How to Merge Layers in Illustrator

Merge in just a few clicks!
Ash Ash (362)
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 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 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 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.

Turn your sketches into clean line art!
Ash Ash (362)
10 minutes

With Adobe Illustrator, you can trace any image using various drawing tools and layers. Any version of Illustrator will work, but sometimes menus move between different editions.