Converting selections into layers or floating objects

In Corel Painter, you can convert a selection that was made on the canvas into a layer. You can also convert a selection that was made on a layer into a floating object. You can convert selections that were made with the Rectangular Selection, Oval Selection, Lasso, or Magic Wand tool. You can also duplicate a selection to convert it to layer or floating object.

Converting a selection to a layer is also a useful way to convert the entire canvas to a layer. For example, you can convert a photo into a layer and then apply effects to it.

Layer-based selections function in the same way as selections on the canvas — you can use them to constrain brushstrokes, to isolate an area of the layer for applying an effect, or to choose an area of the layer to cut or copy. For more information, see Selections and transformations.

When you convert a canvas-based selection to a layer, a new layer appears in the Layers panel. However, when you convert a layer-based selection, a Layer Floating Object appears as an item below the parent layer in the Layers panel.

You can move floating objects around a layer to create new compositions. Each layer in a document can have only one floating object at a time. You can drop a floating object to merge it with the layer, but many operations automatically drop (or merge) the floating object back to its parent layer.

Floating objects are created by making a selection on a pixel-based layer. Shapes cannot be floating objects because they are vector-based. However, you can turn a shape into a pixel-based layer. For more information, see To convert a shape to a pixel-based layer for painting.

When you save a document to RIFF format, Corel Painter preserves all floating objects. However, saving a document in a non-RIFF format automatically drops floating objects onto their parent layers.

To convert a selection to a layer or floating object

To	Do the following
Convert the selection to a layer or floating object	Choose Select Float or click the selection with the Layer Adjuster tool .
Duplicate the selection as a layer or floating object	Hold down Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows), and click the selection with the Layer Adjuster tool .

When you rotate, scale, distort, or flip a selection using the Transform tool , the selection is automatically committed to a layer. For more information, see Preparing selections for transformations.

To convert the canvas to a layer

2	Choose Select All.

3	Choose Select Float.

To reposition or drop a floating object

To	Do the following
Reposition a floating object	In the document window, drag the floating object to the new location with the Layer Adjuster tool . Then, press the arrow keys to move the floating object one pixel at a time.
Drop a floating object	Click the Layer Commands button , and choose Drop.

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