Unmerging layers in Illustrator depends on what you've merged. There's no single "unmerge layers" function. Instead, the process varies depending on whether you've merged objects within a layer or merged multiple layers themselves.
Unmerging Objects Within a Layer
If you've merged objects using the Pathfinder panel (e.g., Unite, Intersect), you cannot directly "unmerge" them. The original shapes are lost after the Pathfinder operation. To separate these, you'll need to recreate them or explore more complex techniques like using the Pathfinder's Divide option to separate overlapping shapes. This will require understanding the original object’s structure, so working with organized layers before merging is highly recommended.
Unmerging Multiple Layers
This is different and simpler. If you've merged multiple layers into one, this is reversible.
- Using the "Release to Layers" command: This will take the objects on the merged layer and put each on its own layer.
The provided YouTube video excerpt ([How To Separate Layers [Adobe Illustrator] - YouTube]()) mentions using a "Hamburger icon" (likely the fly-out menu next to a layer name) to release layers. This aligns with the "Release to Layers" method described. If you merged several layers, this would effectively "unmerge" them by separating the objects onto individual layers.
Note: If you've saved the file and the layers are permanently merged, recovering their original state is often impossible.
Example: Imagine you had three layers: a circle on layer 1, a square on layer 2, and a triangle on layer 3. You merged layers 1, 2, and 3. The "Release to Layers" command would then put the circle on one layer, the square on another, and the triangle on a third.
