Slitaz -- mtpaint

8. Layers

For some types of painting and image manipulation it is convenient to use multiple layers of images rather than a single image. For example you may want to overlay text or drawings over a photograph and then be able to move or edit each layer independently.

8.1 Creating

To start using layers with mtPaint you must first load the image you want to be the background. This is the most important step as all the other layers sit on top of this image (also, the size of the background image determines the size of the final composite image). Next you must create a new layer by using the Layers window ('L' key or View menu). You can then edit, manipulate, load to, or save this new layer just like any other image. The only difference is that this image can have a transparent colour which will show the pixels used on the background image (or lower layers if there are any).


Ctrl-N Create new image
Ctrl-O Open Image
Ctrl-S Save Image
Ctrl-Shift-S Save layers file
Ctrl-Q Quit program

Ctrl-A Select whole image
Escape Select nothing, cancel paste box
J Lasso selection

Ctrl-C Copy selection to clipboard
Ctrl-X Copy selection to clipboard, and then paint current pattern to selection area
Ctrl-V Paste clipboard to centre of current view
Ctrl-K Paste clipboard to location it was copied from
Ctrl-Shift-V Paste clipboard to new layer
Enter/Return Commit paste to canvas
Shift+Enter/Return Commit paste and swap canvas into the clipboard

Arrow keys Paint Mode - Move the mouse pointer
Arrow keys Selection Mode - Nudge selection box or paste box by one pixel
Shift+Arrow keys Nudge mouse pointer, selection box or paste box by x pixels - x is defined by the Preferences window
Ctrl+Arrows Move layer or resize selection box
Ctrl+Shift+Arrows Move layer or resize selection box by x pixels

Enter/Return Paint Mode - Simulate left click
Backspace Paint Mode - Simulate right click