select an object; draw a new object; the new object appears immediately above the initially selected one.
Maybe we're both doing something wrong. But I've been doing it wrong for a long time in that case.
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2. Re: Trouble creating an object where I want within a layer in CS3/CS2
Jacob Bugge Apr 27, 2009 2:33 PM (in response to Howard Rudnick)10 is your friend.
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3. Re: Trouble creating an object where I want within a layer in CS3/CS2
Steve Fairbairn Apr 27, 2009 3:53 PM (in response to Howard Rudnick)A new object will always come at the top of the stack. It would be strange if it didn't if you come to think of it. However it sounds as if you maybe don't know the Cmd-F and Cmd-B commands. Just Cut your newly-drawn object (Cmd-X), select the object you want it to come in front of and Cmd-F (paste in front). Or if you want to paste behind a selected object Cmd-B (paste behind). These commands also work for pasting into groups and masks (useful for replacing placed images) and even into compound paths if you use the direct selection (white arrow) tool to select paths. If nothing is selected Cmd-F will paste at the top of the stack and Cmd-B at the bottom. Both commands will also allow pasting in place between documents of the same size as long as the X-Y coordinates are the same in both. You can of course also drag things up and down in the stack using the sub layers in the layers palette. And please don't feel insulted if you knew all of this already, but I don't know how familiar you are with the Illy basics.
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4. Re: Trouble creating an object where I want within a layer in CS3/CS2
Doug Katz Apr 28, 2009 7:18 AM (in response to Steve Fairbairn)Actually, if you think about it, it would make much more sense to have some control over the location of a newly drawn object in the layer stack. In fact, if you think about it, the only time it would make sense for a newly drawn object to appear at the top is when there is no way of specifying otherwise, as in Illustrator.
If I know where in the stack I want an object, it is inefficient (and strange) to have to draw it, select it, cut it, select the object that I want in front or behind it, then paste it... if you think about it.
Long aware of the Paste Behind, Paste in Front commands. But I've thought about it: they're an inefficient way to place new objects in the layer stack. Better to hightlight an existing object, start drawing and have that new object appear above the selected one.
And if you think about it even more, if I can select an object and paste in front of it, why shouldn't I be able to select an object and draw in front of it? Same idea, but far more elegant and parsimonious, don't you think? We dispense with all the selecting and cutting and selecting and pasting this way.
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5. Re: Trouble creating an object where I want within a layer in CS3/CS2
Howard Rudnick Apr 28, 2009 9:13 AM (in response to Howard Rudnick)I'm aware of the different ways to move the thing after it's made, but illustrator help states that you should be able to click on the name of object you want the new object to be on top of, and then make that object, and that's where it will be. Sounds simple enough. It works randomly in CS2, but 3 is another thing, and not sure about 4. You think adobe would want something that simple to work properly!
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6. Re: Trouble creating an object where I want within a layer in CS3/CS2
Steve Fairbairn Apr 28, 2009 9:24 AM (in response to Doug Katz)See what you mean, but on the other hand I think I prefer it the way it is. Isn't it better to draw the bit you're working on and get it right before moving it down in the stack, whether you move sub-layers or use Cmd-F/B? Otherwise you would be working behind a lot of stuff that would get in the way and prevent you from seeing what you were doing.
O.k., you could turn off the preview, but that would only be a rather lame workaround. Think of the trouble we have with InDesign where we can't turn off the preview, can't hide or lock things and have to use layers as a last resort - at least this is my main reason for preferring Illy to InDesign for vector work.




