How to Combine Images in Illustrator

You can place images on different layers in Adobe Illustrator and then combine the layers into one image.

When making a complex project with multiple images in Adobe Illustrator, it's often a good practice to work on each image separately and combine them to create the final project. Illustrator lets you create multiple layers in your project and place different images or image elements in each one to fine-tune placement in the final image. When you are satisfied with your project, you can merge the layers and flatten the document into one combined image.

Instructions

1. Open Adobe Illustrator. Load an existing image or create a new image.

2. Click "Window," then "Layers" to open the Layers panel. Click the "Create New Layer" icon at the bottom of the panel.

3. Click "File," then "Open" and load a new image. The image is loaded into a second window in Illustrator.

4. Click "Window," then the window at the bottom of the menu with your second image. Press and hold the "Ctrl" key and press "A" to select all elements of the second image or click elements to select them. Click "Edit," then "Copy."

5. Click "Window" and then click the window at the bottom of the menu that has your existing image. Click the new layer in the Layer panel to highlight it. Press and hold the "Ctrl" key and press "V" or click "Edit," then "Paste" to paste the second image in the new layer.

6. Adjust, move and add elements to the second image. Click the menu in the Layers panel and click "Flatten Artwork" to combine the two layers into one and combine the two images into one image.

Tips & Warnings

• Click a blank layer in the Layers panel to highlight it, then drag and drop an image into Illustrator to directly place the image in a layer.

References

• Bowling Green State University: Getting Started in Illustrator CS5
• Adobe: Illustrator CS5 - Consolidate Layers and Groups

Resources

• Adobe: Illustrator