Layer options

There are various layer options, available through the "Layers" dialog or, if not there, the Layers menu. These options show some of the most powerful features of layers.

image\ppLayersExample.gif

(The example "Layers" dialog shows an image of a house on the Background Layer - see Background layer - and a Super Nova filter on Layer 2. The images can be combined in the image window to show a house with a super nova filter, or either layer can be switched off to show only the image on the other layer. The active layer in the example is Layer 2 and all actions will take place on this layer until the other one is selected.)

We will go through the options in the "Layers" dialog not already dealt with in Creating and working with layers. After that we will cover some of the options available through the Layers menu.

Click on the New Layer image\ppLayerNew.gif button in the "Layers" dialog to open up the "New Layer" dialog.

image\ppNewLayerDlg.gif

In the Name box the layer is given a default name e.g. Layer_3. You can change the name as you wish. (The Opacity, Group with previous and Mode options are dealt with in the account of the "Layer Properties" dialog later on in this section.) Click on OK to close the dialog and create the new layer.

Note that whenever you create a new layer it is placed directly above the current highest layer in the stack, that is it becomes the layer furthest from the background. This can be observed in the "Layers" dialog.

If you want to delete a layer, first select the layer in the "Layers" dialog and then click on the Delete Layer image\ppLayerCut.gif button.

You can duplicate a layer by first selecting the correct layer in the "Layers" dialog and then clicking on the Duplicate Layer image\ppLayerDuplicate.gif button.

image\ppLayerDuplicateDlg.gif

In the "Duplicate Layer" dialog the layer to duplicated will be given a default name which you can change as you wish. In the Destination box you can choose whether to have the duplicate layer saved to the present document, an already existing document or to a new document.

There are several buttons that enable you to alter the order of the layers. In each case, first select the layer to be moved.

Click on the Layer Options image\ppLayerOptions.gif button to open up the "Layer Properties" dialog.

image\ppLayerPropertiesDlg.gif

There are several options here which are also available in the "Layers" dialog itself, such as power to change the name, alter the opacity, and select a different blend mode for the layer. In addition, you can choose to group layers together.

See:

Layers