Layers Overview

Note that only 'Drawing' type documents can contain layers. See Creating new documents for details of creating Drawing type documents.

When you draw an object in a document it is placed in the current layer
(this is usually called Layer 1). All documents are formed from a set of layers which act like a series of transparent sheets laid on each other with opaque objects on one layer obscuring anything underneath them on lower layers. In a simple drawing all your objects are usually in one layer.

With layers you can:

Choose which layers can be edited.

Show as many or as few layers as you wish.

Change the order of layers, front to back.

Name layers.

Create and delete layers.

You can manipulate the layers in a document using the Layer Gallery (see the Layer Gallery Overview for more details).

Exporting multiple layers

You can export each layer individually as multiple PNG files. More information.

Foreground and Background Layers

There are two types of layer - Foreground and Background. Background layers always sit behind the foreground layers. Background layers never print so are ideal for pictures you want to copy or backgrounds you only want visible on the screen.

Button & NavBar Tool

When creating Navigation Bars
, this tool creates extra layers as required. These layers are called MouseOff, MouseOver, MouseDown, Selected and BackBar. You can view these layers in the Layer Gallery. We do not recommend deleting them or renaming them as this could affect bar creation. For more information on bar creation see Creating Navigation Bars.

Tips

Layers can be used to act as overlays to show different levels of detail. For example you could draw a map with different levels of detail on different layers and turn the layers on and off individually.

You can use layers to divide an illustration into layers for easy editing. For example a complex drawing of a face might have layers for the mouth, nose, eyes and face.

If you place a picture in a background layer and lock it, you can draw over it in an upper layer without affecting it.

Movie—click below (not working in this version)

Using layers

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Related Topics

Multi-layer Export