Order objects

Each time you create a new object, whether it's a path, text, bitmap, or anything else, that object can sit on top of a "stack" of objects. With any two objects, one is always higher on the stack. The top of the stack is the front-most object. Each layer has its own stack, so a path at the top of one layer is still behind the bottom-most object on a higher layer.

Selecting the red rectangle (A) and choosing Bring Forward moves the object up (B). Choosing Bring to Front moves the object to the top of the object stack on that layer (C).

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You can use menu commands, keyboard shortcuts, or the Layers panel to bring an object forward or to send it backward in its layer. If you want to move an object to a different layer, see Move objects between layers.

To use menu commands to change stacking order

  • Select the object you want to move and do one of the following:

    • To move an object one step forward in the layer's stack, on the Arrange menu, point to Order, and then click Bring Forward, or press CTRL+].

    • To move an object to the front of the layer's stack, on the Arrange menu, point to Order, and then click Bring To Front, or press CTRL+SHIFT+].

    • To move an object one step backward in the layer's stack, on the Arrange menu, point to Order, and then click Send Backwards, or press CTRL+[.

    • To move an object to the back of the layer's stack, on the Arrange menu, point to Order, and then click Send toBack****, or press CTRL+SHIFT+[.

You can also choose these commands by right-clicking a selected object, and then choosing commands from the Arrange submenu.

To change stacking order in the Layers panel

  1. In the Layers panel, click the Expand Layer triangle to the left of the layer's name.

  2. Select the object you want to move and drag it to where you want it.

For more information about the Layers panel and how to locate an object in it, see Layers panel.

See also

Tasks

Move objects between layers

Other resources

Drawing objects
Working with layers

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