Basic operations

You can use the Layer palette, the Layer menu, and the Move layer tool to carry out basic operations such as creating, duplicating, and moving layers.

Creating new layers

You can create new layers from the Layer menu, the menu in the Layer palette, or the context menu that appears when right-clicking a layer in the Layer palette.

When you create a new layer from the Layer menu or Layer palette menu, the New Layer dialog will appear. In this dialog, you can set the layer name, expression color, and blending mode.

You can also create a new layer using the following icons in the Layer palette.

When you create a new layer with these buttons, the layer will have the Normal blending mode and the default color expression set when creating the canvas.

You can hold Alt while tapping a New layer icon to open a dialog box for creating the new layer or layer folder.

(1)New raster layer

(2)New vector layer

(3)New layer folder

Duplicating layers

To create a copy of an existing layer, use the Duplicate layer command in the Layer menu or use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to copy and paste the selected layer.

Layer copies will be automatically renamed. You can change your renaming preferences using the Name of Copies setting in the File > Preferences > Layer/Frame dialog.

Deleting layers

You can delete layers using the Delete layer command in the Layer menu, the Layer palette menu, or the right-click menu, or by tapping the trash bin icon on the Layer palette while the layer is selected. You can delete multiple selected layers at once.

You can delete all empty layers or hidden layers at once from the Layer menu > Delete layers > Empty layers or Hidden layers. These commands do not delete locked layers.

Selecting layers

You can select layers by tapping them in the Layer palette. When layers other than the active layer are selected, a checkbox will appear beside the layer.

The Select layer tool from the Operation tool group can also be used to select layers, and it is especially useful when you have a lot of layers. When you tap the canvas with this tool, the active layer will automatically switch to the part of the canvas that was tapped.

Moving layers

You can move layers using the Move layer tool found in the Operation tool.

To move a layer with the Move layer tool, make sure it is selected in the Layer palette, then simply drag on the canvas. You can move multiple layers at once by selecting them in the Layer palette.

The Move layer tool has the following settings.

(1)Mode

Selects the type of layer to be moved.

Layer: Moves a layer.

Halftone dots of tone: Moves screentones. The area of the screentones does not change.

Grid/Ruler bar: Moves the grid and ruler bar.

(2)Move the object at the clicked position

Moves the layer with a drawing in the clicked position.

(3)Move layers in the selected area

Moves the layer with a drawing within the selected area.

(4)Moved layers become selected

Any layers that are clicked or that are in the moved selection area will be selected on the Layer palette.

(5)Keep original image

When turned on, the original image is kept when moving an image. If an area is selected, images in the selected area are duplicated and moved. If no area is selected, the layer to be moved is duplicated and moved.

You can also move layers by dragging across the canvas with the Object tool. Layers at the position where you start dragging will be selected and moved.

However, the items that can be selected at the drag start position will change depending on the settings in the Advanced Tool Settings palette > "Operation". If a layer contains multiple objects, such as a vector layer, the object that is first touched will be moved.

When dragging an area that has content on multiple layers, only the top layer will be moved. However, if Select folders is turned on in the Advanced Tool Settings palette > Operation, all layers stored in a layer folder can be moved together.

Merging layers

You can use the following commands in the Layer menu or the Layer palette to merge and combine layers.

(1)Transfer To Lower Layer

Transfers the image on a selected layer to the layer immediately below.

(2)Merge with layer below

Combines the selected layer with the layer directly below.

(3)Merge selected layers

Combines the selected layers into one.

(4)Merge visible layers

Combines only layers that are visible in the Layer palette. Hidden layers are left separate and are not merged.

(5)Merge visible to new layer

Creates a new layer with the content of all visible layers. The original layers are kept as they are.

(6)Flatten image

Combines all layers into one.

Changing layer visibility

You can change a layer’s visibility by tapping the Show/hide layer column in the Layer palette. When the eye icon is shown, the layer will be visible on the canvas. If there is no eye icon, the layer is hidden.

You can also change the visibility from the Layer menu or Layer palette menu > Layer settings > Show layer.

Advanced visibility settings

You can toggle which layers are displayed using the context menu from the Show/Hide layer column of the Layer palette. When you open the context menu, the current layer will be selected by default.

Show/Hide this layer

Toggles the visibility of the currently selected layer. This functions the same as clicking the visibility icon.

Show this layer and parent folders

Shows both the layer currently being edited and any layer folders it resides in. Using this command will set all parent folders in the hierarchy to visible. This option is only available when you select a layer inside a folder.

Show all other layers

Sets all layers except the currently selected one to visible. The visibility of the selected layer remains unchanged.

Hide all other layers

Sets all layers except the currently selected one to hidden. The visibility of the selected layer remains unchanged.

Hide all except selected layers

Hides every layer other than the one(s) currently selected.

You can also use Hide all except selected layers by holding the Alt key while tapping the visibility icon. Doing this again will restore the previous visibility state. However, if you manually change any layer's visibility while others are hidden this way, you will not be able to revert to the original state with the Alt key.

Hiding draft layers

You can hide all draft layers at once from the Layer menu > Hide all visible draft layers.

Using this again will show the hidden draft layers. However, any draft layers that were already hidden before the first command will remain hidden.