How to Add and Manage Layers

Each panel in your storyboard can be composed of one or several drawing layers. Those layers are composed together to make the drawing in each panel.

The go-to way of selecting and managing layers in a panel is to use the Layer panel, which is, by default, in the right section of the Stage and Camera views.

However, it is also possible to add the Layers view to your workspace, which works the same way. You can then hide the Layer panel by clicking on its Collapse button in its top-left corner, leaving more space to work in the Stage and Camera views.

NOTE The Layers view also has extra functionalities. You can decide whether the layer is included in certain types of export, and you can configure the layer to follow the camera movements or, for 3D scenes, to make it follow the camera's angle.

You can also manage layers using the Thumbnails view. If the size of the Thumbnails view is big enough, each panel in it will have a vertical list of layers on its right edge, which allows you to scroll through and select layers. Left of the Thumbnails view, under the Tools toolbar, is a Layer toolbar, which allows you to add and remove layers to the selected panel.

Adding Layers

By default, a panel contains a background (BG) and a drawing layer (A), but you can add as many layers as you need to each panel in your project.

  1. In the Thumbnails view, select the panel to which you want to add a new layer.
  1. In the Layer panel of the Stage or Camera view, the Layers view or the Thumbnails view, select the layer over which you want to create a new layer.
  1. Do one of the following:
  • Click . located at the bottom of the Layer panel in the Stage and Camera views, at the bottom of the Layers view and in the Layer toolbar.
  • In the top menu, select.

Grouping Layers

You can group your layers together to make them easier to manage.

TIP

When layers are grouped, you may transform and animate several layers together.

To transform and animate several layers together, you should select the group by holding the alt key and clicking the group folder. Then, with the Select tool, drag your mouse over the group’s drawings in the Camera or Stage views.

  1. In the Layer panel of the Stage or Camera view or in the Layers view, select at least two layers to group.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Group Selected Layers button. This button can be found at the bottom of the Layer panel in the Stage or Camera view and at the bottom of the Layers view.
    • Right-click on the selection, then select Group Selected Layers.
    • In the top menu, select Layer > Group Selected Layers.
TIP You can drag and drop layers into or out of groups.

Hiding and Showing Layers

When working with many layers, you can temporarily hide certain layers to avoid cluttering the stage.

You can also hide a group. When a group is hidden, all of the layers it contains appear hidden, but their individual visibility state is preserved. Therefore, if you hide only some layers inside a group, hide the group itself, then unhide the group, the layers that were individually hidden will remain hidden and the ones that were visible will be visible again.

  1. Do one of the following:
    • In the Layer panel or the Layers view, click the Show/Hide Layer icon just left of the layer.
    • In the Thumbnails view, click on the Show/Hide Layer icon just beneath the layer's name.
    • In the Layer panel, the Layers view or the Thumbnails view, right-click on the layer and select Show/Hide Layers
    • In the Layer panel, the Layers view or the Thumbnails view, select the layer, then select Layer > Show/Hide Layers from the top menu.
  1. Do one of the following:
  • In the Thumbnails view, ALT+Click the eyes icon beneath the layer's name to Show/Hide multiple layers.
  • In the Layer panel, the Layers view or the Thumbnails view, right-click on the layer and select Show/Hide Layer
  • ALT+Click the eyes icon to show or hide other layers.
  1. In one of the following locations:
  • Layer panel of the Camera or Stage view
  • Layer view
  • Thumbnail view

Alt + click the Show/Hide icon on the layer you wish to keep visible.

All other layers are hidden.

NOTE

For this feature to take effect, all layers except one must be hidden.

  1. In one of the following locations:
  • Layer panel of the Camera or Stage view
  • Layer view
  • Thumbnail view

Alt + click the Show/Hide icon on the only visible layer.

All layers become visible.

Locking and Unlocking Layers

You can lock a selected layer to protect any objects on it from being changed. Once locked, you can unlock the layer to make changes to any objects on it.

 

  1. Do one of the following:
    • In the Layer panel or the Layers view, click the Lock/Unlock icon just left of the layer.
    • In the Thumbnails view, click on the Lock/Unlock icon just beneath the layer name.
    • In the Layer panel, the Layers view or the Thumbnails view, select the layer. Then, do one of the following:
      • From the top menu, select Layer > Lock/Unlock Layers.
      • In the Layer toolbar, click on the Lock/Unlock Layers button.
      • Use the keyboard shortcut Alt + L.

 

  1. In one of the following locations:
  • Layer panel of the Camera or Stage view
  • Layer view
  • Thumbnail view

Alt + click the Lock/Unlock icon on the layer you wish to keep unlocked.

All other layers become locked.

NOTE

For this feature to take effect, all layers except one must be locked.

  1. In one of the following locations:
  • Layer panel of the Camera or Stage view
  • Layer view
  • Thumbnail view

Alt + click the Lock/Unlock icon on the only unlocked layer.

All layers become unlocked.