How to Use Layers in Graphic Design Online

What are layers and why they matter

Think of layers as transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. Each shape, image, and text object sits on its own layer. The order of layers determines what appears in front. You can hide a layer to work on what is beneath it, lock a layer to protect it from accidental edits, or adjust a layer's opacity to make it semi-transparent.

Step-by-step: Working with layers in Camisual

1. 1

   Open the Layers panel

   The layer panel is visible at the bottom or side of the canvas. Each object on your canvas appears as a separate entry in the list. The topmost entry in the list is the frontmost element on the canvas.

2. 2

   Select a layer

   Click any item in the layer panel to select that object on the canvas. You can also click directly on the object on the canvas to select it and see it highlighted in the layer panel.

3. 3

   Rename a layer

   Double-click a layer name in the panel to rename it. Use descriptive names like "Background", "Product photo", or "Headline text" to keep complex designs readable at a glance.

4. 4

   Reorder layers

   Drag a layer up or down in the panel to change its stacking order. Moving a layer up puts its object in front of layers below it. Alternatively, right-click an object on the canvas and use "Bring Forward", "Send Backward", "Bring to Front", or "Send to Back".

5. 5

   Hide and show layers

   Click the eye icon next to any layer to hide it. Hidden layers do not appear on the canvas but are still part of the design and will reappear when you click the eye again. Useful for temporarily hiding complex background elements while working on foreground content.

6. 6

   Lock a layer

   Click the padlock icon next to a layer to lock it. Locked layers cannot be selected, moved, or edited. This is especially useful for background layers that you want to protect while working on top elements.

7. 7

   Adjust layer opacity

   Select a layer, then look for the Opacity control in the left panel (for shapes, this is in the Shape section; for images, in the Images section). Drag it left to make the element semi-transparent. This is useful for soft overlays, watermarks, and ghost sketching layers.

8. 8

   Group layers

   Select multiple layers by holding Shift and clicking each one in the layer panel. Then right-click and choose "Group". The group appears as a single collapsible entry in the layer panel and can be moved, scaled, and transformed as one unit.

Layer organisation tips

Name every layer from the start. On a complex design with many objects this takes 30 seconds and saves minutes of hunting for the right element later. Put your background elements at the bottom of the stack and lock them. Keep text layers at the top so they are always clickable.