Tips and Tutorials

The Painter Canvas,
What Can be Done with it, and
How to Lift it to a Layer

Written by Jinny Brown
The Painter Canvas:
  • Is always locked,
  • Can't be unlocked,
  • Can't be moved,
  • Can't be made transparent, and
  • Is always opaque.

There are a few ways to place the Canvas imagery on a Layer. Use Ctrl/Command+A to select the entire Canvas and:
  • Click inside the selection with the Layer Adjuster tool to lift the Canvas imagery to a Layer (this leaves the Canvas blank again),
  • Hold down the Alt/Option key and click inside the selection with the Layer Adjuster tool to lift a duplicate of the Canvas to a Layer (this leaves the original Canvas imagery on the Canvas).
  • Use Ctrl/Command+C to copy the Canvas, then Ctrl/Command+V to paste the Canvas on a Layer (this places a copy of the Canvas on a Layer and leaves the Canvas imagery on the Canvas).
  • Use Edit > Copy to copy the Canvas, then use Edit > Paste In Place to paste the copied Canvas imagery in the same location above the Canvas (this places a copy of the Canvas on a Layer and leaves the Canvas imagery on the Canvas).

If you want to lock a Layer:

In the Layers palette, highlight the Layer. Then click the Lock icon on the right side of the Layers palette just above the Layers list, or click on the right end of the Layer name bar to display the Lock icon.



If you want to unlock a Layer:

In the Layers palette, highlight the Layer. Then click the Lock icon on the right side of the Layers palette just above the Layers list, or click on the right end of the Layer name bar to remove the Lock icon display.


© Jinny Brown
June 11, 2007