Layers

Overview

Layers let you organize your artwork into separate stacked elements. Each layer is an independent canvas that composites onto the layers below it.

Layer Operations

Add Layer

Click the + button in the layers panel or press Ctrl+Shift+N to create a new layer above the current active layer.

Delete Layer

Select a layer and click the trash icon or press Delete. The active layer cannot be deleted if it is the only layer.

Rename Layer

Double-click a layer name to edit it inline. Press Enter to confirm or Escape to cancel.

Reorder Layers

Drag and drop layers in the panel to change their stacking order. Layers higher in the list render on top.

Duplicate Layer

Select a layer and click the duplicate icon to create an exact copy above the original.

Visibility & Locking

Toggle Visibility

Click the eye icon next to a layer to hide or show it. Hidden layers are not rendered but remain in the project.

Lock Layer

Click the lock icon to prevent any edits on a layer. Locked layers cannot be drawn on until unlocked.

Opacity

Adjust layer opacity from 0% (fully transparent) to 100% (fully opaque) using the slider in the layers panel. This affects how the layer composites with layers below.

Blend Modes

Change how a layer's colors combine with layers below:

Merging

Merge Down

Combines the active layer with the layer directly below it. The merged layer takes the name and position of the bottom layer.

Flatten

Merges all visible layers into a single layer. Hidden layers are discarded.

Selection to Layer

When you have an active selection, use Move to New Layer to extract the selected pixels into a new layer. This is useful for isolating elements without redrawing them.

Active Layer Indicator

The currently active layer is highlighted in the layers panel. All drawing operations apply to the active layer. Click any layer to make it active.