What are layers?

One of the key features in GIMP are layers.
A layer is a transparent platform that contains data in its simplest form.
This data can be almost anything, such as text, photo, a drawing, and everything else you can think off.

 

If you have different layers, they are superimposed.
The data on one layer, are totally independent of the data on another.

 

Layer properties

Before we work with layers, the “Layers” pane has to be opened (1).
Let me first go over what we get to see in this pane.
At the top we have the “Mode” option (2). The mode of a layer determines how colors are merged with the colors of the underlying layer. I’ll elaborate on this in a later chapter.

Under the “mode” option, we find the “Opacity” section (3). Here we determine the transparency of the layer. The lower the opacity of a layer, the higher the amount of color that will be displayed on it.

Under the “Opacity” section, we find a box labeled, “Lock” (4). This does not have anything to do with a lock. This is just something to do with securing the main layer, keeping the transparency of the background of the layer. So if this is checked, the background layer is transparent, and in this region of the layer we can’t do anything, i.e, no drawing, coloring and sticking.

Under the “Lock” box, we find the different layers (a).
Each layer has a name. To change the name double-click the layer name, type the new name, and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

For each layer name, there are two icons. At least, when it is selected, these icons are displayed.
The first icon is a view icon (5). By clicking on this, it either shows or hides the layer and hence the name.
The second icon is a chain-icon (6). When this is selected in several layers, these layers are locked to each other. So, for example, if you move a layer that is associated with another layer, both layers move.

At the bottom of the Layers window, we have a menu bar (7). In the next section of this lesson, I will go over this.

 

The menu bar at the bottom of the window.

By clicking the first button we create a new layer.
A new layer is added above the selected layer.

When this button is clicked it opens a dialog where we can enter a number of options for the new layer.

In the upper section we give the layer a name.
Enter an appropriate name for the layer, because this makes it always easy to find the the correct layer.

Under the Name we specify the width and height of the layer.
In GIMP we have the opportunity for each layer to be of a different size. This has an advantage in that when your composition consists of hundreds of layers, the size (in MB) of your file will be minimized.

Below the dimensions of the layer, we find the “fill type” of the layer.
Using this, we can determine the background color of the layer.
The four options seem quite clear to me.

Click OK when you’re done.

 

With the next two buttons, we determine the order of the layers. So, if you want to bring a layer above another layer, select it and click the arrow pointing upwards.

 

Beside these arrow buttons, we find the “Duplicate Layer” button. It makes a duplicate of the selected layer.

 

The last button is the “Anchor layer”.
This places a floating selection in the underlying layer.

This requires an example.

I have two images open, one with the balloon, and another with the colors.
I select the first image in the balloon (a), and use the shortcut Ctrl + C. This makes a copy of the balloon.
Then I select the second image and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V. This pastes the copied balloon in the second image (b) as a floating selection (1).
Now click the “Anchor layer” button, to copy this layer in the selected places.

 

Here’s a Tip!

If you want to anchor a new layer of the floating selection in an existing layer, right click in the Layers window, and select “New Layer …” in the pop-up menu.

 

And the last button on the toolbar is the trash icon.
If you want to remove a layer, select the layer and click on it.

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