2.3 Layer Creation, Deletion, Duplication, and Organization

We now return to the functions contained in the Layers menu shown in Figure 2.5. The most basic layer operations are those of creation, deletion, duplication, and organization. These functions are controlled with the menu entries shown in Figures 2.5(b) and (c) but are more easily accessed using the button bar located at the bottom of the Layers dialog.

     
2.3.1 Creating New Layers

The first entry in the Layers menu is New Layer . Clicking on this function brings up a dialog that allows the user to name the new layer and choose its dimensions. The default dimensions are those of the existing image. Also, the user can choose whether the created layer is white, the foreground or background colors, or transparent. The foreground and background colors are those displayed in the Active Foreground Color and Active Background Color patches in the Toolbox window. The new layer is inserted just above the active layer, becoming immediately apparent in the Layers Palette. The New Layer function is also provided by the button in the button bar depicting the single sheet of paper.

       
2.3.2 Raising Layers

The order of layers in the Layers Palette controls how the layers are perceived in the image. The Raise Layer  entry, shown in Figure 2.5(c), shifts the active layer up by one, if possible, in the layer stack. The function Layer to Top  puts the active layer at the top of the stack.

Raise Layer and Layer to Top are also available from the button bar. The upward-pointing arrow icon provides these functions. Clicking on this button raises the active layer, and Shift-clicking raises the layer to the top of the stack. Note that if the lowest layer of the stack does not have an alpha channel, it cannot be raised.

       
2.3.3 Lowering Layers

The Lower Layer  entry in the Layers menu shifts the active layer down by one in the layer stack, and Layer to Bottom  moves it to the bottom of the stack. The same functions are provided by the downward-pointing arrow icon in the button bar. Clicking on the icon lowers the active layer once, and Shift-clicking puts it to the bottom of the stack. Note that if the lowest layer of the stack does not have an alpha channel, another layer cannot be made lower than it.

     
2.3.4 Duplicating Layers

The active layer can be duplicated by clicking on the Duplicate Layer  entry in the Layers menu. The duplicated layer is positioned just above the active layer. This function is also provided by the button depicting the two sheets of paper in the button bar.

     
2.3.5 Deleting Layers

The active layer can be deleted by selecting the Delete Layer   entry from the Layers menu. This function is also provided by the button in the button bar depicting a Trash Can.

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