Copying & Duplicating

Design the copy and duplicate flow in a design tool. The user should be able to duplicate a selected object, a multi-select group, or an entire page from the canvas and understand the result before confirming the action.

Show the entry points where this action is available: toolbar, right-click menu, and keyboard shortcut. After duplication, place the new item in a predictable offset so it does not sit directly on top of the original, and keep the duplicate selected so the next move or edit is immediate.

Cover the common variants: duplicate once, duplicate repeatedly, and duplicate with preserved grouping and constraints. If the action is blocked by permissions, locked layers, or unsupported content, explain why in place and keep the original selection intact.

The flow should feel fast and reversible. Users need to see what changed, where the copy landed, and how to continue editing without hunting for the new object.

Remember that effective use of duplication can greatly reduce design time. 'Alt + Dragging' an element is a nifty shortcut in most design tools that instantly clones the selected item!