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Layers

Organize a drawing so related content can be found, hidden, and presented together.

Layers separate drawing content so you can hide, reorder, and export it without duplicating geometry. Space has three kinds: drawing layers, guide layers, and measurement layers.

The Quick Layers panel with Guides, Measurements and Drawing layers123456789
Quick Layers, with one layer of each kind.

Collapse

Folds the panel down to a single button, which shows how many layers are visible. Tap it to open the panel again.

Selected line indicator

The colored tab indicates the line selected on the canvas is on this layer. If multiple lines are on difference layers, each will show a colored tab.

Active layer

The highlighted layer that new drawing goes into.

Layer kind

The icon shows what the layer holds: drawing, guides, or measurements.

Visibility

Hides or shows the layer. A hidden layer's name dims.

Lock

Locks the layer so nothing on it can be selected or changed.

New drawing layer

Adds a layer for drawing.

New guide layer

Adds a layer for guides.

New measurement layer

Adds a layer for dimensions.

How to use

  1. Create drawing, guide, or measurement layers with the buttons at the bottom of the panel.
  2. To rename a layer, double-tap its name on iPad, or right-click it and choose Rename Layer on Mac.
  3. To reorder, press and hold a layer and drag it on iPad, or click and drag it on Mac. On Mac, a line shows where it will land.
  4. To select everything on a layer, swipe the layer right and tap Select on iPad, or right-click it and choose Select on Mac.
  5. Swipe left on iPad to reveal Delete. On Mac it's in the right-click menu.
  6. Use the eye control to hide a layer. Its name dims to make hidden state clear.
A layer row swiped right, showing the green Select action
Swipe a layer right for Select.
A layer lifted and being dragged to a new place in Quick Layers
Press and hold a layer, then drag it.

When the column is full

Layers and Parts share the right-hand column with Precision and Snapping. Open both with long lists, and each panel shortens and scrolls rather than pushing anything off the screen, so Precision and Snapping always stay above the grid scale.

Tips

  • Use separate layers for existing conditions, proposed work, dimensions, and references.
  • Hide layers to compare options or produce a cleaner sheet without deleting work.
  • Name layers by purpose so another person can understand the file quickly.