Aligning and snapping elements
Group elements to move them as a unit. Lock to prevent accidental edits. Both can be combined.
Grouping and locking elements
Two related but distinct operations. Use grouping to keep elements together, and locking to prevent accidental edits.
Group
Select two or more elements and press ⌘/Ctrl + G to group them. The group becomes a single selectable object in the layers panel. Double-click to enter the group and edit individual elements. Press Esc to exit the group.
Ungroup
Select a group and press ⌘/Ctrl + Shift + G to ungroup. The elements become top-level objects again.
Lock
Select one or more elements and press ⌘/Ctrl + L to lock. Locked elements cannot be moved, scaled, or edited. They can still be selected for inspection. Press the shortcut again to unlock.
Combine
Groups are different from boolean combinations of vector shapes. Groups are containers for separate objects. Boolean combinations merge the underlying shape geometry.
Practical use
- Group a logo and its tagline so they always move together.
- Lock a background layer so you do not accidentally select it while editing foreground elements.
- Use a group as a reusable component. Copy the group and paste it to a new page — the group structure is preserved.