# Create, Copy, Arrange and Edit Drawing Layers

A new drawing has a single drawing layer that can contain multiple drawing objects. The number of additional layers you can add to a drawing is limited only by your computer's parameters. In addition to creating simple layers in Artboard, you can create layers by duplicating currently existing layers, or by converting a selection into a new layer.

A new layer appears either above the selected layer or within the selected group. Artboard layers are discrete, similar to layers of transparent mylar – select one layer at a time to work with the objects contained within that layer.

## Show Hide To Create a New Layer:

Do one of the following:

- Click the '+' icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
- Choose Layer > New Drawing Layer from the main menu.

## Show Hide To Select and Edit Objects within a Layer

1. Click a layer in the Layers panel. The layer is now active for editing.
2. Use the Select [s] tool to select objects, and other drawing tools to add and edit objects as desired.

A layer's color-well, to the right of the layer Show/Hide icon, indicates the color of the selection handles when an object on that layer is selected. To set the color, click the color-well and choose a new color from the pop-up palette.

## Show Hide To Select a Layer in the Layers panel:

1. Click a layer in the Layers panel. The layer is now active for editing.

The active layer is highlighted and shown with a white arrow to the left of the layer name. Layers that are not active, but contain a selected object, are indicated with a white dot to the left of the layer name.

## Show Hide To Name or Rename a Layer:

Do one of the following:

- When a layer is added and its name is highlighted for editing, type to add the layer name.
- Double-click the layer name of the layer you'd like to rename in the Layers panel, then type the new layer name.
- Right-click a layer and choose 'Rename' from the contextual menu.

## Show Hide To Show or Hide a Layer:

Do one of the following:

- Click the Show / Hide icon to the right of the layer name and lock icon (looks like an eye).
- Choose Layer > Hide (or Show) from the main menu.

## Show Hide To Lock or Unlock a Layer:

Do one of the following:

- Click the Lock icon to the right of the layer name to toggle between unlocked (open lock icon) and locked (closed lock icon).
- Choose Layer > Lock (or Unlock) from the main menu.

## Show Hide To Arrange Layers:

Do one of the following:

- Press and drag a layer in the Layers panel to rearrange its order in the layers list.
- Click a layer and choose Layer > Arrange > Bring To Front / Bring Forward / Send To Back / Send Backward from the main menu.

## Show Hide To Create a Layer Group:

1. Do one of the following:

- Click the 'New Layer Group' icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.
- Choose Layer > New Layer Group from the main menu.

2. Then do one of the following:

- With the Layer Group selected, create a new layer. The new layer will be contained within the layer group.
- Select and drag existing layer(s) into the new layer group.

## Show Hide To Expand and Collapse a Layer Group:

1. Click the triangle to the left of the layer group name.

## Show Hide To Select a Layer in a Group:

1. Make sure the layer group Show/Hide icon (looks like an eye) is visible.
2. Click the individual layer in the group.

## Show Hide To Duplicate a Layer:

1. Click a layer in the layers panel.
2. Do one of the following:

- Choose Layer > Duplicate from the main menu.
- Right-click the layer and choose 'Duplicate Layer' from the contextual menu.

## Show Hide To Delete a Layer:

1. Click a layer in the layers panel (the layer must be unlocked to delete it).
2. Do one of the following:

- Choose Layer > Delete Layer… from the main menu.
- Right-click the layer and choose 'Delete Layer…' from the contextual menu.

A dialog appears indicating the number of objects contained on the layer with a confirmation required to delete the layer.

## Show Hide To Convert the Content of a Selection into a New Layer:

1. Make a selection of object(s) in your drawing.
2. Do one of the following:

- Choose Layer > Move To > New Layer from the main menu.
- Copy and Paste the selection to a new layer that has been added.
- Cut and Paste the selection to a new layer that has been added.

## Show Hide To Move the Content of a Selection Among Layers:

1. Make a selection of object(s) in your drawing.
2. Do one of the following:

- Choose Layer > Move To > … choose from the list of existing layers from the main menu. Note, the move-to layer must be visible and unlocked to accept the objects.
- Copy and Paste the selection to a different layer.
- Cut and Paste the selection to a different layer.

## Show Hide To Enable Auto-Activate Clicked Layer

By default, Artboard layers are discrete, similar to layers of transparent mylar – select one layer at a time to work with the objects contained within that layer. A preference enables auto-activating a layer when ever an object contained within that layer is clicked.

1. Open Artboard > Preferences… Options pane.
2. Check 'Auto-activate Clicked Layer'.
3. With the Select [s] tool, click on an object in your drawing. As needed, the layer containing the object is activated dynamically.

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