Using Layers > Editing layers

Editing layers

To draw, paint, or otherwise modify a layer, you select the layer to make it active. A pencil icon next to a layer's name indicates that the layer is active. Only one layer can be active at one time (although more than one layer can be selected at one time). You can rename, copy, and delete layers. You can lock layers to prevent them from being edited, and you can change the order of layers.

By default, new layers are named by the order in which they are created: Layer 1, Layer 2, and so on. You can rename layers to better reflect their contents.

You can hide layers or display layer contents as outlines while editing other layers, to keep the work area uncluttered. See Viewing layers.

To select a layer, do one of the following:

Click the layer's name in the Timeline.
Click a frame in the Timeline of the layer you want to select.
Select an object on the Stage that is located on the layer you want to select.

To select two or more layers, do one of the following:

To select contiguous layers, Shift-click layer names in the Timeline.
To select discontiguous layers, Control-click (Windows) or Command-click (Macintosh) layer names in the Timeline.

To rename a layer, do one of the following:

Double-click the layer name and enter a new name.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the layer name and choose Properties from the context menu. Enter the new name in the Name text box and click OK.
Select the layer in the Timeline and choose Modify > Layer. In the Layer Properties dialog box, enter the new name in the Name text box and click OK.

To copy a layer:

1 Click the layer name to select the entire layer.
2 Choose Edit > Copy Frames.
3 Click the Add Layer button to create a new layer.
4 Click the new layer and choose Edit > Paste Frames.

To delete a layer:

1 Select the layer.
2 Do one of the following:
Click the Delete Layer button in the Timeline.
Drag the layer to the Delete Layer button.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the layer name and choose Delete Layer from the context menu.

To lock or unlock one or more layers, do one of the following:

Click in the Lock column to the right of a layer's name to lock that layer. Click in the Lock column again to unlock the layer.
Click the padlock icon to lock all layers. Click it again to unlock all layers.
Drag through the Lock column to lock or unlock multiple layers.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) in the Lock column to the right of a layer's name to lock all other layers. Alt-click or Option-click in the Lock column again to unlock all layers.

To change the order of layers:

Drag one or more layers in the Timeline.