What are Live Layers, and how do I get set up?

📝 NOTE: This video shows an older user interface and some of the exact steps may have changed.

Live Layers is a powerful feature which allows Team and Team Studio users to instantly share layers within their team.

Imagine this — you're on set as the 1st AD. You just received an important change, and you need to alert the rest of the team. You quickly annotate in your script, tap the layer share icon, and boom — your group gets a notification and the update.

📝 NOTE: Live Layers is near-real-time sharing — not simultaneous co-editing the way Google Docs works. Each person works on their own layer, then shares to push updates to the rest of the group.

Getting Started

With your script open, tap Layers on the Top Toolbar.

The Layers window will show all Layers that you have created so far.

✅ TIP: Give your Layers descriptive names so it's easier for your team to identify them once shared. To rename a layer, tap the menu at the top right of the Layers window, then Edit.

At the bottom of the Layers window, toggle on Live Layers.

✅ TIP: In Scriptation 6.0+, you can configure global Live Layers options — Received Name Header, Auto Live Layers, and a Private Key for auto-generated groups — from the Live Layers tab in Settings.

Creating a Layer Group

If you're the first person within your team to use Live Layers with a specific document, you'll automatically see a pop-up to customize the name for your Layer Group. You'll also have the option to make your Layer Group private. When you're ready, tap Create.

If Make Group Private was selected, enter a Group Password and tap Create.

✅ TIP: Write down your password somewhere safe to distribute to your team — there's no way to retrieve or change the password later.

With your Live Layers now enabled, see Sharing Live Layers below.

Joining an Existing Layer Group

After enabling Live Layers, you'll see a pop-up showing existing Layer Groups.

From here, you can either select an existing Layer Group, or tap the New icon in the upper right corner to create a new one (see Creating a Layer Group above).

💡 TIP: Sometimes you may also see a Show More button. When Scriptation processes your script for Live Layers, it analyzes two things — Page Count and File Name:

If the Page Count and File Name match another Live Layers file within your team, the existing Live Layers Groups appear in the top section;
If only the Page Count matches but the File Name is different, the appropriate Live Layers Groups appear in the Show More section.

If you select any of the existing Live Layer Groups, you'll see a confirmation box. Tap Yes.

If your Layer Group is password-protected, enter the password and tap OK.

✅ TIP: The creator of your password-protected Layer Group will have the password.

Now that you're in a Layer Group, you're ready to start sharing — keep reading.

Before you start collaborating with Live Layers, it's important to understand the three types of layers:

Private — A layer that isn't shared with anyone. Only you can see it;
Owned — A layer that you originate and share with your Layer Group. You control the content and when the layer is shared;
Received — A layer shared with you by a team member in your Layer Group. Your teammate controls the content and when it's shared. This is a read-only layer.

Reading the icons

Each layer row shows a colored dot (the layer's highlight color) and its name, with action icons on the right:

Layer share icon (a tray with an upward arrow) — opens the share options for your layer (Share, Share with Notes, Show Notes). Appears on your own private layers and Owned Live Layers;
Note icon (a speech bubble) — opens the notes on a Received Live Layer;
Eye icon — shows or hides the layer on the page. An open eye means the layer is visible; a closed eye means it's hidden;
Pencil icon — marks your active layer (the one you're currently annotating on).

To share a layer, tap the layer share icon (the tray with an upward arrow) to the right of the Layer name, then choose an option:

Share — pushes the layer to your Layer Group;
Share with Notes — pushes the layer along with a message for your group;
Show Notes — opens the notes already attached to the layer.

Scriptation processes your layer and shares it within your Layer Group. You'll see the layer is now labeled (owner / synced v1). The version number updates every time you share.

Repeat for as many Layers as you'd like.

Receiving a Layer

When a collaborator within your Layer Group shares their Live Layer, you'll see a pop-up message. To receive the Layer, tap Yes.

💡 TIP: If you're busy and don't want to receive the Layer right now, tap No. The circular Refresh icon at the bottom of the Layers window lets you catch up later with any notifications you may have missed.

Back in your Layers menu, you'll see the layer is now labeled (v1). The version number updates every time you receive an update from the Layer owner.

To view a Received Layer, either tap the layer to make it your active layer, or tap the eye icon to show it alongside your current layer. Tap the eye icon again to hide it.

When viewing a Received Layer, the top of the page shows a grey box with the name of the layer.

💡 TIP: To hide the layer name header on received layers, see How do I turn off the Live Layers Name Header?.

Received Layers are view-only, but you can create a separate editable copy by tapping the three-dot icon (...) at the top right, and selecting Duplicate.

Viewing Notes on a Received Layer

When a teammate shares a layer using Share with Notes, their message travels with it. To read the notes on a Received Live Layer, tap the note icon (the speech bubble) to the right of the layer's name.