Using grouped icons

📝 Note: This article reflects the new, updated BioRender canvas. For guidance on the older, Classic canvas, check out this article. 

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 ↗

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

Related articles

• Edit an icon's color
• How to use the color picker tool in BioRender
• Upgrading your BioRender account
• Locking Objects

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?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.