Choose the Selection tool.
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn how to select objects in Adobe Illustrator to move, edit, or transform them effectively.
Illustrator offers various tools and techniques for selecting objects in your artwork. Understanding these selection methods can help you improve your workflow and precision when editing or transforming elements.
Select single or multiple objects
Use this method to select overlapping objects without opening the Layers panel.
Select an object on your artboard or draw a marquee over multiple objects on the artboard to select them.
Press Shift-click an object to deselect it or shift-drag the marquee to deselect multiple objects.
Press Ctrl-click (Windows) or command-click (macOS) to select the object directly behind another. Repeat the shortcut to select objects beneath the pointer.
Select grouped or nested objects
Use the Layers panel to select objects that are grouped or nested.
Select Window > Layers.
In the Layers panel, scroll and expand layers or groups to find the object you want to select. The selection color boxes appear next to each selected item in the panel.
Select the Indicates Selected Art (click to select art) column between the target button and the scroll bar.
Press Shift-click multiple objects in the Indicates Selected Art (click to select art) column to select or deselect them.
Select the Indicates Selected Art (click to select art) column next to a layer or group name to select all artwork within it.
Select an object in the Layers panel, then choose Select > Object > All on Same Layers to select all objects on the same layer.
Select objects with similar attributes
Use the Magic Wand tool to select objects with similar fill, stroke, opacity, or blending mode, and customize its tolerance for precise selection.
Select the Magic Wand tool.
Select an object with the desired attributes on your artboard to select all similar objects.
Press Shift-click another object with similar attributes to add to the current selection.
Press Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and select an object to remove all objects with matching attributes.
Customize the selection
Fine-tune the object selection done using the Magic Wand tool.
Select Window > Magic Wand.
To select objects according to their fill color, select Fill Color, and then set Tolerance from 0 to 255 for RGB or 0 to 100 for CMYK. Lower values match more precisely, while higher values include broader variations.
Select Show Stroke Options from the Magic Wand panel menu , and configure the options:
- Select Stroke Color and set Tolerance from 0 to 255 for RGB or 0 to 100 for CMYK.
- Select Stroke Weight and set Tolerance between 0 pt and 1000 pt.
Select Show Transparency Options from the Magic Wand panel menu, and configure the options:
- Select Opacity and set Tolerance between 0 and 100% to match transparency.
- Select Blending Mode to match objects using the same blending mode.
Tip
Choose Select > Reselect to repeat your last selection command and Select > Inverse to invert the current selection to select previously unselected objects.
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