Layer
| Toolbar | Menu | Panel Gear Menu |
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Edit Layers > Edit Layers Panels Layers |
Layers |
The Layer command manages layer properties.
Layers are a way of organizing objects so you can manipulate them all at once or keep track of them in some way. When objects are on a layer, you can turn them all off at once, change their wireframe display color, and select them all with one selection.
Layers panel
The Layers panel displays the layers in the model.
When a layout view is involved, an extended set of columns displays.
When linked blocks or worksessions are involved, layers from those external files are displayed in a tree format under the block name.
The layer panel gives you tools for managing the layers in your model.
The Layers pop-up menu gives you access to common layer settings: on/off, locked/unlocked, color, and current status.
To display a shortcut window
- Click the Layer pane in the status bar.
The Layers pop-up menu gives you access to a shortcut list of layer options.
Note
- If no objects are selected, selecting a layer from the status bar layer pop-up window sets the selected layer as the current layer.
- If objects are selected, selecting a layer from the status bar layer pop-up window changes the objects to the selected layer. The current layer is not changed.
- The status bar Layer pane shows the current layer unless objects are selected. When objects are selected, the status bar Layer pane shows the layer of select objects or "varies" if objects fell on more than one layer.
To open the Layers panel
- Right-click the Layer pane in the status bar.
Or - On the Panels menu, click Layers.
Layer Properties
Name
Layer name.
See: Naming conventions in Rhino
Current
A check and shading indicates current layer.
On/Off (Layout On/Off and Detail On/Off)
On
The layer is visible and you can see and select objects on this layer.
Off
The layer is not visible and you cannot see objects on this layer.
Lock/Unlock
Unlock
The layer is visible, and you can edit objects on this layer.
Lock
The layer is visible, but you cannot edit objects on this layer.
Color
The default screen display color for objects on this layer.
Material
The material used for rendering.
Linetype
The linetype assigned to the layer.
Print Color
The color assigned to the layer for printing only.
Print Width
Opens the Select Print Width dialog. Specify a line width assigned to the layer for printing only or specify No Print if you do not want the layer to print.
To define your own line widths, add line width values to the printwidths.txt file in the Rhino support folder.
In the printwidths.txt file:
- Lines begin with ; or // will be ignored.
- Line width values have to be larger than 0.
To change a setting for multiple layers
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Select a layer.
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Use Ctrl+click or Shift+click to select more layers.
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Click the light bulb to turn on/off the selected layers all at once.
This action works with other layer settings.
Layout On/Off
When on, the layer is visible and you can see objects on this layer in a layout or detail.
Layout / Detail Color
The default screen display color for objects on this layer in a layout or detail.
Layout / Detail Print Color
The color assigned to the layout or detail layer for printing only.
Layout / Detail Print Width
The line width assigned to the layer for printing only. Specify a line width assigned to the layer for printing only or specify No Print if you do not want the layer or detail to print. Change the properties of individual objects with the Properties command.
Layer Toolbar options
New Layer
Layer names are created with incremented numbers. Edit the layer to change its name.
Tab key
While editing a layer name, pressing Tab accepts the name editing and creates a new layer. This makes creating multiple layers more easily.
New Sublayer
Creates a new layer subordinate to the selected layer.
- Layers can be dragged under other layers to make them sub-layers.
- Layer names on the same level must be unique.
Delete
If a layer you want to delete has objects on it, a warning dialog appears.
Move Up
Move the selected layers up in the list.
Move Down
Move the selected layers down in the list.
Move Up One Parent
Moves the selected layer up one level in the layer tree structure.
Filters
When a model has a large number of layers, the list of layers may be difficult to manage. Layer filters let you adjust the visibility of the layers in the panel.
Layer Filter Options
All Layers
On Layers
Off Layers
Locked Layers
Unlocked Layers
Layers with Objects
Empty Layers
Selected Layers
Filtered Layers
Opens the Show Filtered Layers dialog box to set a custom filter.
Show Filtered Layers options
Match:
Type a string of characters to match the layer name to. You can include wildcard characters:
* = match zero or more characters
? = exactly one character
# = exactly one numeric (0-9) character
& = exactly one alpha (a-z, A-Z) character
Set the layer attributes to match (on, off, or locked, and whether or not there are objects on the layer).
And are:
On
Off
Locked
Unlocked
And have:
Objects
No objects
View (Layout viewports only)
When a layout view is active, allows restricting the layers to layout layers only.
View all layer settings
Displays model and layout layer settings columns.
View model layer settings
Displays model layer settings columns:
Current
On
Lock
Color
Linetype
Print Color
Print Width
View layout layer settings
Displays layout settings columns:
Layout On
Layout Color
Layout Print Color
Layout Print Width
Tools
Layer State Manager
Opens the Layer States panel.
Select All
Select all layers currently displayed in the list.
Select Object Layer
Selects the layers of the currently selected objects.
Invert Selection
Inverts the selection state. All selected layers are unselected and all unselected layers are selected.
Select Objects
Select objects for on the currently selected layer.
Select Sublayer Objects
Selects object on the currently selected layer and its sub-layers.
Change Object Layer
Change selected objects to selected layer.
See: ChangeLayer.
Copy Objects to Layer
Copy selected objects to selected layer.
Collapse All
Hide all child layers.
Expand All
Show all child layers.
Columns
Select which columns to display in the Layer panel.
Column Sort
Allows layers to be sorted by columns. Clear the check to prevent layers from being sorted by accident.
Layer list options
To hide or show columns
- Right-click the column heading, and check or clear the column name.
To change a column width
- Drag the column heading dividers.
To edit a layer's properties
- Right-click the layer name and select an option from the context menu, or select an option from the Layer Toolbar.
To select layers
Layer context menu options
To open the layer context menu
- Right-click a layer name.
Worksession Reference (Worksession layers only)
For more information, see Worksession.
Set Active Model
The selected model is open for editing.
The current model closes and becomes an attached model. You are prompted to save changes in the currently active model.
Detach Model
Removes the external file from the worksession list.
Update Model
Refreshes the selected attached files.
Attach Model
Attaches an external file to the worksession list.
Set Current
Makes the selected layer current.
Set Properties
On
The layer is visible and you can see objects on this layer.
Off
The layer is not visible and you cannot see objects on this layer.
Lock
The layer is visible, but you cannot edit objects on this layer.
Unlock
The layer is visible and you can edit objects on this layer.
Color
Sets the default screen display color for objects on this layer.
Material
Sets the material used for rendering.
Linetype
Sets the linetype assigned to the layer.
Print Color
Sets the color assigned to the layer for printing only.
Print Width
Sets the line width assigned to the layer for printing only.
One Layer On
Sets the selected layer on and turns all others off.
See: OneLayerOn.
Match Properties
Select a layer to match.
See: MatchProperties.
Layer On in this Detail Only (Active Detail only)
Turns off the selected layers in all the other Detail views.
Remove Material (Material column only)
Restores the layer material to the default material.
Reset Print Color (Print color column only)
Resets the print color to the layer color.
New Layer
Creates a new layer.
New Sublayer
Creates a new sublayer.
Rename Layer
Renames the current layer.
You can also select a layer and click the layer name or press F2 to rename the layer.
Delete Layer
Deletes the selected layers.
Duplicate Layer
Copies the layer with its attributes.
Duplicate Layer and Objects
Copies the layer with its attributes and all of the objects on the layer.
See: DupLayer.
Select All
Selects all layers currently displayed in the list.
Invert selection
Inverts the selection state. All selected layers are unselected and unselected layers are selected.
Select Objects
Selects objects on the selected layers.
Select Sublayer Objects
Selects objects on the sub-layers of the selected layer.
Change Object Layer
Selects objects in the model to change to selected layer.
Copy Objects to Layer
Selects objects to copy to selected layer.
Collapse Sublayers
Collapses the layer name tree.
Expand Sublayers
Expands the layer name tree for the selected layer.
Layer Keyboard Shortcuts
Standard list control shortcuts
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▲ |
Moves the selection up. |
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▼ |
Moves the selection down. |
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PageUp |
Moves the selection a page up. |
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PageDown |
Moves the selection a page down. |
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Home |
Moves the selection to the first item. |
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End |
Moves the selection to the last item. |
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Adds individual layer to the selection. |
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Adds a range of layers to the selection. |
Layer-specific shortcuts
The Layer panel must have focus (cursor over the Layer panel) for these shortcuts to work.
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F2 |
Renames the selected layer. |
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F5 |
Refresh the layer list. |
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Insert |
Creates a new layer below the selected layer. |
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Delete |
Deletes the selected layers. |
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+ |
Expands the selected layer. |
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Expands all child layers of the selected layer. |
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- |
Collapses the selected layer. |
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Collapses all child layers of the selected layer. |
Column options
Displays/hides columns in the layer dialog
Name
Current
On
Lock
Color
Material
Linetype
Print Color
Print Width
When Layout views exist, additional options appear:
Layout On
Layout Color
Layout Print Color
Layout Print Width
When Detail views exist, additional options appear:
Detail On
Detail Color
Detail Print Color
Detail Print Width
Related commands
| Toolbar | Menu |
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Edit Layers > Change Object Layer |
The ChangeLayer command changes the layer of selected objects.
Steps
- Select the objects.
- Select the layer name from the list.
Layer for Objects options
Available layers
Name
Layer names.
Set layer current
Sets the target layer current.
Select an object in the viewport to specify the layer.
Creates a new layer.
ChangeToCurrentLayer
| Toolbar | Menu | Panels |
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Edit Layers > Change Object to Current Layer |
Layer Right-click layer name > Change Object Layer |
The ChangeToCurrentLayer command changes the layer of selected objects to the current layer.
Steps
- Select objects.
| Toolbar | Menu |
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Edit Layers > Copy Objects to Layer |
The CopyToLayer command copies selected objects to a specified layer.
Steps
- Select objects.
- Select the layer name from the list.
Layer to copy objects
Available layers
Name
Layer names.
Set layer current
Sets the target layer current.
Select an object in the viewport to specify the layer.
Creates a new layer.
To access hidden command-line options
- Type a hyphen in front of the command name: -CopyToLayer.
| Command-line options | |
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NewLayer |
Create a new layer. |
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SelectObject |
Select an object to specify the layer. |
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SetCurrent |
Yes/No |
| Toolbar | Menu | Panel Gear Menu |
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Edit Layers > Layer State Manager... Panels Layer States |
Layer States |
The LayerStateManager command can:
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Save the current state of layers.
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Restore the previously saved state of layers.
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Restore detail view layer states to the active detail view or all selected detail views.
Steps
- Set up your layers.
The Layer State Manager saves the current layer settings. - In the Layer State Manager panel, click Save, and then type a name for the configuration.
Layer States Panel
Toolbar buttons
Save
Saves a new layer state.
- Click the "Name" column head to toggle the list between ascending and descending orders.
See: Naming conventions in Rhino
Restore
Reverts to the specified layer state.
Delete
Deletes the selected layer state.
Import
Imports the layer state list from a .3dm file.
Right-click context menu
Restore
Reverts to the specified layer state.
Delete
Deletes the selected layer state.
Rename
Edit the name of the selected layer state.
Layer settings to restore
Restores the state of layers in the model space.
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Layout or Detail Layer setting to restore
Restores the state of layers in layout or detail.
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| Toolbar | Menu |
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Edit Layers > One Layer On |
The OneLayerOn command turns a specified layer on and all other layers off.
Steps
- Select the layer to turn on from the list.
- Click the button to select an object on the target layer.
| Toolbar | Menu |
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Edit Layers > One Layer Off |
The OneLayerOff command turns off a layer designated by selecting an object on the layer.
Steps
- Select an object on the layer.
| Toolbar | Menu |
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The RenderAssignMaterialToLayer command assigns a material to a layer from the command-line.
Steps
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Select a material by entering its name or ID.
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Select a layer by entering its name or ID.
See also
RenderAssignMaterialToLayersOfObjects
Assigns a material to the selected object's layer from the command-line.
RenderAssignMaterialToObjects
Assigns a material to the selected objects from the command-line.
| Toolbar | Menu |
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The RenderAssignMaterialToLayersOfObjects command assigns a material to the selected object's layer from the command-line.
Steps
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Select a material by entering its name or ID.
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Select one or more objects.
See also
RenderAssignMaterialToLayer
Assigns a material to a layer from the command-line.
RenderAssignMaterialToObjects
Assigns a material to the selected objects from the command-line.
| Toolbar | Menu |
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Edit Layers > Set Current Layer to Object |
The SetLayerToObject command makes the layer of a selected object the current layer.
Steps
- Select an object on the layer you want to be current.
See also
Snapshots
The Snapshots command saves and restores Named Views, Named Positions, Layer States, as well as rendering settings, object settings including locked/hidden state, display mode, material, position, light settings, curve piping, displacement, edge softening, shutlining, and thickness.