flattening: The Flatten command merges drawing layers into one, reducing the number of vector points in your drawings and potentially reducing the file size of your animation. The Flatten command is different from the Optimize command in that it does not verify first to make sure that the merge will not affect the final appearance of the image. If the layered objects have transparencies, the cumulative effect of the transparency is not preserved when you flatten the layers. Also, the Flatten command may not preserve the layer order of overlapping centerline shapes.
The Flatten command reduces the number of selected drawing object layers to one layer. This reduces the amount of memory required for the drawing object, but does not preserve any effects created by overlapping transparent colors.

Multiple Drawing elements attached to the Color Transform Effect may not occupy the same front-back position. This can affect the position of the Color Transform Effect layer. By default, a Color Transform Effect applied to multiple drawings will apply the effect at the current position of each drawing. You can activate the Flatten option to flatten the Color Transform effect layer so that it appears at a single position. This option is available in the Color Transform Effect parameters panel.


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