Corel PaintShop Pro Help | Creating layers

Creating layers

To create a layer from the Layers palette

To create a raster layer from a selection

To create a vector layer from vector objects

You can create a layer from the Layers palette. When you create a layer, you can specify properties such as the layer type, opacity, or blend mode. These properties can be modified as you work with the layer. You can create layers from selections, vector objects, or other images.

Layers are created automatically when you use the Text tool, Art Media tools, or vector drawing tools, such the Pen tool or the Preset Shape tool.

You can also create layers by merging existing layers. For more information, see Merging layers.

To create a layer from the Layers palette

Edit tab

1 On the Layers palette, click the layer above which you want create a layer.

2 From the drop-list on the toolbar of the Layers palette, choose a layer type:

• New Raster Layer

• New Vector Layer

• New Art Media Layer

• New Layer Group

• New Mask Layer

• New Adjustment Layer

3 Adjust the available controls for the layer properties.

4 Click OK.

The new layer is added above the active layer. It is named with the layer type and a number, such as "Vector 1."

For more information about renaming layers, see Renaming layers.

Only grayscale and 16 million–color images can have multiple raster-based layers (Vector layers are the only non raster-based layers). When you add a new raster-based layer to an image of another color depth, such as a 256-color indexed image, PaintShop Pro automatically converts it to 16 million colors.

You can create a layer quickly by holding down Shift, and choosing an option from the New Layer drop-list.

To create a raster layer from a selection

Edit tab

• Choose Selections

Promote Selection to Layer.

The new layer is named "Promoted Selection."

When you promote a selection, some pixels surrounding the selection border may be included, especially if the selection is anti-aliased or feathered. For information about cleaning up a selection before you copy or promote it, see Modifying selections.

You can also create a raster layer by choosing Edit Copy and then choosing Edit Paste As New Layer. The name of the new layer contains "Raster" plus a number, for example, "Raster 1."

To create a vector layer from vector objects

Edit tab

1 On the Tools toolbar, choose the Pick tool

, and select one or more vector objects.

2 Choose Edit

Copy.

3 Choose Edit

Paste As New Layer.

To create a layer from another image

Edit tab

1 In the image window, click the image you want to copy for the new layer, and choose Edit

Copy.

2 Click the image on which you want to paste the new layer, and choose Edit

Paste As New Layer.

The layer is pasted on the center of the canvas in the second image.

You can also drag a layer from the Layers palette and drop it onto an image.