Layers, groups & masks

Beginner · 4 min · 5 steps

Stack, group, mask and clip like a pro — without ever losing pixels.

1. Layer basics

   Click a layer to select it, Shift-click for several. Drag layers to change what's in front.

2. Groups

   Select layers and press Ctrl+G to group them. Groups move, fade and get effects together.

3. Masks

   The mask button adds a layer mask. Paint black with the Brush to hide, white to reveal — the pixels are never deleted.

4. Clipping

   Alt-click a layer to clip it to the one below — perfect for putting a photo inside text or a shape.

5. Right-click menu

   Right-click any layer for blending options, masks, merging, rasterizing, colour labels and more.