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6. The Tools in the Toolbox

## 6.2 Tools for All Kind of Layers

### 6.2.1 The Layer Tool

The layer tool is used for selecting, moving, creating, scaling, shearing, rotating and distorting layers. It can be used for entering and leaving groups, too.

By clicking with the mouse the layer under the mouse is selected. Clicking a second time selects the layer under the selected layer. Selecting a layer this way finds only layer, that are inside the active group. If you want to directly select a layer inside another group, you can do this by holding Shift+Ctrl (Windows) or Shift+Command (Mac OS) respectively.

Beside that there is a second way of selecting layers. Simply click inside the document and hold the mouse button. Now you can switch through all layers at the current mouse position by using the keys arrow left and arrow right. Using this method it makes no difference, if a layer is inside the active group or inside another.

The context menu of the layer tools list all layers at the mouse position. Layers will only be listed, if the have a name.

By clicking into a layer and dragging you can move the layer to a different place. By holding Shift the layer will only be moved horizontally, vertically or in 45° directions. If you hold Alt, a copy of the layer will be moved. Alt+Ctrl (Windows) or Alt+Command (Mac OS) will create a virtual copy (see chapter 2.3.6).

If you hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) and click, you can create a new layer with a rubber rectangle. After releasing the mouse button you will see the normal dialog for creating a layer.

Whenever the layer tool is selected, the layer frame is marked with small, colored handles. If the handles are green, you can modify the layer by using these handles. In normal mode the layer will be scaled by clicking and dragging one of the handles. If you click a bit outside the handle, you can rotate the layer by using the corner handles and shear the layer by using the middle ones. The context menu of the handles and the Tool Settings can be used to turn on an extended mode. In this mode clicking on the handle will distort it perspectively. Clicking a bit outside will resizes the layer using special scaling. This extended mode can be activated by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS), too.

"special scaling" is a speciality. The functionality of this mode depends on the layer type. Used with an image layer it doesn’t scale the content of the layer but adds additional pixels at the edge. Used with vector layers the line width is - in contrast to the normal scaling - scaled, too. And used with text layers the font size is scaled.

If the handles are not green, editing by using the layer tool is locked (see chapter 4.7), but this restriction can be overridden by holding Shift.

In the center of the active layer there a small magenta-colored square containing a cross. This square marks that point the layer is turned around when rotated with the layer tool. This point can be dragged with the mouse. If you don‘t need this rotation center, you can turn it off by using Options/Display/Layer (see chapter 7.10.1.26).

If the active layer is a group, you can enter it by double-clicking. In order to leave the group, you have to click on a position, where no layer of this group is placed.

You can use the layer tool for modifying and deleting guide lines, too. If you place the mouse cursor over a guide line, the cursor changes its shape and you can move the guide line. If the guide line is dragged outside the window, it will be deleted.

Layers that are marked in the Layer Dialog have handles, which are not filled.

A double click on the icon of the layer tool can be used to create a new layer.

Due to its various functions there is a very fast way to select layer tool: simply press the ESC-key. A second press selects the previous active tool again. Note that this way of selecting only works, if there is a document opened.

The layer tools also allows to rotate the active layer by using Alt+arrow left and Alt+arrow right. By additionally holding Shift, the layer will be rotated in steps of 90°.

If the current layer is a 3D body, it can be modified with various shortcuts (see chapter 7.8.58).

The shape of the mouse cursor always corresponds to the current situation. There are the following shapes:

By clicking and dragging the active layer will be moved.

By clicking the next layer at the current position will be selected.

By clicking the next layer at the current position will be selected. By clicking and dragging the active layer will be moved.

By clicking and dragging the active layer will be scaled. By holding Shift it will be scaled proportionally.

By clicking and dragging the active layer will be rotated. By holding Shift it will be rotated in 45° steps.

By clicking and dragging the active layer will be sheared.

By clicking and dragging the active layer will be distorted perspectively.

Shift: The corner point corresponding to the clicked point is moved, too.

Shift+Alt: The clicked corner point can only moved along the layer bounds.

By clicking and dragging the rotation point of the active layer will be moved.

By clicking and dragging a horizontal/vertical guide line will be moved or deleted.