How to Turn Off Isolation Mode in Illustrator

This wikiHow teaches you how to enter and exit isolation mode in Adobe Illustrator. Isolation mode allows you to edit certain aspects of a layer, group, path, clipping mask, symbol, or gradient mesh without affecting other objects in your project.

Steps

  1. Image titled Turn Off Isolation Mode in Illustrator Step 1
    1
    Isolate a path, layer, group, or other object. When you're in isolation mode, the isolated object will appear in full color while everything else in the workspace is dimmed.[1] There are many ways to isolate artwork for editing:
    • To isolate a path, object, or group, choose the Selection tool (the arrow on the toolbar) and double-click the element you want to isolate.
    • To isolate a path inside of a group, select the path in the Layers panel, and then click Isolate Selected Layer (the square containing an inward-pointing arrow at each corner) on the Control Panel.
    • To isolate a layer or sublayer, click it in the Layers panel, click the menu at the Layers panel's upper-right corner, and then click Enter Isolation Mode.
  2. Image titled Turn Off Isolation Mode in Illustrator Step 2
    2
    Exit isolation mode. Exiting isolation mode is easy, and there are several quick ways to do it:
    • Press the esc key on your keyboard's upper-left corner immediately exits isolation mode.
    • You can also right-click (PC) or ctrl + click (Mac) the workspace and select Exit Isolation Mode.
    • Another option is to click the Selection tool (the arrow on the toolbar) and double-click anywhere outside of the isolated item(s).
    • Yet another option is to click the Exit Isolation Mode button on the Control Panel—it looks like a square with an inward-pointing arrow at each of its corner.
    3. Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Add Fonts to Illustrator
How to
Add Fonts to Illustrator
How to
Remove Backgrounds in Adobe Illustrator
Change the Background Color in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Change the Background Color in Adobe Illustrator
Add a Hyperlink in Illustrator
How to
Add a Hyperlink in Illustrator
Create an Outline in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Create an Outline in Adobe Illustrator
Wrap Text in Adobe Illustrator2 Easy Ways to Wrap Text in Adobe Illustrator
Warp an Object in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Warp an Object in Adobe Illustrator
Add Pages in Adobe IllustratorHow to Add Artboards in Adobe Illustrator
Add an Image in Illustrator
How to
Add an Image in Illustrator
Change Artboard Size in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Change Artboard Size in Adobe Illustrator
Measure in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Measure in Adobe Illustrator
Remove an Effect in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Remove an Effect in Adobe Illustrator
Change to Landscape in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Change to Landscape in Adobe Illustrator
Change a Background in Adobe Illustrator
How to
Change a Background in Adobe Illustrator
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/selecting-objects.html

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 20,582 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 3
Updated: February 12, 2021
Views: 20,582
Categories: Adobe Illustrator
Article SummaryX

You can easily exit isolation mode in Adobe Acrobat by pressing the esc key on your keyboard.

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement