Layers

Layers are transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. Draw the background on one, the character on another, and you can change one without disturbing the other. Every frame shares the same set of layers.

The layers panel

Open Layers to see the stack for the current frame. The top of the list is the front; lower layers sit behind.

For each layer you can:

• Show / hide it (tap the eye).
• Lock it so you do not draw on it by accident.
• Change its opacity to make it more see-through.
• Rename, reorder (drag), duplicate, or delete it.
• Choose a blend mode (see below).

Tap a layer to make it the active layer, the one you are drawing on.

Why use layers

• Keep a still background on one layer and animate only the character on another, so you redraw less.
• Ink on one layer, color underneath on another (see the Fill tip).
• Put text or effects on their own layer so they are easy to adjust.

Blend modes

A blend mode changes how a layer mixes with the layers below. Normal just stacks it. Others like Multiply (darkens, good for shadows), Screen and Add (brighten, good for light and glows), Overlay, and more let you get richer looks without repainting. Try a few, you can always switch back to Normal.

Merging layers

Merge Down (touch and hold a layer, or open its actions menu) bakes a layer onto the one directly below it, on every frame, exactly as it looks on the canvas: the layer's opacity, blend mode, and clipping are baked in, and the merged art then takes on the lower layer's own opacity and blend mode. Handy for tidying up once a drawing settles, and for freeing a slot when you hit the layer limit.

Merging affects the whole project and cannot be undone, so DoodLoop asks first. Hidden and locked layers refuse to merge: a hidden layer would vanish silently, and a locked one is protected from changes.

Glow

A layer can have an outer glow, a soft colored halo around its shapes, handy for neon, magic, and light effects.

TIP

There is a limit on layers per project to keep things fast. If you hit it, merge or delete a layer you no longer need.