About the Background Layer

Every new sketchbook page in TwistedBrush opens the bottom layer, which is the background layer for that project. You may sketch or paint directly on this layer, or you may leave it empty and open a layer above it to begin your work. Note: The background layer in TwistedBrush is always opaque. It is the only layer that isn't transparent. 

If you aren’t certain that the background you begin your painting with will be the same background that you will end your painting with, do not use this layer to paint your background art. Open a layer above it and begin your painting there. Why? Because the bottom layer is the only layer that holds a fixed position. It cannot be moved upward, which means a new layer cannot be placed below it. Nor can it be deleted. In contrast, all of the other layers can be moved upward or downward throughout the sketching and painting process. Their downward movement stops in the layer position that’s directly atop the fixed background.

When you leave the bottom layer alone, you give yourself leeway to change the background later in the creative process. This is a helpful option when working on a piece that may require a background change midstream.

Hiding The Background Layer 

You can hide the Background Layer by left-clicking its layer slot in the Layer Mini Bar. At that point, the layer slot will turn grey and a closed eye will be in its center, showing that the layer is now invisible, or closed. When you do so, a stand-alone image on an active layer--like the crane in the graphic that's shown below--can be saved as a transparent image. Be sure to save your transparent image in png or tiff file format, so rich details will be preserved. You'll appreciate the details when you import your saved file into a future TwistedBrush painting.

Note: You'll know that your image is transparent because the background will appear as a checkerboard.

Copy and graphic for this page were contributed by TwistedBrush member shutterbuggy ~Rita.