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2. Basics of Image Processing / 2.3 Layers

### 2.3.7 Placeholder Layers

Placeholder layers have no own content, but show the content of an external file. This way a document always contains the current version of a picture file - i.e. a JPEG file. Optionally, you can embed the file in the document (see chapter 7.4.57).

You can’t directly manipulate the data of a placeholder. If you want to change its appearance, you have to modify the original file. Alternatively, you can apply adjustment layers (see chapter 2.9) and dynamic filters (see chapter 2.10) to the placeholder.

The easiest way for creating a placeholder is using the Placeholder Layer tool (see chapter 6.2.11). You can also drag&drop a file to a document while holding Alt (on Windows) or Alt+Command (macOS). And the function Open as Placeholder (chapter 7.1.6) will create a new document that contains the selected file as placeholder. Furthermore raw files can optionally (chapter 7.10.1.16) be imported as placeholders by default.

By dragging a file to an already existing placeholder you can replace its content. If you do not want this in the current situation, you can prevent it by pressing Shift. A new layer will then be created.

Furthermore you can adjust its properties by using the Layer Attributes (see chapter 4.11). The Layer Attributes also allow you to control, how to fit the file into the frame of the placeholder layer. For example using the mode Clipping, PhotoLine will automatically create a clipping layer (see chapter 2.7) for the placeholder. This way you can define the visible part of the placeholder layer by moving, rotating or scaling it using the Layer Tool (see chapter 6.2.1).

When you are saving a document as PLD, placeholder layers will store a preview image in the resulting file by default. If the source file no longer exists, this preview image will be displayed with reduced intensity.

The Layer Attributes (see chapter 4.11) allow you to modify the properties of placeholder layers.