MX

Photo Groups
If you edit a photo using some tools such as the integrated Red Eye Tool, the photo becomes grouped
with other objects that modify the image in some way. For example with the Red Eye Tool, the ellipse
shapes that are used to modify the red eye areas of the photo are grouped with the photo itself. This is
called a Photo Group
and you'll see this on the status line when you select such a modified photo.
Just like an ordinary group it keeps the photo together with the other objects that have been added to
modify it, but unlike a group it is still treated as if it was an ordinary photo by the Photo Tools
and other tools. Normally photo groups are automatically placed inside a clipview object, which clips
any objects which overlap the edge of the photo, to the boundaries of the photo itself. That's why when
you select a photo group the status line usually shows you have a "Clipped photo group" selected. See
the Clipview section of Object Handling for information about Clipviews.
Differences between Photo Groups and Photos:

Photo Groups collect together a simple photo and some vector edits.

You can push a photo around in its clipping shape within the Fill Tool but you can't do quite the
same thing with Photo Groups (either select inside and move the base photo, or use the right
click context menu to select the clipped objects and then drag them in the selector tool).

Some operations will convert Photo Groups to photos.
If you want to convert a Photo Group into an ordinary photo object, you can use "Utilities" >
"Optimize photo"
. But note that this is destructive in that thereafter you will not be able to modify any of the photo edits
you've applied to the photo. Some other operations such as content-aware scaling and contoning also
convert photo groups into flat photos, because these operations aren't able to preserve the photo group
structure. When a photo group needs to be converted in this way a warning alert is shown first.
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