Layer Basics

NPS Image Editor supports working with multiple layers in an image.

Non-destructive editing

Layers allow working with images in a "non-destructive" manner. If you add a new layer and draw over it, you can then hide that layer and reveal what's beneath it instead of "destroying" the pixels below it.

Layer list

The layer list is located at the bottom right of the NPS Image Editor main window. You can create and delete layers here. Click and drag to rearrange the layers. Right-click on a layer for more options.

Background and Canvas

The background layer defines the canvas. Single layer images are effectively just a background layer. This allows all of the same operations that you know and love to keep working – dragging the corners of the canvas, extracting text from screenshots using keyed selection mode, and so on. Resizing the canvas resizes the background layer.

Transparency in the background layer will display as a cross-hatched background unless you specify a transparent background color, in which case the color will show through.

Selection

Selections come out of the active layer and remain a part of it. Create the selection normally and drag it as needed to move or resize. Placing the selection places it on the active layer. You can also right-click on it and convert it to a normal layer.

Size and Position

Layers have their own size and position, rather than being fixed to the canvas size. So you move the whole layer – not the pixels in it – and can recover offscreen information after the move unless you explicitly crop it out.

Merge and Flatten

You can combine a layer down with the layer below it by merging down. You can merge all layers by flattening the image.

Layer tools

The toolbox contains two tools, Pointer and Layer Move, that operate on the layers. Use the Pointer tool to select a layer and the Layer Move tool to move it.

Locking

Locking a layer prevents you from accidentally modifying its pixel data. You can still move it and adjust various properties.

Visibility

You can make the layer visible or invisible. An invisible layer will still retain its pixel data and settings but won't appear in the blended image.

Blending

Blending starts with the background and each layer blends on top of it. The Blending Mode determines how the colors of the base and over layers interact with each other.

Global Opacity

You can adjust the opacity of the layer to blend it with the others. This is effectively the same as adjusting the alpha value of all the pixels within the layer, but is a non-destructive operation. Adjust the opacity via the Properties dialog, the right-click menu, or by holding Ctrl and scrolling over the layer in the layer list.

Compose and Decompose

The Decompose operation will split a full-color layer into 3 monochrome layers that combine to make a full-color image. You can then manipulate each channel independently. The Compose operation will re-combine them into a single full-color layer.