Using grouped and layered icons

The Group feature in BioRender lets you connect multiple objects so they can be moved, scaled, and rotated together. This is especially helpful when working with complex illustrations made up of many parts. This article explains how to group, ungroup, and edit grouped icons, and how to transform them efficiently.

Benefits of using grouped icons

Grouped icons let you:

• Modify multiple objects at once (e.g. changing the color of particles simultaneously)

• Quickly move or arrange parts of your illustration

• Easily manage complex structures as a single unit

Many library icons are grouped by default. Grouped icons are identified by a purple bounding box.

When editing a grouped icon, a purple banner will appear at the top of your canvas to indicate group editing mode.

How to group icons

1. Hold "Shift" and click on each object you want to group.

   • Or click and drag across the objects to select them.

   • To deselect an object, press "Shift" and click it.

2. Group the selected objects by:

   • Pressing "Ctrl + G" (Windows) or "Cmd + G" (Mac), or

   • Clicking "Group" in the top menu, or

   • Right-clicking and selecting "Group" in the top quick edit bar.

A purple bounding box confirms the icons are grouped.

How to ungroup icons

1. Click the grouped objects.

2. Press "Ctrl + Shift + G" (Windows) or ":Cmd + Shift + G" (Mac), or

3. Click "Ungroup" from the top quick edit bar.

How to edit objects within a group

To edit the same type of icon:

1. Click the group. You’ll see a purple border around the grouped icons with this, .

2. Right-click an icon and choose "Select all same icons".

3. Use the Color Overlay section in the left panel to change colors.

4. Move objects or apply other edits as needed.

5. Click "Exit group" in the top-right corner or press "Escape" (Esc) to finish editing.

To edit different types of icons within a group:

1. Click the group. You’ll see a purple border around the grouped icons with this,

2. Hold "Shift" and click on each object you want to edit.

3. Make changes via the left-side Properties Panel.

4. Exit the group by clicking outside the canvas or pressing "Esc".

✨ Pro tip: Want grouped elements to reflect your lab's brand? Use Brand Kits to apply saved fonts, colors, and logos across grouped objects in one click. (Available on Team & Enterprise plans) Learn more about Brand Kits ↗

Edit layers within a grouped icon

Some BioRender icons contain multiple editable layers, allowing you to select and customize individual parts of the icon without ungrouping it.

To edit a layer within a grouped icon:

1. Double-click the selected icon on your canvas.
2. In the left-hand panel, expand Layers to view the individual editable parts of the icon.
3. Select the layer you want to edit.
4. Use the available style options to customize the selected layer, such as applying a color overlay.
5. Repeat these steps for any other layers you want to customize.

Note: Editable layers are not available for all BioRender icons. The layers and customization options shown in the panel will depend on the icon you select.

How to transform multiple selected icons

1. Select objects by:
   • Holding "Shift" and clicking each object, or
   • Clicking and dragging over them.
2. To select all instances of the same icon, right-click an icon and choose "Select all same icons".
3. Open the Transform tool in the quick edit bar:
   • Choose As a group to rotate or resize them as one unit
   • Choose Independently to apply changes to each object separately

What’s next

Now that you know how to group and edit icons, try combining this with the alignment tools or explore layering and locking objects for more control.

Need help? Reach out to our support team at support@biorender.com or start a live chat by clicking the "Chat With Us" bubble in the bottom right corner.