Layers

Concepts Walkthrough Tutorial video covering layers panel management and organization.

QUICK SUMMARY

  1. Tap the Layers icon on the status bar to show layers.
  2. Use Manual layering, or let Concepts sort your layers automatically based on the drawing tool.
  3. Tap an active layer to open the Layer Options menu where you can delete, rename or merge your layers.
Concepts canvas with the Layers panel listing Outline, Highlight, Shadows, Laces, Sketchline and other layers next to a sneaker sketch

Concepts comes with adjustable Layers to help organize your work. You can have up to five layers if you are using a free plan, or infinite layers as a Pro. By default, Concepts uses automatic layering, placing strokes on different Layers based on the tool used.

Interface

Layer panel

Layers panel with numbered callouts highlighting the active Pen layer and the Pencil layer visibility eye
  1. Toggle Layers. Tap the Layers icon in the status bar to toggle the Layer panel visibility on or off.
  2. Layers. Tap the Layers button to minimize the Layers panel.
  3. Layer Sorting. Tap the Layer Sorting button to toggle between Automatic and Manual modes.
  4. New Layer. Tap the New Layer button to add a layer. The new layer will be added above the currently active layer. You can also drag a selection to the New Layer button to create a new layer for the dragged strokes.
  5. Active Layer. To activate a layer, tap it. The thumbnail of your currently active layer has a stronger thumbnail outline, and the layer name will have a gray background.
    • Tap on the active layer to open the Layer Options menu.
    • Double-tap to enter Focus Mode.
    • Drag a selection to a layer to move the strokes to that layer.
  6. Non-active Layer.
    • Tap a non-active layer to activate it.
    • Double-tap on a non-active layer to activate it and directly enter Focus Mode.
    • Drag a Selection to a layer to move the strokes to that layer.
  7. Visibility. Toggle the layer visibility by tapping on the eye icon. Scrub on the eye icons to enter Focus Mode.

Layer options menu

Layer options menu showing Select, Lock, Duplicate, Delete, Merge Down and Rename icons above an opacity slider at 100 percent

Tapping an active layer opens the Layer options menu.

  1. Select All. This selects all the strokes on the layer.
  2. Lock Layer. This locks the layer. You cannot draw or edit the layer when it is locked.
  3. Duplicate Layer. This makes a copy of the layer.
  4. Delete Layer. This deletes the layer and all the strokes on the layer.
  5. Merge Down. This merges the layer with the layer below it.
  6. Rename Layer. You can rename your layer.
  7. Opacity. You can adjust the opacity of the layer.

Rearranging Layers

You can rearrange the Layers in any way you want. Rearranging the Layers will set your Layer Sorting to Manual.

Two-panel gesture illustration showing tap and hold on a layer then dragging it upward to reorder
  1. Tap+Hold on the layer you want to move.
  2. Drag it up or down on the layer list to the desired position.

Using Layers

Layer Sorting and adding layers

Concepts Walkthrough Tutorial video covering layer modes and automatic sorting.

Layers come in two modes in Concepts: Automatic and Manual. You can switch between them by tapping the Automatic or Manual button at the top of the Layers menu. Whenever you manually change the layer order or switch the active layer, Concepts will automatically change the layer mode to Manual.

You can create Layers manually or let Concepts handle it. By default, layering is set to Automatic. A new layer is created when you change your drawing tool.

Layers panel with the Sorting toggle set to Automatic, showing Pen and Pencil layers
  1. Automatic layering

Automatic layering is the default sorting mode in Concepts. Concepts will add a new layer when it recognizes a new tool being used. When you switch to a different tool, it will draw on that tool's designated layer. (Note that the Pen, Fountain Pen, Dynamic Pen, Fixed Width, and Dotted Line tools all share a layer, as do the Soft and Hard Pencils.) If you are in Manual sorting mode, you can return to Automatic sorting by tapping the Sorting button.

Drawing interface with numbered callouts on the Tool Wheel, Layers menu, manual sorting toggle, New Layer button and individual layers
  1. Manual layering

Manual layering allows you to draw with any tool on any layer. In Manual mode, everything you draw ends up in the active layer, no matter the brush. You can switch between the different modes with a tap on the Sorting button.

  1. Adding Layers

Tap the New Layer button to add a layer. The new layer will be added above the currently active layer. You can also drag a selection on the New Layer button, to create a new layer with the selected strokes.

You can use five layers for free and unlock unlimited layers with Concepts Pro (Essentials or Everything Subscription).

Focus Mode

Concepts has a feature called Focus Mode. This mode focuses on a layer and allows you to work on only that layer that is in focus.

Layers panel illustration with numbered callouts on the selected Pen layer and the Pencil layer visibility toggle
  1. Double-tap on a layer to activate Focus Mode.
  2. You can also activate Focus Mode by scrubbing on the eye icons.


Once in Focus Mode, the content of the focused layer will be fully visible but the other layers will be subdued.

Canvas in Focus Mode showing a Fill layer in focus with other layers faded and numbered callouts on the active layer and visibility toggles
  1. Double-tap on the focused layer to exit Focus Mode.
  2. Tap on another layer to move the focus to that layer.
  3. You can also focus on another layer by scrubbing on the eye icons.