Layers and Frames

Layers

Look at the example below. There are several geometric forms which drawn one onto another yet don’t mix up together.

Now let’s review the screenshot of the design environment.

At the Timeline panel you may see now several Layers at the left part of the screen. They are named accordingly to the content drawn. It is a good practice to keep layer names short and meaningful. Some designer add the prefix “lr” to the name of the layer.

Open new file and add several layers to this one you already have (it’s minimum one layer always provided for the stage). To add layers you may use the small button below with the + pictogram. Alternatively you may delete existing layers using the Garbage Bin button (except last one). Remember that if you delete the layer you will delete all it’s content (with possibility to restore with Undo command) . You may insert a Folder of layers with one more button in this group when you have too many layers and want to keep them well organized. Don’t click Insert Motion Guide for now.

Accurately click layer names and change them to the names of geometric forms, similarly we’ve done. As you add more layers you may need to scroll Timeline panel or drag it’s bottom borderline to stretch it. Active layer is highlighted with black color on the list.

In the stack of layers whatever is drawn at the bottom layer is covered by content in the above layers. You may change a sequence of layers by dragging them up and down.

There are several small icon under which information about layers is kept. Clicking the Eye icon make layer invisible. It is convenient when you don’t want it to see “what is behind”. The Lock leaves the layer content visible, but you cannot select it. It’s extremely helpful if you have a lot of things drawn on the stage and may accidentally click and move something that is intended to stand firm.

The hollow Rectangle Icon makes content invisible but leaves contours of drawing for better orientation on the stage.

You will see on our example that we keep square locked, rectangle invisible and circle with contours.

You also may click an icon (looking like piece of paper) at the left of the Layer name – it will display properties of the layer. Observe and try them but keep the Type - Normal for now.

Create the similar layered drawings and save you file for the future references. Highlight the layer you wish to draw in before start drawing. Be attentive to that – sometimes one may use not intended layer by mistake and drawing will be mixed.

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