Sometimes you’ll want to draw a new object and add it to an existing group. For example, say your client requests that you add the Registered Trademark symbol to a logo, which is already grouped. One way to accomplish this is to use the Type tool to add the Registered Trademark symbol to your document. Then you select the logo, ungroup it, and then select the logo and the new trademark symbol and group the objects together.

Illustrator CS2 introduces an easier way to add objects to existing groups using a feature called Group Isolation Mode. Using the logo example we just discussed, you would use the following method to add the trademark symbol. Using the Selection tool, double-click any object in the logo. A gray border appears around the perimeter of the group, indicating that the group is now isolated. When a group is isolated, any new shapes or objects that are created become part of the group. Select the Type tool and create a text object with the trademark symbol to automatically add the symbol to the logo group. To exit isolation mode, either click any object that’s outside the group, or double-click the artboard, at which time the gray border disappears.

Double-clicking any object in a group puts the group into Group Isolation Mode, making it easy to add new objects directly into the group.

When you have a group selected, the Control palette has a button that also allows you to enter isolation mode. You can use the same button to exit isolation mode as well.

You can also enter Group Isolation Mode by clicking an icon in the context-sensitive Control palette when a group is selected.