Design Space - Layers Panel

Functions available in the Layers Panel

Group/Ungroup (Ctrl + G) — Group multiple layers, images, or text together so that they move and size together on the Canvas. This will not affect how images are laid out on the cutting mats. Ungroup a set of layers, images, or text so that they move and size independently from one another on the Canvas. For text, selecting "Ungroup" once allows you to move and resize each layer of text independently, but keeps the letters grouped together. Selecting "Ungroup" on a single layer of text will allow you to move and resize each letter of text independently.  

 

Duplicate (Ctrl + D) — Copy and paste an object in one step to create multiples of the same object. (It is best practice to increase the project copies after clicking make it if you wish to create multiple copies of one project)

 

Delete (Delete, or Backspace) — Remove selected object from the Canvas.

 

Slice  (Shift + ALT + Q) — Split two overlapping layers into separate parts. This will only work if you have exactly two layers selected. 

 

 

Attach/Detach (ALT + A) — Attach to hold your objects in position so that objects on the cutting mat will appear exactly as they are arranged on your Canvas. Attach can also fasten a draw or score layer to a cut layer to tell the machine on which image layer the text or score line should be placed. Detach separates attached layers so they are no longer connected and will cut, draw, or score independently from all other layers.

 

Flatten/Unflatten (ALT + F, or Shift + ALT + F to Unflatten) — Flatten turns any image into a printable image, merging all selected layers into a single layer. Unflatten separates layers from a single printable image into individual printable layers. For help changing layers from printable to cut only, see Design Space: Selecting Operation.

 

Visible/Hidden Layer — The open eyeball icon indicates that the layer is visible on the Canvas and will cut, draw, score, or print. Click the icon to hide the selected layer. Hidden layers will not cut, draw, score, or print. Clicking the icon again makes the layer visible on the Canvas.

 

Contour — Hide or unhide contour lines or cut paths on a layer. If the image has multiple layers, you must first Ungroup in order to use Contour. 

 

Slice  (Shift + ALT + Q) — Split two overlapping layers into separate parts. This will only work if you have exactly two layers selected. 

 

 

 

Combine Functions

The Combine tool provides several actions which allow you to combine objects in Design Space to make completely new shapes. Four of these actions - Unite, Subtract, Intersect, and Exclude - allow you to create new shapes while keeping all shapes in the group completely editable – every action can be adjusted or undone. Learn more about the Combine tool in this article: Design Space: Using Combine to create new shapes.

• Weld (shift + ALT + W) — Joins multiple objects together to create a new shape, removing any overlapping cut lines. This action is permanent. 
• Unite — Also joins two or more shapes together into one new shape, but all objects used in the Unite remain completely editable.
• Subtract — Removes shapes from the last or bottom layer of any selected group of objects. Unlike Slice, you can Subtract multiple objects all at once. 
• Intersect — Results in a new cut shape consisting of only the overlapping parts of two or more shapes.
• Exclude — Results in a new cut shape consisting of only the non-overlapping parts of two or more shapes. It "excludes" or removes the overlapping sections. 

 

Selecting Multiple Layers

One can select multiple layers at once by holding Shift or Ctrl while clicking multiple items either on the Canvas or in the Layers panel. (On Mac, Shift or Command).

Another option is to click and drag the mouse on the Canvas, covering multiple items with the grey box that follows the mouse, and release.

 

Functions available in the Layers Panel

Delete — Remove selected object from the Canvas.

 

 

Duplicate — Copy and paste an object in one step to create multiples of the same object. (It is best practice to increase the project copies after tapping make it if you wish to create multiple copies of one project)

 

Group/Ungroup — Group multiple layers, images, or text together so that they move and size together on the Canvas. This will not affect how images are laid out on the cutting mats. Ungroup a set of layers, images, or text so that they move and size independently from one another on the Canvas. For text, selecting "Ungroup" once allows you to move and resize each layer of text independently, but keeps the letters grouped together. Selecting "Ungroup" on a single layer of text will allow you to move and resize each letter of text independently. See Advanced below for more text options. 

 

 

Attach/Detach — Attach to hold your objects in position so that objects on the cutting mat will appear exactly as they are arranged on your Canvas. Attach can also fasten a draw or score layer to a cut layer to tell the machine on which image layer the text or score line should be placed. Detach separates attached layers so they are no longer connected and will cut, draw, or score independently from all other layers.

 

Flatten/Unflatten — Flatten turns any image into a printable image, merging all selected layers into a single layer. Unflatten separates layers from a single printable image into individual printable layers. For help changing layers from printable to cut only, see Design Space: Selecting Operation.

 

Selecting Multiple Layers — You can select multiple layers at once by tapping multiple items in the layers panel. Another option is to tap and drag across Canvas, covering multiple items with the green box that follows your finger, and release.

 

Visible/Hidden Layer — The open eyeball icon indicates that the layer is visible on the Canvas and will cut, draw, score, or print. Click the icon to hide the selected layer. Hidden layers will not cut, draw, score, or print. Clicking the icon again makes the layer visible on the Canvas. 

 

Additional Tools

In Design Space for Desktop, there are additional features in the Layers panel, such as Slice, Contour, and a suite of Combine tools. On mobile, these additional features are found under Actions on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

 

Slice — Split two overlapping layers into separate parts. This will only work if you have exactly two layers selected. 

 

Combine Functions

The Combine tool provides several actions which allow you to combine objects in Design Space to make completely new shapes. Four of these actions - Unite, Subtract, Intersect, and Exclude - allow you to create new shapes while keeping all shapes in the group completely editable – every action can be adjusted or undone. Learn more about the Combine tool in this article: Design Space: Using Combine to create new shapes.

• Weld — Joins multiple objects together to create a new shape, removing any overlapping cut lines. This action is permanent. 
• Unite — Also joins two or more shapes together into one new shape, but all objects used in the Unite remain completely editable.
• Subtract — Removes shapes from the last or bottom layer of any selected group of objects. Unlike Slice, you can Subtract multiple objects all at once. 
• Intersect — Results in a new cut shape consisting of only the overlapping parts of two or more shapes.
• Exclude — Results in a new cut shape consisting of only the non-overlapping parts of two or more shapes. It "excludes" or removes the overlapping sections. 

 

 

Contour — Hide or unhide contour lines or cut paths on a layer. If the image has multiple layers, you must first Ungroup in order to use Contour.