Re: [Inkscape-user] Layers: what for?

Could someone please tell me what for are layers intended? I have never used such a thing, and that is why it intrigues me.

They are exactly what they sound like: layers one atop the other. Each one is a new drawing surface. What's on one layer will overlap a layer below it. You can hide or show any layer - making it easy to organize complex drawings. You can lock and unlock any layer - allowing easy selection of objects on other layers, because a locked layer cannot have objects selected.

Try it for yourself, draw a background rectangle on the page, fill it with something. Now lock the rectangle. Then make a new layer, now you can draw new shapes on top of the rectangle. Add more layers as you need to.

HTH d.