Corel Painter Help | Getting started with layers

Getting started with layers

A layer is an object that serves as a container for image data. You can use layers to build an image one element at a time. This allows you to modify and manipulate the content of a layer independently of other layers and the canvas. Likewise, you can work on the canvas without interfering with any of the other layers. For example, if you introduced an element to an image by using a layer and you don’t like the result, you don’t have to clear the entire canvas — just modify or remove the affected layer.

When you add content, such as brushstrokes to a layer, the areas of the layer that have no content are transparent. This allows you to see the content of layers below and the canvas. In Corel Painter, you can control the behavior of layer transparency. For more information, see Preserving layer transparency.

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.

Understanding layers and the canvas

To better understand the role of layers in Corel Painter, it’s important to understand the role of the canvas. When creating a new image in Corel Painter, a blank canvas displays in the document window, which serves as the foundation, or background layer, of the image. Although the canvas displays in the Layers panel, you cannot modify the canvas like other layers. For example, you cannot delete, reorder, unlock, transform, or group the canvas. In addition, unlike layers, the canvas is not transparent because it stores the paper color. Therefore, if you convert the canvas to a layer, even areas that appear transparent retain the paper color. For more information, see To convert the canvas to a layer.

Layer categories and types

Corel Painter includes different layer types that are pixel-based, media-based or vector-based. It also includes dynamic and reference layers. The type is determined by the data the layer contains.

The Corel Painter default layer is pixel-based. You can use most brush variants on pixel-based layers, with the following exceptions: Watercolor and Liquid Ink brushes. These brush variants require media-based layers. Pixel-based layers also play a role in more specialized functions, such as building an image hose nozzle, embedding a URL in an image, or creating an animation.

Vector-based layers contain shapes or text. When you create a shape with one of the shape tools (Pen, Quick Curve, Rectangular Shape, or Oval Shape) or text using the Text tool, Corel Painter automatically adds a new layer to the document. Each new shape or text block becomes a separate layer; you can group multiple shapes together or merge them into a single shape.

Some features in Corel Painter can be applied only to default, pixel-based layers. If you want to use these features on shapes, Watercolor layers, Liquid Ink layers, dynamic layers, and so on, you must convert them to default layers.

The following table describes each of the layer types.


Layer type	Description
Default	Stores the paint applied by most brush variants. You can also apply effects to pixel-based default layers.
Floating object	Stores layer selections so you can edit layer content. For more information, see Converting selections into layers or floating objects.
Watercolor	Stores the paint applied with the Watercolor and Real Watercolor brushes and enables them to mix and flow together. When you apply a Watercolor brush to the canvas, or to a standard layer, a new Watercolor layer is automatically created. For more information, see Working with the Watercolor layer.
Liquid Ink	Stores the brushstrokes of Liquid Ink brushes. When you apply one of the Liquid Ink brushes to the canvas or to an image layer, a new Liquid Ink layer is automatically created. For more information, see Working with Liquid Ink brushes.
Reference	Stores low-resolution representations of other layers, which lets you manipulate standard layers more easily. For more information, see Working with reference layers.
Dynamic	Lets you apply effects to the underlying image. Some dynamic layers, such as Glass Distortion and Equalize, interact with the underlying images in a specific area to produce effects. Other dynamic layers, such as Liquid Metal, interact with the underlying images as you apply brushstrokes. For more information, see Dynamic Plug-ins.
Shape	Stores any shapes that you create using one of the shape tools. When you create a shape, a new vector-based shape layer is automatically created. For more information, see Getting started with shapes.
Text	Stores single blocks of text that were inserted with the Text tool. When you add text, a vector-based text layer is automatically created. For more information, see Aligning text.

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