Lock, hide, and order layers
Control which layers can be edited, which are visible, and how they stack on the canvas.
Locking layers
Locking a layer prevents it from being selected or moved on the canvas. Other layers can still be selected and edited normally.
How to lock:
- In the Layers panel, hover over a layer and click the lock icon that appears.
- Or right-click a layer on the canvas and choose Lock layer.
How to unlock:
- Click the lock icon again in the Layers panel to toggle it off.
When to lock: Lock background layers, brand guidelines, or reference frames that should not be moved during active design work. This prevents accidental moves when clicking around the canvas.
Hiding layers
Hiding a layer removes it from the canvas view without deleting it. Hidden layers are excluded from exports.
How to hide:
- In the Layers panel, hover over a layer and click the eye icon.
- Or right-click a layer on the canvas and choose Hide layer.
How to show:
- Click the eye icon again in the Layers panel to toggle visibility back on.
When to hide: Use hiding to reduce visual clutter while working on a specific part of the design, or to compare the design with and without a layer.
Ordering layers
Layer order determines which layers appear on top when layers overlap. Layers higher in the Layers panel appear in front of layers below them.
Reordering methods:
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| Drag in Layers panel | Drag a layer row up or down |
| Bring to front | Right-click → Bring to front |
| Bring forward | Right-click → Bring forward (one position up) |
| Send backward | Right-click → Send backward (one position down) |
| Send to back | Right-click → Send to back |
Keyboard shortcuts:
- ] — Bring to front
- [ — Send to back
Tips
- Hidden layers are not exported — use this intentionally when some layers should only appear in the working file, not in deliverables.
- Locked layers can still be selected from the Layers panel — only canvas-click selection is blocked.
- Hold ⌘ and click overlapping layers on the canvas to select layers underneath the top layer.