Layers & masks

Create, delete and duplicate

Create a layer using the layer panel or Ctrl + Shift + N. Select the layer you intend to edit. Use its context menu to rename, duplicate, delete or open its properties. Undo can recover an accidental layer edit.

Layer groups

Layer groups organize related layers. Group visibility, locking and opacity affect their children. A group is an organizational container; select a pixel layer inside it before painting.

Visibility, locking and opacity

The eye control toggles visibility. The lock control prevents editing. Layer opacity changes the contribution of the whole layer without replacing the per-pixel alpha values. If painting appears to do nothing, also inspect parent groups and layers above the active one.

Merge Up and Merge Down

Choose Merge Layer Up or Merge Layer Down when you want to combine artwork with a neighboring compatible layer. A merge changes the editable layer structure. Save your native file first when you want to retain an independent copy of the original structure.

Non-destructive layer masks

Add Layer Mask creates a separate grayscale mask. White reveals the layer, black hides it, and gray partially reveals it. Painting the mask does not erase the underlying artwork.

1. Select a pixel layer and choose Add Layer Mask.
2. Choose Edit Mask or click the mask thumbnail.
3. Paint with black, white or gray. The top bar identifies mask editing.
4. Choose Edit Artwork, or its thumbnail, to return to the pixels.

One mask belongs to a layer and is shared across that layer’s frames. Masks save in .pxst and participate in Undo/Redo.

Mask actions

• Enable / Disable Mask: toggle its visibility effect while keeping the mask.
• Invert Mask: swap hidden and visible grayscale values.
• Delete Mask: remove the mask and reveal the retained artwork.
• Apply Mask: permanently bake the effect into the layer’s frame pixels and remove the mask. This requires explicit confirmation; Undo restores the mask and pixels.

Applying a mask to an indexed document may convert it to RGBA to preserve partial transparency. Some artwork tools require switching back to Edit Artwork before use.