Manipulating Layers

Actual Drawing is based upon a model of layers (e.g., images, text, shapes etc.) that can have properties (e.g., position, size, color, shadow, etc.). You can directly manipulate layers in creating Web Page.

Selecting Layer or group of Layers for Editing

Layer (object such as image, text, etc.) must always first be selected before you can edit it. You can select one Layer or group of Layers.

To select a Layer for editing

• In the Document Window (or Layers Panel), click a Layer.

To select group of Layers

• From the Document Window
• Press and hold right mouse button and drag the mouse diagonally until a selection box encloses all layers you want to select.

From the Layers Panel

• Hold down SHIFT and click all layers you want to select.
  
• You can select all layers in the active page.

To select all Layers

• Click Select All from the Edit menu.

Layer Properties

The layer Properties panel allows you to edit the Layer's name, position, size, transparency, etc.

To show / hide Layer Properties panel

• Select Layer Properties in the View menu.
• If you want to see properties of another layer and Properties panel is visible, just click the layer and the panel will show the properties of selected Layer.

Positioning layers

1. Positioning a layer with the Mouse
   Positioning a layer with the mouse is the easiest and fastest way to move a layer to any area in the scene.
2. To position a layer with the mouse
   Click the layer (within the selection box) and drag the layer. If you instead click-and-drag part of the selection box itself (e.g., a resize handle on a corner), this action will resize the layer, not move it.
3. Positioning a layer using Arrow Keys
   Positioning a layer with the keyboard arrow keys allows you to nudge the layer one pixel at a time.
4. To position a layer with arrow keys
   Click the layer (to select it). Press and hold Ctrl key and then, press the arrow keys.
5. Setting Specific X, Y Coordinates
   To position a layer at specific coordinates in a scene, the fastest and easiest way is to set the X, Y values in the layer's properties dialog box.

To set X, Y position for a layer

1. In the page scene, click the layer.
2. In the Layer Properties dialog box, click the Main tab.
3. Click the Left or Top field, then type a number (or click the up/down controls).

Resizing layers

1. Resizing a layer using Mouse
   On each corner of the Selection Box is a resize handle. When you mouse-over a handle, a resize cursor appears indicating the handle can be dragged in any direction to resize the layer.
2. Resizing a layer using Arrow Keys
   Resizing a layer with the keyboard allows you to enlarge the layer one pixel at a time.
3. To resize a layer with arrow keys
   Click the layer (to select it). Then, press and hold Shift key and press one of the arrow keys.
4. Setting specific layer's size
   The layer's properties dialog box allows to set a custom layer's size.
5. To set layer size from Layer PropertiesIn the page scene, click the layer.
   In the Layer Properties dialog box, click the Main tab.
   Click the Width or Height field, then type a number (or click the up/down controls).

Scaling Layers

An image layer can be reduced or enlarged to make it fit to particular purpose.

To reduce or enlarge a layer

1. In the page scene, click the layer.
2. In the Layer Properties dialog box, click the Main tab.
3. Click the X or Y field, then type a number (or click the up/down controls). If the scale less than 100% the layer will be reduced, if it more than 100% the layer will be enlarged.

Copying, Pasting and Deleting Layers

To copy a layer (from page to clipboard)

1. In the document window (or Layers Panel), click the layer.
2. On the Edit menu, click Copy. (Shortcut Keys: CTRL+C)

To paste a layer (from clipboard into page)

1. On the Edit menu, click Paste. (Shortcut Keys: CTRL+V)
2. Copied layers are pasted into a position slightly offset from the original layer (5 pixels down and right).
3. Pasted layers will automatically be named in sequential numeric order.

To delete a layer

1. In the document window (or Layers Panel), click the layer.
2. On the Edit menu, click Delete Layer, or press the Delete button.