The most common layer type is the drawing layer. Any time you need to create a vector drawing or import a symbol or image, you can use a drawing layer. You can also create bitmap artwork on a drawing layer.

If you import a bitmap images (as original bitmap) in your project, they are inserted in a Bitmap layer. If you choose to vectorize your image when you import, the vectorized object will be placed on a Drawing layer.

When importing a bitmap image, you have the option of encapsulating the image in a symbol. If you place a bitmap into a symbol, you will be able to mix vector drawings with it on the same layer.

You can only have one Camera layer at a time in the Timeline view. By default, there is no Camera layer when you create a scene. You need to add a Camera layer when you want to create a camera motion.

To enhance the look of your scene, you can add effect layers and attach your drawings to them.

The Colour-Card layer is used to add a plain colour background to a scene. By default, your scene has no background colour and if you render it as a QuickTime movie or image sequence, it will have a black background.

A Group layer can be used to organize the Timeline view. You can drag and drop other layers onto a Group layer and then collapse the Group layer to hide these other layers from view.

If you create the Group layer in the Timeline view.

A Peg layer is a trajectory or motion path layer that does not contain drawings. It can be attached to any drawing layer, cut-out puppet, or other peg layers; they will all follow the trajectory you set in the Peg layer.

A Quadmap layer can be described as a deformation transformation layer that does not contain drawings. This can be attached to any drawing layer, cut-out puppet, or even other Peg layers. They will all follow the deformation you set in the Quadmap layer.

You can import sound files to add dialog and sound effects to your project. The sound layer will be added to your Timeline and Xsheet view when you import a sound file in your scene.

In the Xsheet view, the Sound layer is a dark grey colour.