Advanced Layer Operations

This guide covers advanced layer operations and tools in Figpea that help you work more efficiently with complex designs. These features build upon the basic operations to provide more precise control and professional capabilities.

Inspect Tool

The Inspect tool is essential for precise measurements and design implementation:

Measurements

  • Get exact dimensions
  • Measure distances between elements
  • Check spacing and alignment
  • Verify angles and rotations

Color Information

  • Extract exact color values
  • Copy in various formats (HEX, RGB, HSL)
  • Check opacity values
  • Identify gradients

Typography Details

  • Font family and weight
  • Text size and line height
  • Letter spacing and alignment
  • Style information

Learn more: Inspect Tool in Figpea

Advanced Transform Operations

Precise Transformations

  • Numeric input for exact positioning
  • Rotation with degree precision
  • Scale with percentage values
  • Mirror and flip operations

Transform Options

  • Transform from different origins
  • Scale from specific points
  • Maintain proportions
  • Distribute spacing

Group Transformations

  • Transform multiple layers
  • Maintain relative positions
  • Group scaling behaviors
  • Alignment operations

Learn more: Transform Tool in Figpea

Layer Effects

Shadow Effects

  • Drop shadows with custom settings
  • Inner shadows
  • Multiple shadow stacking
  • Shadow color and opacity

Blur Effects

  • Gaussian blur
  • Background blur
  • Motion blur
  • Custom blur settings

Layer Styles

  • Color overlays
  • Gradient overlays
  • Pattern fills
  • Stroke effects

Advanced Selection

Smart Selection

  • Select similar layers
  • Select by properties
  • Select contained layers
  • Inverse selection
  • Range selection with Shift key
  • Multiple selection with Command/Ctrl key

Selection Management

  • Select multiple consecutive layers with Shift + click
  • Add/remove individual layers with Command/Ctrl + click
  • Drag multiple selected layers together
  • Maintain selection hierarchy when moving
  • Quick rename selected layers with double-click

Hierarchy Navigation

  • Select parent layers
  • Select child layers
  • Select siblings
  • Select all descendants
  • Smart folder expansion while dragging
  • Visual drop indicators for precise placement
  • Automatic folder expansion after hover delay

Enhanced Drag and Drop

  • Drag multiple selected layers simultaneously
  • Visual feedback for drop locations
  • Smart folder interactions:
    • Hover over folders to auto-expand
    • Drop in middle section to nest layers
    • Drop on edges to reorder
  • Maintain layer group relationships
  • Intelligent drop target highlighting
  • Cancel drag operation with Escape key

Learn more: Layer Hierarchy Operations in Figpea

Copy & Paste Operations

Smart Layer Copying

  • Copy single or multiple layers with hierarchy
  • Preserve layer properties and styles
  • Maintain relative positions when pasting
  • Intelligent parent layer detection

Advanced Image Pasting

  • Direct Image Pasting

    • Paste images directly from any application
    • Supports clipboard images from screenshots
    • Maintains original image quality
    • Automatic layer creation
  • Base64 Image Support

    • Paste base64-encoded images
    • Supports PNG, JPEG, GIF, and WebP
    • Automatic format detection
    • Direct conversion to layers

Position Intelligence

  • Cursor-based placement
  • Smart coordinate transformation
  • Automatic alignment with design grid
  • Parent layer context awareness

Error Handling

  • Graceful handling of invalid content
  • Format validation and conversion
  • Automatic error recovery
  • Stable operation with corrupted data

Learn more: Copy & Paste Feature in Figpea

Masking

Mask Types

  • Layer masks
  • Clipping masks
  • Vector masks
  • Alpha masks

Mask Operations

  • Create from shapes
  • Invert masks
  • Adjust mask properties
  • Combine masks

Vector Operations

Path Manipulation

  • Edit vector points
  • Modify curves
  • Join paths
  • Split paths

Boolean Operations

  • Unite shapes
  • Subtract shapes
  • Intersect shapes
  • Exclude shapes

Vector Properties

  • Stroke alignment
  • Corner types
  • Path simplification
  • Vector optimization

Layer Styles

Style Management

  • Create style presets
  • Apply styles to multiple layers
  • Update linked styles
  • Import/Export styles

Advanced Blending

  • Custom blend modes
  • Blend if conditions
  • Opacity controls
  • Fill vs Layer opacity

Smart Objects

Working with Smart Objects

  • Create smart objects
  • Edit contents
  • Update instances
  • Break link to original

Smart Object Benefits

  • Non-destructive editing
  • Instance management
  • Transform without quality loss
  • Shared content updates

Performance Techniques

Large File Management

  • Use layer compression
  • Optimize preview quality
  • Manage layer visibility
  • Group complex structures

Memory Optimization

  • Rasterize when needed
  • Use linked resources
  • Clean up unused effects
  • Optimize layer count

Tips for Advanced Usage

  1. Workflow Optimization:

    • Use keyboard shortcuts extensively
    • Create custom workspaces
    • Set up common presets
    • Maintain organized libraries
  2. Quality Control:

    • Use the inspect tool regularly
    • Verify measurements
    • Check color accuracy
    • Maintain consistent styling
  3. Complex Operations:

    • Plan layer structure
    • Use non-destructive editing
    • Maintain backup states
    • Document special effects
  4. Professional Practices:

    • Follow naming conventions
    • Keep organized layer structure
    • Document complex setups
    • Use consistent techniques

For more detailed information about specific advanced operations, check our blog posts or move on to learning about Transitions.