The editor shows the different types of layers on the current canvas. Image layers and Mask layers are displayed separately inside a split window. This allows you to associate one or more mask layers with any image layer, and re-use the same mask layers for different image layers.

It is also possible to create Invisibility Mask layers in the bottom section of the window. These are similar to mask layers, except that the hidden paint can be shown again.

The layer thumbnails are turned on by default. To turn off the thumbnails (in order to provide more space for the layer names), choose Preferences > General Preferences, go to the Paint section, and remove the check mark in Show thumbnails in Canvas Layer Editor.

The window has a set of menus and icons for control over the layers. Some functionality can be accessed from either a menu item or an icon.

All the functions accessible through the menus can also be associated to a hotkey through the Special:Canvas Layer Editor section of the Hotkeys editor (Preferences > Interface > Hotkeys/Menus).

Note

Construction planes and canvas planes are managed in a different editor window. (See Windows > Editors > Construction Plane editor).

However, the following canvas-related functions are available from the Canvas Layer Editor.

To change the active canvas

Click the small arrow next to the canvas name in the Canvas Layer Editor.
Choose another canvas from the Canvas Lister.
The content of the Canvas Layer Editor updates to show the layers on the new active canvas.

To see the properties of the active canvas

Click the icon at the bottom of the Canvas Layer Editor.
The Canvas General Information window opens.
Click the icon again to close it.

Canvas Layer Editor icons

Icon	Meaning
Layer visibility in view window
	Visible
	Invisible
	Active layer opacity value
	Layer opacity slider
	Display all layers
	Display current (active) layer only
Layer type
	Image (Paint)
	Mask
	Invisibility mask
	Image (Paint) shape
	Mask shape
	Invisibility mask shape
	Image layer has hidden paint
	Text layer
Ability to move layer on canvas
	Layer can be transformed
	Layer cannot be transformed
Mask icons on divider bar (toggles)
	Show/hide all masks linked with the active layer (but keep enabled)
	Enable/disable all masks linked with the active layer
	Show all masks/Show only masks linked with the active layer in lister
Other mask icons
	This mask layer is associated with the active layer
	If the check mark is off, this mask layer is disabled but retains its link to any image layer
	Number of mask layers associated with the active image layer.
Canvas Plane icons
	See Construction Plane editor icons.
Tools (at bottom of editor)
	Open/Close Construction Plane Editor
	Open/Close Canvas General Information window.
	New folder
	New image layer
	New mask layer
	New invisibility mask layer
	Duplicate layer
	Clear layer
	Delete layer

The following icons are used in the editor:

Canvas Layer editor menus

Layer menu

New image layer: Create a new image layer on the selected canvas or overlay plane.
New image layer (import): Create a new image layer by importing an existing image. If you are using the Windows browser, you also have the choice to import the image as a mask layer.
Tip
The type of browser can be changed by choosing Preferences > General Preferences and going to the System section
New image layer (capture current window): Create a new image layer containing the snapshot of the current window.
New mask layer: Create a new mask layer. The layer will appear in the bottom section of the Canvas Layer Editor.
New invisibility mask layer: Create a new invisibility mask layer (previously called stencil). The layer will appear in the bottom section of the Canvas Layer Editor.
Duplicate: Makes a duplicate of the currently selected image layer, shape layer, or mask layer. The new layer is placed above the original layer. Duplicate layers are named by adding -1, -2, -3, etc, to the layer name.
Merge below: Merges the current paint layer and the paint layer directly beneath it, and uses the name of the lower layer’s name.
Merge visible: Merges all paint layers that are visible. To retain some layers, turn their visibility off by clicking the eye icon before performing a merge.
Merge all: Merges all paint layers on the selected canvas or overlay plane and discards layer masks.

Edit menu

Clear layer: Removes paint from the active image layer and retains the blank image layer.
Clear hide show: Restores (shows) hidden paint on the active layer.
Rasterize layer: Converts the vector-based shape or text layer into a bitmap.
Invert layer: When applied to an image layer, it inverts the RGB colors in the image. For example, red (255,0,0) becomes cyan (0, 255, 255).
When applied to a mask layer, or invisibility mask layer, it swaps the masked and unmasked regions.
This tool does not affect Shape layers.
Invert shape/paint mask: Swaps the masked and unmasked regions on the active mask layer.
When applied to an image layer, this operation inverts all the masks linked to that layer.
Invert invisibility mask: Swaps the masked and unmasked regions on the active invisibility mask layer.
When applied to an image layer, this operation inverts all the invisibility masks linked to that layer.
Invert marquee: Inverts a marquee by making the region outside the selected area the new selection area.
Marquees are created by using the Magic Wand and Marquee tools under Paint > Select.
Horizontal Flip: Flips the active image layer from right to left.
Vertical Flip: Flips the active image layer from top to bottom.
Transform layer: Moves or scales an image layer, mask layer or invisibility mask layer. Shape layers cannot be transformed. All layers that have the icon turned on will be transformed.
Delete active shape: Deletes the currently active shape (highlighted in yellow). If this was the only shape on the shape layer, then the shape layer is also deleted.
Delete active layer: Deletes the currently active image layer, shape layer, mask layer, or invisibility mask layer. The active layer is highlighted in dark purple.
Delete all invisibility mask layers: Deletes the invisibility mask layers, and gives you the option to restore the hidden paint. If you choose not to restore the hidden paint, it will be lost.
Delete all layers in transform group: Deletes all the layers that have the icon turned on. This is a quick way to delete several layers at a time.
Delete all invisible layers: Deletes all layers that have their visibility turned off (through the icon)
Delete all layers: Deletes all layers on the current canvas, regardless of their type or visibility.
Copy layers: Copies all the currently selected layers to the Alias clipboard.
Paste layers: Pastes the layers from the Alias clipboard into the active canvas.

Convert menu

You can convert a selected image, mask, or invisibility mask layer into a different type of layer (for example convert an image layer into a mask layer) by using tools from this menu.

A copy of the layer is made and converted to the proper type. The original is kept.

Converting a layer into its own type is equivalent to using Layer > Duplicate.

Copy layer to image: Converts a mask or invisibility mask layer into an image layer.
Copy layer to mask: Converts an image, or invisibility mask layer into a mask layer, using the image's opacity values as the mask. Areas that are fully opaque are fully masked.
Copy layer to mask (luminance): Converts an image, or invisibility mask layer into a mask layer , using the image's luminance values as the mask. Areas that are 100% white are fully masked.
Copy layer to invisibility mask: Converts an image, or mask layer into an invisibility mask layer, using the image's opacity values as the invisibility mask. Areas that are fully opaque are fully masked.
Copy layer to invisibility mask (luminance): Converts an image, or mask layer into an invisibility mask layer, using the image's luminance values as the invisibility mask. Areas that are 100% white are fully masked.
Marquee to mask: Converts a marquee to a mask layer. The selected region is unmasked and all other regions are masked.
Marquees are created by using the Magic Wand and Marquee tools under Paint > Select.

Toggle menu

Hide non-current layers: Allows you to see only the currently active layer on the canvas. All other layers are made invisible.
Show all layers: All layers (on the current canvas) are made visible.
Tgl marquee: Lets you toggle the visibility of the marquee (selection area) on or off.
Marquees are created by using the Magic Wand and Marquee tools under Paint > Select.

Project menu

Project sketch: Lets you project a sketch onto one or more objects. The object(s) must be active. All visible layers from the current canvas are projected.

Alias

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Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor

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