User Guide

14
Using Layers and Layer Masks
When you open a new document and
create an image, your work appears on
a background layer known as the
canvas. You can add additional layers
to a document, which allows you to
manipulate the visual elements in the
image independently of the canvas.
Layers provide one of the great
advantages of creating images in a
digital workspace—the freedom to
experiment with different
compositions and effects without
risking an unwanted, permanent edit.
The Corel Painter RIF file format
preserves layers when you save a
document, so you can easily make
changes at a later time. There’s no
need to re-create the entire
composition—just modify one or
more layers. The result is a dynamic
and flexible design environment.
Think of layers as sheets of clear material, such
as acetate. Painting on a layer obscures the image
below it. Areas of a layer that don’t contain
imagery remain transparent.