How to Duplicate in Illustrator

Duplicating in Illustrator is helpful and increases the work and design process. Any object, design, image, or pattern can be duplicated in Illustrator. While you work in Illustrator, many times we need to use the same objects to make a design, so why not duplicate them instead of creating them again and again?

Let’s take the example of balloons. Balloons are the best example of duplicate objects and making a group of them for an illustration or clip art. Just like we all have seen in different designs already many times.

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Duplicate in Illustrator

Different methods can be used to duplicate objects in Adobe Illustrator.

If you don’t know How to Duplicate in Illustrator then you are in right place. In this tutorial, you will learn How to Duplicate in Illustrator with different methods.

Let’s Start.

How to Duplicate Objects in Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will learn how to Duplicate Objects in Illustrator with different methods. Any methods can be used to duplicate in Illustrator according to your choice.

1^st Method: Duplicate by Alt key (Short key)

The easiest way to duplicate in Illustrator is by using the short key.

Step 1: Grab the Selection Tool from the left toolbar.

Step 2: Select the object using the Selection Tool from the left toolbar.

Duplicate Objects in Illustrator

Step 3: Press and hold the Alt key on the keyboard and then drag the object to duplicate it.

A duplicate is created.

Note: You can also press the Alt key and then the down arrow to create duplicate objects in Illustrator.

Place the object anywhere you want on the artboard in your design.

You can duplicate the object multiple times, as much as you want.

2^nd Method: Drag to New Layer

Another way to duplicate in Illustrator is by using the New Layer option in the Layer panel.

Step 1: Go to Windows > Layers.

Window Layers option in Adobe Illustrator

You can also press F7 on the keyboard for Layer.

Step 2: The “Layers” panel will appear.

Illustrator Duplicate Object in Place

Step 3: From the “Layers” panel, select the object that you want to duplicate.

Step 4: Drag and drop the object onto the “Create New Layer” option.

As you leave the button, a new duplicate layer of the object will be created.

This option placed the duplicate objects right on the object from which you created a duplicate. So, you will not notice any changes on your artboard.

Select and drag the duplicate objects. You can see this in the image below.

You can duplicate as much as you want to make objects according to your choice.

3^rd Method: Duplicate “<name>”

Another easy and quick way to duplicate in Illustrator is by using the Duplicate option available in the Layer panel.

Step 1: Go to Window > Layers.

You can also press F7 on the keyboard to open the Layer panel.

Step 2: Select the object that you want to duplicate from the Layers panel. Here we are selecting the flower that we have created from the Layer panel.

How to Duplicate Objects in Illustrator

Step 3: Go to the hidden menu available in the Layers Panel.

Step 4: Now, to duplicate the object, select Duplicate “<Group>”.

A duplicate of the selected object will be created. But keep in mind that the duplicate object appears right on the original object. Select and drag the object to see the duplicate.

You can easily create more duplicates using this method. Any object, shape, or image text can be duplicated using this method.

You have Learned to Duplicate in Illustrator.

In this tutorial, you have learned to duplicate objects in Illustrator, using three different methods. You can choose any method that you find most easy and according to your choice.

You can also watch our detailed video tutorial to learn How to Duplicate in Illustrator.

Have More Questions?

If you have any questions related to Duplicate objects in Illustrator, you can ask in the comment section below. We have also answered some most frequently asked questions below.