User Guide

Layers 43
Layers
When you open a new document and create an image, your work appears on a
background layer known as the Canvas layer. 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 images remain transparent.
Getting Started with Layers
Corel Painter features different types of layers; how you work with each layer depends
on the type of data it contains. You can manage layers by using the Layers palette, and
modify layers by using the Layer Adjuster tool. You can also create, name, save, and
delete layers.