diff --git a/src/containers/blob/blob.js b/src/containers/blob/blob.js
index 22606723..3025be8d 100644
--- a/src/containers/blob/blob.js
+++ b/src/containers/blob/blob.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Blobbiness {
         const oldStrokeColor = this.options ? this.options.strokeColor : null;
         const oldStrokeWidth = this.options ? this.options.strokeWidth : null;
         // If values are mixed, it means the color was set by a selection contained multiple values.
-        // In this case keep drawing with the previous values if any. (For stroke width, null indicates)
+        // In this case keep drawing with the previous values if any. (For stroke width, null indicates
         // mixed, because stroke width is required to be a number)
         this.options = {
             ...options,
diff --git a/src/containers/line-mode.jsx b/src/containers/line-mode.jsx
index e1ba1c36..69356d62 100644
--- a/src/containers/line-mode.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/line-mode.jsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {connect} from 'react-redux';
 import bindAll from 'lodash.bindall';
 import Modes from '../modes/modes';
 import {changeStrokeWidth} from '../reducers/stroke-width';
-import {clearSelection, getSelectedItems} from '../helper/selection';
+import {clearSelection, getSelectedLeafItems} from '../helper/selection';
 import {MIXED} from '../helper/style-path';
 import {clearSelectedItems, setSelectedItems} from '../reducers/selected-items';
 import LineModeComponent from '../components/line-mode.jsx';
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
         dispatch(clearSelectedItems());
     },
     setSelectedItems: () => {
-        dispatch(setSelectedItems(getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */)));
+        dispatch(setSelectedItems(getSelectedLeafItems()));
     },
     handleMouseDown: () => {
         dispatch(changeMode(Modes.LINE));
diff --git a/src/containers/reshape-mode.jsx b/src/containers/reshape-mode.jsx
index 392989f9..1683874c 100644
--- a/src/containers/reshape-mode.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/reshape-mode.jsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import Modes from '../modes/modes';
 import {changeMode} from '../reducers/modes';
 import {clearHoveredItem, setHoveredItem} from '../reducers/hover';
 import {clearSelectedItems, setSelectedItems} from '../reducers/selected-items';
-import {getSelectedItems} from '../helper/selection';
+import {getSelectedLeafItems} from '../helper/selection';
 
 import ReshapeTool from '../helper/selection-tools/reshape-tool';
 import ReshapeModeComponent from '../components/reshape-mode.jsx';
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
         dispatch(clearSelectedItems());
     },
     setSelectedItems: () => {
-        dispatch(setSelectedItems(getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */)));
+        dispatch(setSelectedItems(getSelectedLeafItems()));
     },
     handleMouseDown: () => {
         dispatch(changeMode(Modes.RESHAPE));
diff --git a/src/containers/select-mode.jsx b/src/containers/select-mode.jsx
index b3b43e0c..505bf412 100644
--- a/src/containers/select-mode.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/select-mode.jsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {changeMode} from '../reducers/modes';
 import {clearHoveredItem, setHoveredItem} from '../reducers/hover';
 import {clearSelectedItems, setSelectedItems} from '../reducers/selected-items';
 
-import {getSelectedItems} from '../helper/selection';
+import {getSelectedLeafItems} from '../helper/selection';
 import SelectTool from '../helper/selection-tools/select-tool';
 import SelectModeComponent from '../components/select-mode.jsx';
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
         dispatch(clearSelectedItems());
     },
     setSelectedItems: () => {
-        dispatch(setSelectedItems(getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */)));
+        dispatch(setSelectedItems(getSelectedLeafItems()));
     },
     handleMouseDown: () => {
         dispatch(changeMode(Modes.SELECT));
diff --git a/src/helper/group.js b/src/helper/group.js
index 20bac775..792753c0 100644
--- a/src/helper/group.js
+++ b/src/helper/group.js
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import paper from 'paper';
 import {getRootItem, isGroupItem} from './item';
-import {clearSelection, getSelectedItems, setItemSelection} from './selection';
+import {clearSelection, getSelectedRootItems, setItemSelection} from './selection';
 
 const isGroup = function (item) {
     return isGroupItem(item);
 };
 
 const groupSelection = function (clearSelectedItems) {
-    const items = getSelectedItems();
+    const items = getSelectedRootItems();
     if (items.length > 0) {
         const group = new paper.Group(items);
         clearSelection(clearSelectedItems);
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ const ungroupItems = function (items, clearSelectedItems) {
 };
 
 const ungroupSelection = function () {
-    const items = getSelectedItems();
+    const items = getSelectedRootItems();
     ungroupItems(items);
 };
 
@@ -102,12 +102,12 @@ const isGroupChild = function (item) {
 };
 
 const shouldShowGroup = function () {
-    const items = getSelectedItems();
+    const items = getSelectedRootItems();
     return items.length > 1;
 };
 
 const shouldShowUngroup = function () {
-    const items = getSelectedItems();
+    const items = getSelectedRootItems();
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
         const item = items[i];
         if (isGroup(item) && !item.data.isPGTextItem && item.children && item.children.length > 0) {
diff --git a/src/helper/guides.js b/src/helper/guides.js
index c6f917b8..ae5c569e 100644
--- a/src/helper/guides.js
+++ b/src/helper/guides.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import paper from 'paper';
 import {getGuideLayer} from './layer';
-import {getAllPaperItems} from './selection';
+import {getAllRootItems} from './selection';
 
 const GUIDE_BLUE = '#009dec';
 const GUIDE_GREY = '#aaaaaa';
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const getGuideColor = function (colorName) {
 };
 
 const _removePaperItemsByDataTags = function (tags) {
-    const allItems = getAllPaperItems(true);
+    const allItems = getAllRootItems(true);
     for (const item of allItems) {
         for (const tag of tags) {
             if (item.data && item.data[tag]) {
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ const _removePaperItemsByDataTags = function (tags) {
 };
 
 const _removePaperItemsByTags = function (tags) {
-    const allItems = getAllPaperItems(true);
+    const allItems = getAllRootItems(true);
     for (const item of allItems) {
         for (const tag of tags) {
             if (item[tag]) {
diff --git a/src/helper/selection-tools/bounding-box-tool.js b/src/helper/selection-tools/bounding-box-tool.js
index 842319dd..1826f365 100644
--- a/src/helper/selection-tools/bounding-box-tool.js
+++ b/src/helper/selection-tools/bounding-box-tool.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import paper from 'paper';
 import keyMirror from 'keymirror';
 
-import {getSelectedItems} from '../selection';
+import {getSelectedRootItems} from '../selection';
 import {getGuideColor, removeHelperItems} from '../guides';
 import {getGuideLayer} from '../layer';
 
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ class BoundingBoxTool {
             this._modeMap[this.mode].onMouseDown(hitProperties);
         } else if (this.mode === Modes.SCALE) {
             this._modeMap[this.mode].onMouseDown(
-                hitResult, this.boundsPath, this.boundsScaleHandles, this.boundsRotHandles, getSelectedItems());
+                hitResult, this.boundsPath, this.boundsScaleHandles, this.boundsRotHandles, getSelectedRootItems());
         } else if (this.mode === Modes.ROTATE) {
-            this._modeMap[this.mode].onMouseDown(hitResult, this.boundsPath, getSelectedItems());
+            this._modeMap[this.mode].onMouseDown(hitResult, this.boundsPath, getSelectedRootItems());
         }
 
         // while transforming object, never show the bounds stuff
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class BoundingBoxTool {
     setSelectionBounds () {
         this.removeBoundsPath();
         
-        const items = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+        const items = getSelectedRootItems();
         if (items.length <= 0) return;
         
         let rect = null;
diff --git a/src/helper/selection-tools/handle-tool.js b/src/helper/selection-tools/handle-tool.js
index 4636116d..c3d26a1d 100644
--- a/src/helper/selection-tools/handle-tool.js
+++ b/src/helper/selection-tools/handle-tool.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {clearSelection, getSelectedItems} from '../selection';
+import {clearSelection, getSelectedLeafItems} from '../selection';
 
 /** Sub tool of the Reshape tool for moving handles, which adjust bezier curves. */
 class HandleTool {
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class HandleTool {
         this.hitType = hitProperties.hitResult.type;
     }
     onMouseDrag (event) {
-        const selectedItems = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+        const selectedItems = getSelectedLeafItems();
         
         for (const item of selectedItems) {
             for (const seg of item.segments) {
diff --git a/src/helper/selection-tools/move-tool.js b/src/helper/selection-tools/move-tool.js
index 34212708..0a16277b 100644
--- a/src/helper/selection-tools/move-tool.js
+++ b/src/helper/selection-tools/move-tool.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import {isGroup} from '../group';
 import {isCompoundPathItem, getRootItem} from '../item';
 import {snapDeltaToAngle} from '../math';
-import {clearSelection, cloneSelection, getSelectedItems, setItemSelection} from '../selection';
+import {clearSelection, cloneSelection, getSelectedLeafItems, setItemSelection} from '../selection';
 
 /**
  * Tool to handle dragging an item to reposition it in a selection mode.
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class MoveTool {
             this._select(item, true, hitProperties.subselect);
         }
         if (hitProperties.clone) cloneSelection(hitProperties.subselect);
-        this.selectedItems = getSelectedItems(true /* subselect */);
+        this.selectedItems = getSelectedLeafItems();
     }
     /**
      * Sets the selection state of an item.
diff --git a/src/helper/selection-tools/point-tool.js b/src/helper/selection-tools/point-tool.js
index 20eb4da2..9b54cb7e 100644
--- a/src/helper/selection-tools/point-tool.js
+++ b/src/helper/selection-tools/point-tool.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import paper from 'paper';
 import {snapDeltaToAngle} from '../math';
-import {clearSelection, getSelectedItems} from '../selection';
+import {clearSelection, getSelectedLeafItems} from '../selection';
 
 /** Subtool of ReshapeTool for moving control points. */
 class PointTool {
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class PointTool {
             hitProperties.hitResult.segment.selected = true;
         }
         
-        this.selectedItems = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+        this.selectedItems = getSelectedLeafItems();
     }
     /**
      * @param {!object} hitProperties Describes the mouse event
diff --git a/src/helper/selection.js b/src/helper/selection.js
index 443fa5cb..2c12b161 100644
--- a/src/helper/selection.js
+++ b/src/helper/selection.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {getItemsCompoundPath, isCompoundPath, isCompoundPathChild} from './compo
  *     be included in the returned items.
  * @return {Array<paper.item>} all top-level (direct descendants of a paper.Layer) items
  */
-const getAllPaperItems = function (includeGuides) {
+const getAllRootItems = function (includeGuides) {
     includeGuides = includeGuides || false;
     const allItems = [];
     for (const layer of paper.project.layers) {
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ const getAllPaperItems = function (includeGuides) {
  * @return {Array<paper.item>} all top-level (direct descendants of a paper.Layer) items
  *     that aren't guide items or helper items.
  */
-const getAllSelectableItems = function () {
-    const allItems = getAllPaperItems();
+const getAllSelectableRootItems = function () {
+    const allItems = getAllRootItems();
     const selectables = [];
     for (let i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
         if (allItems[i].data && !allItems[i].data.isHelperItem) {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ const setItemSelection = function (item, state, fullySelected) {
 };
 
 const selectAllItems = function () {
-    const items = getAllSelectableItems();
+    const items = getAllSelectableRootItems();
     
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
         setItemSelection(items[i], true);
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ const selectAllItems = function () {
 };
 
 const selectAllSegments = function () {
-    const items = getAllSelectableItems();
+    const items = getAllSelectableRootItems();
     
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
         selectItemSegments(items[i], true);
@@ -119,39 +119,53 @@ const clearSelection = function (dispatchClearSelect) {
     dispatchClearSelect();
 };
 
-// This gets all selected non-grouped items and groups
-// (alternative to paper.project.selectedItems, which includes
-// group children in addition to the group)
-// Returns in increasing Z order
-const getSelectedItems = function (recursive) {
+/**
+ * This gets all selected non-grouped items and groups
+ * (alternative to paper.project.selectedItems, which includes
+ * group children in addition to the group)
+ * @return {Array<paper.Item>} in increasing Z order.
+ */
+const getSelectedRootItems = function () {
     const allItems = paper.project.selectedItems;
     const itemsAndGroups = [];
 
-    if (recursive) {
-        for (let i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
-            const item = allItems[i];
+    for (let i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
+        const item = allItems[i];
+        if ((isGroup(item) && !isGroup(item.parent)) ||
+                !isGroup(item.parent)) {
             if (item.data && !item.data.isSelectionBound) {
                 itemsAndGroups.push(item);
             }
         }
-    } else {
-        for (let i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
-            const item = allItems[i];
-            if ((isGroup(item) && !isGroup(item.parent)) ||
-                    !isGroup(item.parent)) {
-                if (item.data && !item.data.isSelectionBound) {
-                    itemsAndGroups.push(item);
-                }
-            }
-        }
     }
+
     // sort items by index (0 at bottom)
     itemsAndGroups.sort((a, b) => parseFloat(a.index) - parseFloat(b.index));
     return itemsAndGroups;
 };
 
-const deleteItemSelection = function (recursive) {
-    const items = getSelectedItems(recursive);
+/**
+ * This gets all selected items that are as deeply nested as possible. Does not
+ * return the parent groups.
+ * @return {Array<paper.Item>} in increasing Z order.
+ */
+const getSelectedLeafItems = function () {
+    const allItems = paper.project.selectedItems;
+    const items = [];
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
+        const item = allItems[i];
+        if (!isGroup(item) && item.data && !item.data.isSelectionBound) {
+            items.push(item);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // sort items by index (0 at bottom)
+    items.sort((a, b) => parseFloat(a.index) - parseFloat(b.index));
+    return items;
+};
+
+const deleteItemSelection = function (items) {
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
         items[i].remove();
     }
@@ -162,11 +176,10 @@ const deleteItemSelection = function (recursive) {
     // pg.undo.snapshot('deleteItemSelection');
 };
 
-const removeSelectedSegments = function (recursive) {
+const removeSelectedSegments = function (items) {
     // @todo add back undo
     // pg.undo.snapshot('removeSelectedSegments');
     
-    const items = getSelectedItems(recursive);
     const segmentsToRemove = [];
     
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
@@ -190,12 +203,14 @@ const removeSelectedSegments = function (recursive) {
 
 const deleteSelection = function (mode) {
     if (mode === Modes.RESHAPE) {
+        const selectedItems = getSelectedLeafItems();
         // If there are points selected remove them. If not delete the item selected.
-        if (!removeSelectedSegments(true /* recursive */)) {
-            deleteItemSelection(true /* recursive */);
+        if (!removeSelectedSegments(selectedItems)) {
+            deleteItemSelection(selectedItems);
         }
     } else {
-        deleteItemSelection();
+        const selectedItems = getSelectedRootItems();
+        deleteItemSelection(selectedItems);
     }
 };
 
@@ -245,7 +260,7 @@ const splitPathRetainSelection = function (path, index, deselectSplitSegments) {
 };
 
 const splitPathAtSelectedSegments = function () {
-    const items = getSelectedItems();
+    const items = getSelectedRootItems();
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
         const item = items[i];
         const segments = item.segments;
@@ -301,9 +316,7 @@ const deleteSegments = function (item) {
     }
 };
 
-const deleteSegmentSelection = function () {
-    
-    const items = getSelectedItems();
+const deleteSegmentSelection = function (items) {
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
         deleteSegments(items[i]);
     }
@@ -315,7 +328,7 @@ const deleteSegmentSelection = function () {
 };
 
 const cloneSelection = function (recursive) {
-    const selectedItems = getSelectedItems(recursive);
+    const selectedItems = recursive ? getSelectedLeafItems() : getSelectedRootItems();
     for (let i = 0; i < selectedItems.length; i++) {
         const item = selectedItems[i];
         item.clone();
@@ -327,7 +340,7 @@ const cloneSelection = function (recursive) {
 
 // Only returns paths, no compound paths, groups or any other stuff
 const getSelectedPaths = function () {
-    const allPaths = getSelectedItems();
+    const allPaths = getSelectedRootItems();
     const paths = [];
 
     for (let i = 0; i < allPaths.length; i++) {
@@ -458,7 +471,7 @@ const _rectangularSelectionGroupLoop = function (group, rect, root, event, mode)
  * @param {Modes} mode The mode of the paint editor when drawing the rectangle
  */
 const processRectangularSelection = function (event, rect, mode) {
-    const allItems = getAllSelectableItems();
+    const allItems = getAllSelectableRootItems();
     
     for (let i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
         const item = allItems[i];
@@ -480,7 +493,7 @@ const processRectangularSelection = function (event, rect, mode) {
  * instead. (otherwise the compound path breaks because of scale-grouping)
  */
 const selectRootItem = function () {
-    const items = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+    const items = getSelectedLeafItems();
     for (const item of items) {
         if (isCompoundPathChild(item)) {
             const cp = getItemsCompoundPath(item);
@@ -494,11 +507,11 @@ const selectRootItem = function () {
 };
 
 const shouldShowIfSelection = function () {
-    return getSelectedItems().length > 0;
+    return getSelectedRootItems().length > 0;
 };
 
 const shouldShowIfSelectionRecursive = function () {
-    return getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */).length > 0;
+    return getSelectedRootItems().length > 0;
 };
 
 const shouldShowSelectAll = function () {
@@ -506,7 +519,7 @@ const shouldShowSelectAll = function () {
 };
 
 export {
-    getAllPaperItems,
+    getAllRootItems,
     selectAllItems,
     selectAllSegments,
     clearSelection,
@@ -517,8 +530,9 @@ export {
     cloneSelection,
     setItemSelection,
     setGroupSelection,
-    getSelectedItems,
+    getSelectedLeafItems,
     getSelectedPaths,
+    getSelectedRootItems,
     removeSelectedSegments,
     processRectangularSelection,
     selectRootItem,
diff --git a/src/helper/style-path.js b/src/helper/style-path.js
index 2e27713f..aab1aee1 100644
--- a/src/helper/style-path.js
+++ b/src/helper/style-path.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {getSelectedItems} from './selection';
+import {getSelectedLeafItems} from './selection';
 import {isPGTextItem, isPointTextItem} from './item';
 import {isGroup} from './group';
 
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const MIXED = 'scratch-paint/style-path/mixed';
  * @param {string} colorString New color, css format
  */
 const applyFillColorToSelection = function (colorString) {
-    const items = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+    const items = getSelectedLeafItems;
     for (const item of items) {
         if (isPGTextItem(item)) {
             for (const child of item.children) {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ const applyFillColorToSelection = function (colorString) {
  * @param {string} colorString New color, css format
  */
 const applyStrokeColorToSelection = function (colorString) {
-    const items = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+    const items = getSelectedLeafItems();
 
     for (const item of items) {
         if (isPGTextItem(item)) {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ const applyStrokeColorToSelection = function (colorString) {
  * @param {number} value New stroke width
  */
 const applyStrokeWidthToSelection = function (value) {
-    const items = getSelectedItems(true /* recursive */);
+    const items = getSelectedLeafItems();
     for (const item of items) {
         if (isGroup(item)) {
             continue;