Layers
Layers organise objects into named stacks. Control visibility, lock state, and opacity per layer. Drag to reorder. Accessed from the Layers tab in the Inspector.
LayersLayers are named groups that hold drawing objects and carry their own visibility, lock, and transparency settings. Every drawing page has its own independent layer stack, rendered top-to-bottom so higher layers always appear in front. Use the Layers panel — found in the Inspector — to create layers, reorder them by dragging, hide distracting content while you work, and lock reference layers so clicks pass through to what you are editing. Underlays and backdrop images are managed in the same panel, just below the layer list.
Creating a layer
Click the + button at the top right of the Layers panel header. A new layer is added at the top of the stack and becomes the active layer. New objects are placed on the active layer by default.
Active layer
The active layer is shown highlighted. Click any layer row to make it active. All new objects drawn or placed go on the active layer. You can also move existing objects to a different layer via the Properties 2D tab in the Inspector.
Double-click a layer name to rename it to something descriptive like "Plants", "Hardscape", or "Annotations" so your layer stack stays readable as the project grows.
Reordering layers
Drag a layer row using the grip handle on the left side. Drop it above or below another layer to reorder the stack. Objects on higher layers render on top of objects on lower layers.
Visibility and lock
Each layer row has an Eye icon (toggle visibility) and a Lock icon (toggle lock). Hiding a layer makes all its objects invisible on the canvas. Locking a layer prevents any objects on it from being selected or modified. Locked entities do not receive pointer events — clicks pass through them to objects behind.
Opacity
Expand a layer row to reveal its opacity slider (0–100%). This controls the transparency of all objects on that layer simultaneously. Expand the layer row by clicking the chevron next to the layer name.
Object tree
Expand a layer to see a list of all objects on that layer within the current page. Each object row has its own visibility and lock toggles. Click an object in the list to select it on the canvas.
Use transparency on an underlay layer instead of on individual image objects — one slider controls the whole reference, and you can instantly toggle it with the eye icon.
Deleting a layer
A trash icon appears when hovering a layer row. Clicking it on a layer that contains objects opens a confirmation dialog offering two choices: Move objects to the default layer, or Delete objects along with the layer. The default layer cannot be deleted.
Underlays and Backdrops
Below the layer list, separate sections show Underlays (imported reference images pinned to the canvas) and Backdrops (images attached to page edges). Each has visibility, lock, opacity, and delete controls.
Choose "Move to Default Layer" if you reorganized layers and want to consolidate objects rather than lose them.
"Delete objects too" permanently removes every object on the layer and cannot be undone. Use "Move to Default Layer" unless you are certain you want to discard the content.
Underlays and Backdrops appear in separate sections below the layer list. Each entry has its own visibility, lock, transparency, and delete controls — the same pattern as regular layers. Underlays are scoped to the current workspace, so design underlays do not appear in Site Survey mode and vice versa.
Lock a layer holding an imported tracing image or PDF underlay so your clicks fall through to drawing objects above it. You can still adjust transparency on the locked layer without unlocking it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my new object land on the wrong layer?
Objects are always placed on the active layer. Before drawing or placing, click the target layer row in the Layers panel to make it active — you will see the coral indicator move to that row.
I cannot see an object I just drew. Where did it go?
Check two things: first, whether the layer's eye icon is toggled off (the icon appears crossed-out when hidden); second, whether the layer's Transparency slider is at 100% (fully transparent). Re-enable visibility or drag the slider back toward 0%.
Why won't the Default Layer let me delete it?
The Default Layer is permanent and serves as a fallback so every drawing always has at least one layer. There is no delete button on it. Move its objects to another layer if you want to reorganize them, but the layer itself stays.
Do layers carry over to other drawing pages?
No. Each drawing page has its own independent layer stack. If you want the same layer structure on a new page, duplicate an existing page — it copies its layer set. Otherwise, create your layers fresh on each new page.
Can I control visibility of a single object without affecting its whole layer?
Yes. Expand the layer row to see all objects listed individually. Each object row has its own eye and lock icons that override the layer-level setting for that one object.