Translating graphics with Paint.NET

Step 2: Create new layers

Before we continue, let's talk a bit about layers. If you are not familiar with this concept (hey, you didn't even hear Shrek's famous 'onions and ogres' talk?), layers are used in most drawing programs to separate various types of graphical information and make images more manageable. You can see layers in such popular programs as Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, Corel Photopaint, Paint Shop Pro, etc.

With layers, you can:

• Store different types of graphical data in different layers (in our case we will have a background layer with the original image, a mask layer hiding original text, and a text layer containing translated text);
• Change the order in which this graphical data is presented (in our case the text layer will be the top-most layer, with the mask layer underneath, and the background layer at the bottom);
• Show/hide certain data, etc.

In Paint.NET, you manipulate layers using the Layers panel (click Window -> Layers if you don't see it). Using the Layers panel, you can add, delete, reorder, hide/show, rename, and merge layers.

Figure 2: Our image and the Layers panel

When you create a new image in Paint.NET, it has only one layer called 'Background'. All layers are created totally transparent at first, so if you have something in the background layer and add 10 other layers above it, you will still see the background layer. When you draw something in any of the layers, however, some of the things in the layers below will no longer be visible. We are going to use this very principle: above the Background layer we will create another layer (called 'Mask') to hide the text in the Background layer, and at the top we will create another layer (called 'Text') where we will put the translated text.

Now, let's create those 2 layers we were talking about:

• To create a layer, click the small button with the green cross [see Fig. 2] or click Layers -> Add New Layer. The layer is inserted above the current selected layer.
• To change the position of the new layer, select the layer in the Layers panel and use Move Layer Up () and Move Layer Down () buttons.
• To give the new layers descriptive names, select a layer in the Layers panel and click the small button with a pencil [see Fig. 2], double-click the layer or select Layers -> Layer Properties... menu.

Let's call the layer above the background layer 'Mask', and the layer above it - 'Text'.

When we are done, your Layers panel should look something like Figure 3 below:

Figure 3: Layers panel after adding 2 new layers

Note:
Read the Advanced Techniques section for additional information on working with layers in some images.