About image layers
Each canvas plane can contain one or more image layers. An image layer is like a piece of transparent acetate that you can sketch on.
By sketching different elements on different image layers you can easily make changes to individual elements or re-arrange image layers to change their order. You can also duplicate image layers, merge image layers together, temporarily hide image layers, or permanently delete image layers.
Each canvas plane also contains a background layer. The background layer defines the background color for the canvas plane. You can only set the color of the background layer once when the canvas plane is created.
A canvas plane can also contain mask layers and invisibility mask layers. All of these types of layers can contain either paint, or shapes.
About creating image layers
Before you can create an image layer, you must have at least one canvas plane present.
By default, a canvas plane contains one image layer, in addition to the Background layer. You can, however, create several additional image layers for each canvas plane in the Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor
.
If your scene does not contain any canvas planes, and you start sketching in a window, Alias opens up the New Canvas option box, prompting you to create a new canvas plane (with a single layer) in the active view.
About naming image layers
By default, image layers are named Image-1, Image-2, Image-3, and so on. Whenever you create new image layers, you should give them meaningful names (for example, Background, Outline, Handle).
The name of each image layer, for the active canvas, is listed in the Canvas Layer Editor window.
About merging image layers
After you have finished sketching on two or more image layers, you may want to merge them into a single image layer. Note:
- After you merge two or more image layers together, you cannot split them into separate image layers.
- If you merge a shape layer with an image layer, you will end up with a single image layer. All shape properties will be discarded. The image will still look the same, but you will not be able to edit the shapes as shapes.
About importing image files
You may want to import an image file to use as a reference or basis for a sketch. You can either import an image as a new canvas plane or import an image as an image layer into an existing canvas plane.
You can also drag an image from Windows Explorer and drop it into Alias to import it as an image layer.
If you import an image file that contains transparency or opacity information (that is, an alpha channel), the transparency information is also imported.
If importing a Photoshop PSD file, each layer is imported individually and retains its name.
About exporting image layers
You can export an image layer in 32 bit BMP format, so that the image file contains four channels (RGBA), or in 24 bit BMP format, so that the image file contains three channels (RGB). Many graphics applications cannot read 32 bit BMP files. In these cases, export the image layer in 24 bit BMP format or use the imgcvt utility to convert the 32 bit BMP file to a 24 bit BMP file.
To export an entire canvas plane, you need to use File > Export > Make Canvas Picture
.