How to keep your layers when pasting into new files in Adobe Illustrator

Sometimes you may need to transfer artwork onto multiple artboards or files. Ie: if you are doing a line of packages where the design remains the same but colors change.

Normally, when you paste the artwork onto a new file all of your layers will combine into one. There is an easy way to keep your layers when copying to multiple files.

  1. Open an illustrator file that uses multiple layers.
  2. Step 2

    Open your layers palette.

  3. Step 3

    Click on the layer options (the little arrow and three lines on the top right of the layer pallette).

  4. Step 4

    Near the bottom of the option list click on “Paste Remembers Layers”

  5. Step 5

    Now, when you paste your artwork into your next file your layers will be retained exactly as is.

    This is very helpful when you are working with die-lines or templates that only require you to change colors or switch out images but keep the rest of the design exactly the same.