Locking Layers

[Al Palmer]

I have opened a map which I want to place labels on. So far, I have opened the map and promoted it to a raster layer. Then I make a label, using the test tool, and it, too, is a raster layer. When I put the selection tool on the map, and hold down the left button, I can move the map on the palette. I hope that I am using the right terms here. When it moves, the label does not. I want to keep the labels locked to their place on that map. I have gone up to the top area of the layer list and left clicked on the lock feature until it shows 1 while on the label which is layer 2. I have found a way by copying and pasting the map as a new layer. Is there a simpler way.

[allicorn]

Hiya,

You're very close!

The little chain+number icon which you clicked and it turned to a "1" is "layer groups"... you need that to show the same number on every layer that you want to keep stuck together.

The idea here is that you might want to group any number of layers into any number of groups. You just select each layer, and give it the same layer group number as the other layers you want it to stick with.

Once your map and label layers are in a group, using the MOVE tool to move one of the layers will move them all together. The MOVE tool icon looks like a big four-headed-mouse-cursor thing.

Using the Select tool on one of the layers - even when they're groups - end then dragging the selection will not keep them together. This is because a selection is kinda considered to be "outside" the layer while you're moving it.

Hope that helps!

Alli

[Al Palmer]

Thank you for your advice, but I still can't get this. Let me go through what I did based on your suggestions. I open my map. Initially, it is a background layer. I promote it to a raster layer. (I have also tried it without promoting it to raster with same result). I open a new layer group. I enter my text. It is a vector layer. I move it to the new layer group. (I have also tried this as a raster layer - same result). I have tried this with the background both in and out of the layer group. I go to the layer link toggle and make sure that they are all reading the same number, in my case 1. If I put the move tool on the map which started as the background, it will move over the checkerboard background and the text will stay put. I would prefer that nothing would move, but will settle for having the text move with the map. Sorry to be so dense about this. I don't usually have this much trouble figuring something out.

[allicorn]

No problem man and the fact I was referring to the "chain icon" feature as "group"-ing layers together probably didn't help. It seems that that is what Corel call "linked" layers. A Layer Group - as you describe - is a different thing and although they can both achieve some similar things, "linking" or "grouping" your layers are really independent things. So, my bad.

Okay - what I'm getting is that what you'd really like is layers that really are locked in place and don't move. I agree! There doesn't seem to be any feature that'll do that. Strange, given how simple you'd figure it'd be.

Anyway... in the absence of that, the next best thing is to have your map and text layers at least locked together.

For reference, I'm using PSP X2 here.

Method 1

Load the map.
Promote the one layer to Raster.
Menu -> Layers -> New Layer Group (this has the effect of automatically putting the map raster layer inside the new group)
Menu -> Layers -> New Vector Layer (this should also appear inside the Group)
Put some text on the new layer.

Now, when I switch to the Move tool and drag on any non-transparent pixel in either the map or text layers, both layers move as if they're locked together. It doesn't even matter which layer I have selected in the Layer Palette when I start dragging, either the map, the text or indeed the Group entry itself.

So, it sounds from your last post as if you've tried this and it didn't work? But maybe it was that "layer link" thing that we were messing with at the same time due to my miscommunication? Don't know.

Anyway, this appears to work for me. Any number of layers inside a group appear to always move together when dragged with the Move tool.

Method 2
Load the map
Promote the one layer to Raster.
Click the little chain icon to set the "layer link" number for the map's layer to "1".
Menu -> New Vector Layer
Click the little chain icon to set the "layer link" number for the new raster layer also to "1". Both layers now get a little chain icon next to their name when either of them is selected.
Draw some text onto the new layer.
Switch to the Move tool and drag either layer.

Now, this also seems to reliably work for me. Dragging either layer with the Move tool in this setup moves both layers together as if they were stuck with glue.

It does look as though Corel intend these two functions to be considered more-or-less the same - at least in terms of how they lock layer movement together. In Method#1 - if you select the Group layer itself you'll see an extra little icon appear at the end of the layer tools, it looks like a chain with a pair of tiny boxes on it. Clicking it crosses it out and this appears to temporarily disable the "glue" between the layers inside the Group, allowing you to move them separately.

TBH I get the feeling you've probably tried exactly this already, but I figured it might be worth listing what I tried step by step. Both these methods work for the me - the Move tool drags all layers as one.

Hope that's some help

Alli

[Al Palmer]

Thanks for taking the time to lay out solutions. I tried both of them and they simply do not work for me. I am also using X2 (should have told you that in the beginning). If I crop, cut and past the map, I can make it work, so I will do that. Do not know why the other method will not work, however.

[allicorn]

Darn. So strange. Ah well, can't say we didn't try

At least you have a workaround

Alli