Editing Layers

You can paint on layers, and preserve layer transparency to prevent painting on transparent areas. You can also move layer content to change the overall image layout. Using selections, you can turn an area of a layer into a floating object so that you can move it separately. Reference layers, low-resolution representations of an image, let you quickly manipulate images in ways that might otherwise require more time.

You can edit a layer’s content by applying effects to it, such as drop shadows and patterns, and by transforming its dimensions. You can also change a layer’s opacity, and use composite methods to change how a layer blends with other layers. The Image Portfolio lets you save the contents of a layer for future use.

Painting on Layers

When a layer is selected, you can use the brushes to paint, draw, erase, or clone. When painting on layers, keep the following points in mind:

Brush Methods and Painting on Layers

The Natural-Media environment allows brushstrokes on different layers to interact with each other. However, mixing brushstrokes that use the Cover and Buildup methods on the same layer can produce unexpected results. This is caused by a conflict between the brush method and the layer’s composite method.

Preserving Layer Transparency

Areas of a layer that don’t contain images are transparent. You can preserve the transparent areas of a layer with the Preserve Transparency check box in the Layers panel. This option affects which areas of a layer you can create images on. It also affects the results of erasing or deleting images on a layer.

By default, Preserve Transparency is disabled, which lets you paint anywhere on the layer. When Preserve Transparency is enabled, the transparent areas are preserved, and you are confined to painting on areas of the layer that already contain images.

The results of painting on a layer with Preserve Transparency disabled (left) and enabled (right).

If you want to paint on a shape, you must first commit the shape to a pixel-based layer. For more information, see To paint a shape.

A good way to think about the Preserve Transparency option is in terms of a layer mask. As described in Working with Layer Masks, a layer mask defines the visible areas of a layer.

Preserve Transparency provides a powerful selective editing capability to create interesting effects by altering the strokes you’ve already applied. For example, you can enable Preserve Transparency to fill a set of hand-drawn letters with a pattern, a color gradient, or other brushstrokes.

Preserve Transparency also affects the results of cutting or erasing on a layer.

Erasing part of a layer (the woman’s hair) with the Preserve Transparency check box disabled restores transparency (left). When the option is enabled, erasing reveals the paper color (right).

You can create a layer mask based on the layer’s transparency. A layer mask defines which areas of a layer are visible in the document window. For more information, see Creating Layer Masks.

Picking up color from underlying layers

You can choose to pick up colors from underlying layers when you use brush variants that push paint, rather than apply paint. For example, if you have red paint on the top layer, and blue paint on the bottom layer, you can use the Subtle Palette Knife brush variant to blend the red and blue paint. In most cases, brush variants that allow you to blend colors within an individual layer will also support the picking up of colors on underlying layers.

Working with Floating Objects

You can make a selection on a layer using the Rectangular Selection, Oval Selection, Lasso, or Magic Wand tool. Selections on layers 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.

By default, when you move a selection, only the selection marquee moves, not the images. To move selected images on a layer, you must “float” the selection. In effect, this turns the selected area of the layer into a floating object. 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. 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 instructions, see To convert a shape to a pixel-based layer.

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.

Adding Drop Shadows

Adding shadows to a layer’s content can enhance the appearance of an image. You can add a drop shadow to a single layer or to a group.

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.

Drop shadows are also helpful for developing Image Hose nozzles. For more information, see Preparing Images.

When you add a drop shadow, Corel Painter creates a new layer for the shadow and groups it with the original. This enables you to select and modify the drop shadow layer independently from the original layer.

Creating Patterns on Layers

You can use the same techniques to create patterns on layers as you do to create them on the canvas. However, a pattern’s wrap-around features do not apply to layers. This is because the canvas has edges, but layers do not — they are unlimited in size. If you shift a pattern on a layer, the pattern does not wrap around. For more information, see Patterns.

Working with Reference Layers

Reference layers get their image content from an external source — either a pixel-based layer in the current document or a separate file. They provide a low-resolution representation of the original image that you can quickly manipulate in ways that would otherwise require more time. Working with a reference layer allows you to resize, rotate, or slant a layer onscreen by dragging its handles. The changes are immediately displayed in the document window. When you finish making changes, you can commit the reference layer back to a standard layer. Corel Painter examines the source image to restore the original resolution.

You cannot edit the image data in a reference layer. If you try to paint on or apply effects to a reference layer, Corel Painter prompts you to commit it back to a pixel-based layer.

You can create a reference layer by basing it on an existing layer or by placing an image. For more information about placing images, see Opening and Placing Files.

Setting Layer Opacity

You can adjust a layer’s opacity to create different levels of transparency. The Opacity slider covers a range of 0% (completely transparent) to 100% (completely opaque).

The example on the left shows the background layers at 100% opacity. The example on the right shows them at 50% opacity.

Blending Layers by Using Composite Methods

A layer’s composite method controls how it interacts with the underlying image. You can change composite methods to create special effects without changing the actual images that make up a document.

For example, if the canvas contains Impasto brushstrokes, the Composite Depth setting determines what happens when these brushstrokes intersect with brushstrokes on the layer. For more information, see Blending Impasto with Other Layers.

You can set a different composite method for every layer in a document. Keep in mind the role of the underlying image in creating an effect — you might achieve an unexpected result if the underlying image is solid black or white.

The best way to understand the different composite methods is by seeing them in action. Quickly cycle through a layer’s composite methods to create new and interesting versions of your image. For a comparison of Corel Painter composite methods and Adobe PhotoShop blend modes, see Saving Files That Contain Layers.


Composite method	Example
Default In the Default method, the layer covers and hides the underlying image.
Gel The Gel method tints the underlying image with the layer’s color. For example, a yellow layer gives the underlying image a yellow cast. Corel Painter automatically sets a layer’s composite method to Gel if you paint on it with a brush that uses the Buildup method.
GelCover The GelCover method uses a combination of the Default method and the Gel method. The edges of the layer’s content tint the underlying image with their color (the Gel method). The rest of the layer covers the underlying image (Default method). If you save a file that uses a GelCover composite method layer to the PSD file format, the GelCover information will be lost.
Colorize The Colorize method replaces the hue and saturation of the canvas pixels with the hue and saturation of the layer pixels. You can use this feature to convert a color image to grayscale, or a grayscale image to color. A black layer turns the underlying color image into a grayscale image. A colored layer adds color to an underlying grayscale image.
Reverse-Out In the Reverse-Out method, the layer inverts the colors beneath it. This method is a great way to remove text. Place a layer over black text to turn it white. A color’s inverse, also known as its complementary color, is the color on the opposite side of the color wheel. With Reverse-Out, the colors in the layer are ignored; the layer content becomes transparent and reveals the inverse of the colors beneath it.
Shadow Map Shadow Map blocks light, letting you create shadows without changing the image.
Magic Combine In the Magic Combine method, the layer is combined with the underlying image based on luminance. The parts of the layer that are lighter than the underlying image are visible. The parts that are darker are replaced by the lighter area of the underlying image. One way to use this method is to fill text. With a photograph as the top layer and black text as the underlying image, choosing Magic Combine fills the text with the image.
Pseudocolor The Pseudocolor method translates the layer’s luminance into hue. You can use this method to turn a grayscale layer into a spectrum of color.
Normal The Normal method works like the Default method; the layer covers the underlying image. The Normal method is the default mode in Photoshop.
Dissolve Dissolve combines the image color with the layer color based on opacity.
Multiply Multiply combines colors to create a darker color.
Screen Screen combines colors to create a lighter color.
Overlay Overlay combines colors while preserving the highlights and shadows of the image color.
Soft Light Soft Light darkens or lightens colors depending on the luminance of the layer color.
Hard Light Hard Light multiplies or screens colors, depending on the luminance of the layer color.
Darken Darken colors with the image color or the layer color — whichever is darker.
Lighten Lighten colors with the image color or the layer color — whichever is lighter
Difference Difference subtracts one color from the other, depending on which color has a greater brightness value.
Hue Hue creates a color by combining the luminance and saturation of the image color with the hue of the layer color.
Saturation Saturation creates a color by combining the luminance and hue of the image color with the saturation of the layer color.
Color Color creates a new color by combining the luminance of the image color with the hue and saturation of the layer color. This method is the opposite of Luminosity.
Luminosity Luminosity creates a new color from the hue and saturation of the image color and the luminance of the layer color. This method is the opposite of Color.

Adding Notes to a Layer

In the Layer Attributes dialog box, you can attach additional information to a layer by adding notes to it.

Storing Images with the Image Portfolio

The Image Portfolio is a convenient place to store images you that want to use again.

Organizing Layers with Image Portfolio Libraries

You can create your own Image Portfolio libraries to organize layers by category. When you’re creating a library, keep in mind that the smaller the library, the easier it will be to see its contents at a glance.

You can also move items between Image Portfolio libraries. For more information about moving items between libraries, refer to Libraries.

To	Do the following
Resize a reference layer in one direction	Drag a side handle to resize the layer in one direction only.
Resize a reference layer in more than one direction	Drag a corner handle to resize the layer in two directions at once. If you want to maintain the layer proportions, hold down Shift as you drag. The pointer changes when you position it over a corner handle .
Rotate a reference layer	Hold down Command (Mac OS) or Ctrl (Windows), and drag a corner handle. The pointer changes when you position it over a corner handle .
Skew a reference layer	Hold down Command (Mac OS) or Ctrl (Windows), and drag a side handle. The pointer changes when you position it over a side handle .