NWE Help: Graphics: Gimp: Layers

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An image made using layers

Layers are one of the most useful features available with Gimp. Layers make your image infinitely manipulable. They do so by separating elements of your image into separate sheets, each of which can be altered and stacked on top of one another. This way, when you select part of the image to move, you aren't moving the entire image, just the part that's on that layer.

Starting layers mode

To use layers with Gimp, click the arrow menu in the upper left corner of the Gimp image window and choose the "Layers" menu. From there, select "Layers, Channels, and Paths" to open the Layers Dialog box (shown at right). The layers window represents each layer as though it were a separate sheet of celluloid, each piled on top of the next.

Adding new layers

To add a new layer, click the paper icon in the lower left of the Layers window. A New Layer dialog will open, giving you size, shape, and opacity options.

Editing with layers

To alter the way layers display, you can adjust the following:

• Opacity -- you can adjust opacity for each layer with the slide bar at the top of the layers window.
• Visibility -- you can also choose whether or not to display each layer by clicking the eyeball (it will toggle on or off).
• Selected Layer -- you can select a layer by clicking on its name. The layer will turn blue in the Layers window when it is selected. To add content to a layer you must first select it.
• Change layer order -- you can adjust layer order by clicking-and-draging a layer to a new position above or below another layer.

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