Illustrator Blue Box Next to Circle in Layers Blue Indicated Selected Art

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Office Three: Prepare the .ai File for Editing

Un-Clip the Layers

All of the default clipping and grouping of the data layers is fine, if we were fix to print…. But we're not. You can make some minor tweaks (like changing the line color for all of the features in a layer) without unclipping and ungrouping the layer, but in society to do much in the fashion of custom editing or manipulation to the individual features you will demand to get-go un-group the layers and then we can work with the private graphic elements. And in order to un-grouping the layers we must first remove the Clipping Path (or Mask) layer. In the curt run, this volition mean we will lose the clipped aspect of the map (the information volition bleed out to the border of the page instead of being nicely contained in the data frame), but we'll fix that after.

NOTE: There are two ways to delete (remove) Clipping Paths. One is to delete them ALL at once. The other is to select and delete them one at a fourth dimension. The reward of removing them All at one time is that it'south much quicker. The downside is that you may end up removing some Clipping Paths that you actually want to keep. The safer option is to manually remove each clipping path one at a time, verifying as you go that you are only removing what you lot desire to remove. This method also allows you to only delete those clipping paths that you need to delete (i.due east., but those that are preventing you from making the edits you demand to make. If you have done a lot of your cartography in ArcMap you lot might not need to remove many (or any) of the Clipping Paths... For ENVS-321 removing them all should be fine - just check to brand certain that zip valuable was lost in the process (making backup copies of the .ai file earlier and afterwards).

Apply Relieve As to create a new version of your file, Select and Delete All of the Clipping Masks and see if that worked (nothing missing, all layers notwithstanding at that place, etc.). If need be you can abandon that version, become dorsum to the earlier version and remove the Clipping Masks one at a time...

To Remove All of the Clipping Masks at In one case

1. From the Select menu choose Object and and so Clipping Masks (this should select a number of elements on your map)

2. Press the Delete button (on your keyboard) do delete all of the selected Clipping Masks

3. When you do this the major change that should be apparent is that map features should at present extend across the edges of the map (dataframe) border. Don't worry, we'll fix that later.

4. Review your map layers, text, etc. to exist certain that you lot haven't deleted anything that you lot really need... (if you did, go back to your previous .ai file version and utilize the individual deletion method beneath)

5. Note that even though this should have deleted All of the Clipping paths, it may not have. If yous run into any remaining Clipping Paths in your Layers you can delete them individually using the method outlined below)

To Remove Clipping Masks One at a Time

1. Select a Clipping Path (see graphic below):

• In the Layers Panel expand 1 of the main layers past clicking the triangle beside the layer proper name (brand sure the layer is visible)
• Also expand the <Group> layer(s) inside the main layer
• Click on the <Clipping Path> layer within the Group layer (once selected it should be highlighted in a greyness-blue)
• Next, click to the correct of the circle beside <Clipping Path> to select the Artwork: a small-scale blue box should appear indicating that the Clipping Path is selected. There should as well exist a smaller blue box abreast the name of the Group and main layers in a higher place the Clipping Path layer
• Make sure y'all practice Not click the circle
• Note: To unselect a layer plow it'south visibility off and and so dorsum on once again

2. Delete the Clipping Path:

• With ane of the <Clipping Path> layers highlighted and the blue box selected, delete the clipping path by pressing the Backspace button, the Delete button, or by clicking the Trash Can icon at the lesser of the Layers panel
• Be sure you accept both the <Clipping Path> layer Selected (the entire line will exist highlighted in grayness-blue) and the Art Selected (the bluish box at the right is shown) earlier yous delete it
• DO NOT  delete the whatever of the <Group> or <Clip Grouping> layers - just the <Clipping Path> layers

3. Echo this process of selecting and then deleting the <Clipping Path> for each of the layers in your file that y'all want to be able to edit:

• Keep opening / expanding Grouped layers to be sure you remove All of the Clipping Paths (in that location are probablylots of them…)
• Remove the Clipping Path layers for all other layers in your projection (except for layers you don't need to modify, such as the locator map, which you might exist able to leave alone)

4. SAVE your .ai file (optionally usingSave As and creating a new version…)

NOTE: you can use Ctrl + Z (or Undo… from the Edit menu) to undo whatsoever footstep you have just washed in Illustrator. You can besides go back multiple steps. 'Undo' works far better in Illustrator than information technology does in ArcMap, allowing you to undo virtually annihilation you take done)

Thecnty08 layerearlier whatever Un-Clipping has been done…

• The <Clipping Path> layer has been selected (it is highlighted in gray-blue). It has besides had the Art Selected (indicated by the blueish box to the correct of the layer)
• Annotation that the <Prune Grouping> above the <Clipping Path> also has a smaller blue box beside it, merely the <Clip Path> layer is non selected (highlighted in gray-blue)
• Likewise note that the <Path> layersbelowthe Clipping Path (the actual graphics of the layer) are non selected

...and After the  <Clipping Path> has been deleted (the <Clip Grouping> and the <Compound Path> layers even so in tact, but the <Clipping Path> layer is gone).

Un-Group the Layers

Next we desire to Un-group the layers so that nosotros can edit individual features. Grouping is a style to package like types of artwork. However, similar the Clipping Path, it is unnecessary at this point and prevents editing of the data. Too, having the features Grouped equally sub-layers is a redundant level of organisation at this fourth dimension. If y'all continue to piece of work with Adobe Illustrator you volition desire to familiarize yourself with group, but at this point we desire to simply united nations-grouping each of the sub-layers so we can more hands work with them.

v. United nations-Grouping all your layers:

• Equally with the Clipping Paths, aggrandize one of your master layers in the layer panel
• Highlight (click) the <Group>  or <Clip Grouping> layer (once selected information technology will exist highlighted in gray-blue)
• Click to the right of the <Group Layer> to Select the layer's Fine art (blue boxes volition display for all pieces of artwork in this grouping)
• This time, however, instead of deleting this layer, y'all will need to united nations-group this layer:
  • To un-grouping click Shift + Ctrl + Thou (or choose Ungroup from the Object card)
  • You will come across the group get released, and the <Group> or <Clip Grouping> layer disappear

6. Practise this for all of your grouped layers - except for the any layers you've decided to not edit (like a Locator Map)

• Remember Practice Not Delete the Group, merely un-group it (the <Group> or <Clip Grouping> label will become away but the <Path> or text layers remain)
• If you accidently delete a Grouping layer y'all tin can use Ctrl-Z or Undo to restore the layer
• As with the <Clipping Paths>, expand each of your layers to locate and Un-group all of the Grouping layers… (there are lots of them)

The cntry08 layer with a <Clip Group> layer highlighted and the Art selected...

Note that the <Prune Group> is highlighted in grayness-blue and the blue Art boxes are selected

Note that the Fine art boxes for the Paths within the layer are too selected

Do Not delete the <Clip Group>

Utilise Ctrl-Shit-G to Un-Grouping the <Prune Group> layer

...Afterward the <Prune Group> layer has been Un-Grouped

Notation that in the illustrations there are still additional <Group> layers that besides need to be ungrouped... We you get done in that location will exist well-nigh No <Grouping> or <Clip Grouping> layers left At All.

The first <Group> layer selected and fix to un-group...

...and After the first <Grouping> has been ungrouped (still three more than to become...)

The cntry08 layer afterwards Deleting of all of  <Clipping Paths> and Un-Group all of the <Group> and <Prune Group> layers.

Note that the private features (sub-layers) are nevertheless all in 1 sub-layer ("cntry08") but the extra sub-layer grouping is gone

vii.SAVE your .ai file (optionally using Save Equally and creating a new version…)

Next: Part IV Create a Mask Layer

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Source: https://cenv.wwu.edu/sal/tut-arcgis-illustrator-3

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