My Quick Guide to Ungrouping in Adobe Illustrator
Okay, so I need to find the fastest way to ungroup layers in Illustrator. Based on this reference, the go-to shortcut is Shift + Cmd + G on Mac, or Shift + Ctrl + G on Windows. That's the key.
Ungrouping Objects in Illustrator
It's important to remember that these shortcuts work on selected objects. I wouldn't call them "layers" in the strict sense of the Layers panel, but rather grouped objects that might appear as <Group layers> items within the overall layer structure. The reference is very clear on this.
Here's a handy table for quick reference:
| Operating System | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Mac | Shift + Cmd + G |
| Windows | Shift + Ctrl + G |
How the Ungroup Shortcut Works
So, I just need to select the grouped object(s) I want to break apart. Then, I can use the appropriate shortcut. The reference highlights a really important point: if I'm dealing with deeply nested groups, I might need to press the shortcut repeatedly until all the <Group layers> disappear. I'll keep that in mind for complex files.
Alternative Method
If I prefer the menu, or maybe the shortcut isn't working for some reason, the reference also tells me I can select the object and go to Object > Ungroup. Easy enough.
Category: Illustrator Shortcuts
