You can use layer groups to bring more clarity and structure to your design. You can organize your design into logical parts to manipulate them more efficiently.
Layer groups have their own special properties, including colors and wireframe mode. Layer groups show as a folder icon in the Layers panel.
Adding a layer group
To add a new layer group, click on the New Layer icon at the top of the Layers panel.
Objects can be added to a layer group by dragging them onto a layer in the Layers panel. The layer folder will highlight it. Releasing the mouse button with the layer folder highlighted will move the object(s) into the layer folder.
If there is a selected object in the layer group, adding any new shapes or paths will automatically add them within the same layer group.
Frame mode
Anchoring elements inside
You can practice responsive design by applying anchors to the objects within the layer group. To start anchoring the objects, set the layer group as a frame(1):
- Select the layer group to be set as a responsive container.
- Open the Tranform panel.
- In the bottom of the panel, select the Frame option(1)
Frame mode is useful when you want to anchor objects within a particular layer group. For example, you might have a website header layer group, anchored to the top of the page, and you want to anchor elements, such as a logo, menu or social-media icons, inside the header itself.
Clipping objects inside
A frame is also a clipping object. Moving objects outside the frame boundaries hides them.
Moving a layer group
Layer group contents can be moved, resized, or rotated using the Layer tool .
Extra properties of layer groups
Layer groups also have some extra properties that are not available for normal objects:
- Layer folders (and all their contents) can be set to wireframe view. This makes it easier to work on other content without hiding the layer folder content.
- Layer folders can be assigned a color. The layer folder color sets the colors of bounding boxes and anchor points on that layer.