Breaking apart groups and objects

To separate groups, instances, and bitmaps into ungrouped, editable elements, you use the Break Apart command. Breaking apart significantly reduces the file size of imported graphics.

Although you can select Edit > Undo immediately after breaking apart a group or object, breaking apart is not entirely reversible. It affects objects as follows:

It severs a symbol instance's link to its master symbol.
It discards all but the current frame in an animated symbol.
It converts a bitmap to a fill.
It places each character into a separate text block when applied to text blocks.
It converts characters to outlines when applied to a single text character. See Breaking text apart.

The Break Apart command should not be confused with the Ungroup command. The Ungroup command separates grouped objects, returning grouped elements to the state they were in prior to grouping. It does not break apart bitmaps, instances, or type, or convert type to outlines.

To break apart groups or objects:

Select the group, bitmap, or symbol that you want to break apart.
Select Modify > Break Apart.
Note: Breaking apart animated symbols, or groups within an interpolated animation, is not recommended and might have unpredictable results. Breaking apart complex symbols and large blocks of text can take a long time. You might need to increase the application's memory allocation to properly break apart complex objects.