Layers
For a quick introduction on how to create and edit layers, see the tutorial
Create your first Artwork.
There are four types of layers: Art, Doodle,
Text and Image.
Below is a description of each layer type.
For a quick introduction on how to create a Art layer, see the tutorial
Create your first Artwork.
An Art layer is a layer
for drawing. It's background is opaque and will obscure any layer underneath
it.
To insert a new Art layer, press the Insert Art
Layer button 
and select New.
You can draw a small
picture or a complete work of art on it. As you draw
on an Art layer, everything you do is recorded.
You
can play an Art layer within ArtStudio by pressing the Play button 
.
You can stop an Art
layer while it is playing by pressing the Stop button 
.
However, since you didn't let the drawing finish, the layer will be cleared. You should allow the drawing to finish before
you continue to draw on the layer.
To save an Art
layer, click on the Save Layer button 
To open a previously saved Art
layer, click on the Insert Art
Later button and select Open.
To change the properties
of an Art layer (e.g. drawing speed, background color), click on the Layer Properties button 
.
See How To Draw
for instructions on how to draw on a layer.
For a quick introduction on how to create a Doodle layer, see the tutorial
Create your first Artwork.
A Doodle layer, like
an Art layer, is a layer for drawing. However, unlike an Art layer, the
background is transparent.
To insert a new Doodle layer, press the Insert
Doodle Layer button 
and select New.
A Doodle should be a
small quick "doodle" as opposed to a complex drawing. As you
draw on an Art layer, everything you do
is recorded.
Examples of Doodles
are:
draw/write your
signature
circle something
to highlight it
draw an arrow to
point to something
draw a happy face
Each time a Doodle is
moved, it is redrawn over the layers under it.
You
can play a Doodle layer within ArtStudio by pressing the Play button .
To save a Doodle
layer, click on the Save Layer button
To open a previously saved Doodle
layer, click on the Insert Doodle
Layer button
and select Open.
To change the properties
of a Doodle layer (e.g. drawing speed), click on the Layer
Properties button .
Please see How To
Draw for instructions on how to draw on a layer.
For a quick introduction on how to create a Text layer, see the tutorial
Create your first Artwork.
A Text layer is a layer
for entering and editing text.
To insert a new Text layer, press the Insert Text
Layer button 
and select New.
You
can play a Text layer within ArtStudio by pressing the Play button .
You cannot
stop a Text layer while it is playing.
To save a Text
layer, click on the Save Layer button
To open a previously saved Text
layer, click on the Insert Text Layer button and
select Open.
To change the properties
of a Text layer (e.g. drawing speed, background color), click on the Layer Properties button .
Please see Editing
Text for instructions on how to edit a Text layer.
A Image layer is a layer that you can use to insert
images/photos that are on your computer.
To insert a new Image layer, press the Insert
Image Layer button 
and select New.
You can move/size a Image.
You can draw on an image layer but your drawing
is not recorded.
To save a Image layer, click on the Save Layer
button
To open a previously saved Image, Insert Image
Layer button and select Open.
To change the properties
of a Image layer (e.g. layer name), click on the Layer
Properties button .
Layer Properties
Each of the layers has various properties that can be modified using
the Layer Properties Dialog.
The Art, Doodle and Text layers can be played within ArtStudio.
To play a layer, press the Play button .
To stop a layer while it is playing, press the
Stop button .
If you stop an Art layer, the layer will be cleared.
You should play the layer and allow it to complete before you continue
to draw on it.
To play the active layer and all subsequent layers,
press the Play All Layers button 
.
To play the entire Artwork, press the Rewind button
and then press the Play All Layers button .
To see how the Artwork will appear when it is
e-mailed to someone, click on the Preview
button 
.
If you click on the Copy Layer button 
on the Layer Toolbar or select
Copy Layer from the Edit menu, the active layer is copied to the Windows
clipboard. The Paste Layer button will then be enabled indicating that
there is a layer in the clipboard.
If you click on the Cut Layer button 
on the Layer Toolbar, the
active layer is removed and copied to the Windows clipboard. The Paste
Layer button will then be enabled indicating that there is a layer in
the clipboard.
If you click on the Paste Layer button 
on the Layer Toolbar, the
layer in the clipboard is inserted into the Artwork. You can paste it
multiple times. You may want to change the name of each layer using the
Layer Properties Dialog.
If you click on the Delete Layer button 
on the Layer Toolbar, the
layer is deleted.
If you click on the Reset Layer button 
on the Layer Toolbar, the
layer is reset. That is, any text or drawing is removed. The size and
position is not effected.
All of the layers can be resized and moved.
To do this:
First click on the Move/Size
button 
To size a layer, place
the mouse over one of the sizing squares 
and press the
left mouse button. Move the mouse to size the layer. Or, while the mouse
is over one of the sizing squares, press the arrow keys to change the
size of the layer.
To move a layer, place
the mouse within the layer and press the left mouse button. Move the mouse
to move the layer. Or, press the arrow keys to change the position of
the layer.
All of the layers can be saved individually
and reused in a different Artwork. To Save a Layer, click on the Save
Layer button on the Layer
Toolbar. When prompted, enter a name for the layer and click on the
OK button.
To open a previously saved layer,
click on one of the Open Layer buttons on the Layer
Toolbar. The Open Layer dialog will be displayed.
Click on a layer to select it and then click on the Open button to open
it.
To delete a previously saved layer, click on one of the Open Layer buttons
on the Layer Toolbar. The Open Layer dialog
will be displayed. Click on a layer to select it and then press the Delete
key.