15. Layers

1. Point the cursor on menu "Layers"

and click on “Show layers list”:

Here we see the list of layers (Layer 1 and Layer 0), effects with layers, and regimes of putting a color, regimes of operations with a layer.

In the list of layers we have two layers: Layer 1 and Layer 0. In this case we have Layer 1 chosen, and all operations are made for the chosen layer. The icon of an eye means that the chosen layer invisible; we can disconnect its visibility. Then we will see only layer - Layer 0. "Layer 0" is unusual layer. You see that its visibility cannot be disconnected (an icon of an eye is absent). It is the main layer, it cannot be removed. Therefore all operations above object are done in the Layer 1 by default.

In Above window ''Layers'' we see six effects for changes in a layer:

– Add new layer (Add a new layer. It is automatically made the current one)

– Delete this layer

– Merge the current layer with the lower one. Undo is inactive

– Duplicate layer

– Shift the layer upward (lifts the chosen layer up)

– Shift the layer downward (lowers the chosen layer down)

2. Click on dropped the list Layer 1 and you will see:

Above we see seven effects for changes in a layer:

- Multiplier of depth

- Transparency

- Bulging

- Contrast range

- Brightness

- Specular contrast

- Specular brightness

- Lock layer transparency, which allows to draw in the layer not changing it’s transparency; not adding more details but changing color of already existing ones.

- Mask by. Mask this layer by the selected layer. Transparency and depth of current layer will be

modulated by selected layer transparency.

- Inverse masking. Modulate depth and transparency of the layer by the inverse transparency of

selected layer.

All parameters can be change. For this you must change value on a corresponding scale.

3. Click on an inscription "Layers''

Using this appearing list you can select operation of color blending between color from previous layers and current color:

- Standard blending with transparency (by default)

- Modulate (Every channel of the color will be multiplied on the correspondent color channel from the previous layers)

- Modulate2X (Every channel of the color will be multiplied on two and on the correspondent color channel from the previous layers)

- Add (Every channel of the color will be summed to the correspondent color channel from the previous layers and names with a following number, in this case will create the Layer 2)

- Subtract (Every channel of the color will be subtracted from the correspondent color channel of the previous)

- Max (The maximum value of every channel will be chosen)

- Min (The minimal value of every channel will be chosen)

- Normalmap blending (If you will load normalmap texture on the layer and apply this blending operation the model will look bumpy without actual geometry displacement)

Importing the normalmap does not displaces geometry. The new layer "Normalmap" will be created with corresponding blending operation. But normalmap format is different for different tools, so sometimes you need to inverse red or green channels and sometimes - swap them. Please check if normalmap is coated correctly without rough seams. If not, please change the following settings:

4. Press on Layer 1 right bottom mouse and you will see the list with operation:

- Duplicate layer

- Duplicate and flip (Duplicate the layer and flip using topological symmetry)

- Flip layer (Flip the layer using topological symmetry)

- Copy blue to red (Copy blue part of mesh to red part. You can define blue and red parts in the topological symmetry tool)

- Copy red to blue (Copy red part of mesh to the blue one. You can define blue and red parts in the topological symmetry tool)

- Merge visible layers (Merges all visible layers. ''Undo" is unavailable)

- Merge up (Merge this layer and the upper layer. "Undo" is unavailable)

- Freeze painted pixels (The freeze value will be set equal to layer's transparency)

- Freeze transparent pixels (Freeze transparent part of layer. It is important if yo want use mask of transparency of current layer on another layer. Use ''CTRL''+Click on layer to do the same action)

- Apply layer mask (Apply layer mask to layer. Layer mask is a reference to another layer that masks this layer)

- Color to specular (Transforms color brightness to the specular channel)

- Invert color (Inverts color of this layer)

- Invert specular (Inverts specular of this layer)

- Fill layer (Fills layer with current color and specular)

- Fill by mask (Fills layer with current color and specular using its current transparency mask)

- Set height to Zero (Sets height to Zero in all the layers)

- Make transparent (The layer will become fully transparent)

- Remove specular (Specular channel will be set to Zero)

5. The following image is an example of using the ''Layers'' menu:

6. Layers masking (linking) is implemented. One layer can mask another layer in non-destructive way.

7. You can freeze the transparent or painted area of the layer. In this way you can use layer's transparency to paint selectively on another layers. It is like ''CTRL''+click on layer in Photoshop.

You can use ''CTRL''+click on layer in 3DC now.