Manga Studio® for Dummies®

Chapter 6. Layers, Layers, Layers!

In This Chapter

• Seeing layers as multiple sheets of paper

• Knowing what layer types are available

• Creating a new layer

• Adjusting layer properties and layer type

• Copying, locking, deleting, and hiding layers

• Organizing your layers within folders, groups, and merges

If you've used other art programs — such as Corel Painter or Adobe Photoshop — you're probably familiar with the concept of using layers. Maybe you can even use, manipulate, and create all kinds of effects with layers without breaking a sweat while doing it. You'll be happy to know that layers are an integral part of Manga Studio — possibly even more so than in the other art programs out there.

If you aren't so familiar with drawing programs, you might think layers are just something that onions and cakes have. Trust me, when you get to know and understand how layers work — as well as how you can use them to your maximum benefit — you'll wonder how you ever did your work without them.

The Benefits of Using Layers

I like to think of the layers feature as an all-in-one solution while drawing digitally. Now, I know that people tend to throw the term all-in-one around quite a bit, sometimes incorrectly. In the case of Manga Studio, however, I feel it's apropos; using the layers feature allows you to have all kinds of drawing space, tools, guides, and so forth ... all in one convenient place.

For drawing, layers are like a near-infinite stack of tracing paper. On one layer, you can work on your pencil ...