Pasting Behind Techniques

This is a feature I've long overlooked and has been around since FreeHand 4. This feature lets you paste an object Behind another object, even if it's in a Group or a Clipping Path. Below I show both examples.

I also utilize the Superselect feature in these tips (see the Using Superselect tip in the Tips Archive for more on this).

Version: 4 and above

For this example, I have this artwork that is one main Group consisting of two subgroups. Each subgroup is highlighted with a dashed line above at left. I want to add the new group of shapes on the right, behind the topmost subgroup of the art (yellow part). Using a combination of Superselect and Paste Behind, I can do this without ungrouping the original art.

First I move the new art in the exact place I want to Paste it behind the original shapes. Then I Cut it using Command (Control) + X. Cutting the object makes FreeHand remember the placement of the object when you paste it behind.

Now I want to select the subgroup that I want to Paste Behind. I select any object in the top most subgroup by Option (Alt) + Clicking on an object. Then to select just that subgroup I do a Superselect. You can do this easily by pressing the ~ key.

Once I have the subgroup selected I just do the Paste Behind function. This can be found under the Edit menu. By default FreeHand does not have a key command. But in FreeHand 8-9, you can customize this and add one. For example on the Mac, I assigned Control + V to Paste Behind since Command + V is already used. Now I have pasted the new objects behind the subgroup and the whole thing is still in the main group.

Now in this example, I have two objects. The one on the left is a Clipping path that contains a large amount of lines (notice the clover bullet). The one on the right is the object I want to paste within the clipping path, but behind all the lines. Back in the old days, you'd have to cut the lines out of the clipping path, adjust everything, then past it all back in. Not anymore.

Again, place the new object where you want to paste it behind everything, then Cut it.

Now I want to select all of the lines in the clipping path that I want to Paste Behind. I select any line by Option (Alt) + Clicking on it. Then to select the rest of the contents of the clipping path, I do a Superselect. You can do this easily by pressing the ~ key. In the above example is how it would look like to select massive amounts of lines with the Smoother Editing feature turned on. Looks crazy huh?

Once I have the lines selected I just do the Paste Behind function. Now wasn't that easier than doing the whole Cut Contents -> adjust objects -> Paste Inside routine?

Both the Superselect and Paste Behind features are extremely useful and like I said before, they are often overlooked. If you'd like to share any other useful techniques using these features, let me know.