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How to Create & Manage Layers | Views & Layers Palette Contents | Create a New Layer |
Rename a Layer | Delete a Layer | Views |
Create a New View | Rename a View | Delete a View |
Professional graphic artists use layers in complex images to break-up the components of their work. Layering allows a complex image to be changed and retouched easily. A layer is nothing more than a contained set of items. Within a given layer, items can be stacked in any order without any bearing on the layers. Consider the following diagram.
This diagram demonstrates how layering and stacking are different. Layer one contains five items (1 - 5), stacked accordingly. While layer two contains two items (A - B ) stacked accordingly. When the whole image is put together, the items in layer one will sit atop the items in layer two. Likewise, the stacking on each layer will apply.
As you can see, using stacking and layering you can build a rather intricate graphic item.
From the Document menu, select Views and Layers. The Views & Layers floating palette is displayed.
Layer List: A list of all the layers in the document.
View Indicator: Shows which view is currently being shown. See below for more information about views.
Selected Layer: Any items drawn or pasted are placed on the selected layer. To place items on a different layer, select that layer first in the Views & Layers palette.
Visible Indicator: Checked, the layer is visible on screen. Unchecked, the layer is hidden.
Selection Indicator: Checked, items on the layer can be selected in the workspace. Unchecked, items cannot be selected.
Locked Indicator: Checked, the layer is locked. Items cannot be edited in any way. Unchecked, items are available for editing (unless the item itself is locked).
Printed Indicator: Checked, the layer will print. Unchecked, the layer will not print.
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Reminder: When working with a layered graphics document, it is important to keep track of the layer where you are working. New items and edits are performed only to the selected layer. If you want to edit the items in a different layer, you must first select that layer in the Views & Layers palette. While a layer may be visible (visible indicator checked) and even available for some editing (the selection indicator is checked), you cannot add new items to a layer without first selecting it. |
A view is merely a particular configuration of the Views & Layer palette. For example, you are working on a complex graphic with four layers. Layers one and two are a schematic for wiring, while layers three and four are a structural schematic. Using views, you can setup one view to display only layers one and two, and a second view to display only layers three and four. A view does not exclude any layers. It merely holds the configuration of the indicators for the Views & Layer palette. Consider the following examples:
In View 1, layers 1 and 2 have some indicators checked, while layers 3 and 4 remain virtually hidden. In View 2, layer 1 is essentially hidden while layers 2, 3, and 4 are visible. As you can see, both views contain the same layers, it is merely how those layers are configured in the Views & Layers palette that is stored in a view.
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