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Changing the appearance of artwork using the Layers palette


    The Layers palette makes it easy change the appearance of artwork. You can apply styles, apply effects, and set appearance attributes at any level of the layer hierarchy. For example, if you apply a drop shadow effect to a layer, all artwork in the layer takes on the drop shadow. However, if you move the artwork out of the layer, it will no longer have a drop shadow because the effect belongs to the layer, not to artwork within the layer. (See About appearance attributes, styles, and effects.)

    Before you can set an appearance attribute, apply a style, or apply an effect to a layer, group, or collective element, you must target the item in the Layers palette. The target icon indicates whether an item in the layer hierarchy has any appearance attributes and whether it is targeted:

    • icon indicates the item is not targeted and has no appearance attributes indicates the item is not targeted and has no appearance attributes.
    • icon indicates the item is targeted but has no appearance attributes indicates the item is targeted but has no appearance attributes.
    • icon indicates the item is not targeted but has appearance attributes indicates the item is not targeted but has appearance attributes.
    • icon indicates the item is targeted and has appearance attributes indicates the item is targeted and has appearance attributes.

To target an item in the Layers palette:

    Click its target icon in the Layers palette. A double ring icon indicates the item is targeted but has no appearance attributes or icon indicates the item is targeted and has appearance attributes indicates that the item is targeted. Shift-click to target additional items.

To move, copy, or delete appearance attributes:

    Do one of the following:

    • To move appearance attributes, drag the target icon icon indicates the item is not targeted but has appearance attributes or icon indicates the item is targeted and has appearance attributes from an item onto the item to which you want to apply it.
    • To copy appearance attributes, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the target icon from an item onto the item to which you want to apply it.
    • To delete appearance attributes, drag the target icon from an item onto the Trash button  the Delete Symbol button at the bottom of the Layers palette. Layers and groups lose all appearance attributes; paths lose all appearance attributes except a single fill and stroke.