> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.scriptation.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# What are Layers, and how do I use them?

**Layers** are one of Scriptation's most powerful features. Think of them as transparent overlays on top of your script — each Layer holds a set of annotations you can show, hide, color, reorder, and share independently. Use them to separate your notes by department, meeting, draft, or workflow.

To open Layers, tap the **Layers** icon on the Top Toolbar.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/toptoolbarlayerspng_ks8x1w.png =400x79)

| ✅ TIP: If the **L**ayers icon isn't showing in the Top Toolbar, touch or click the plus sign on the right side to show additional icons. To pin it permanently, see [Customizing the Top Toolbar](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/more-icons-and-customizing-the-top-toolbar-v1u97a/).

### Adding a Layer

In the Layers sidebar, tap **+ Add Layer**, name it, and tap **Save**. In this example, we're creating a Layer for the Art Department's notes:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/layersaddnewpng_oiecfo.png =300x354)

### The Active Layer

The **Active Layer** is the one currently being edited — any annotations you make go into this Layer until you switch. It's marked with a **pencil icon** in the Layers sidebar, and the Layer name is bold:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/layersactivepng_ynypfy.png =300x211)

To switch the active Layer, tap a different Layer's label in the sidebar. The Layer with the pencil is the only one whose annotations can be edited; annotations on other (background) Layers are visible but faded.

| ✅ TIP: There's also a quick-switch button on the Top Toolbar — see [Switch Layers easily](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/switch-layers-easily-26d09t/).

### Showing and hiding Layers

Each Layer has an eye icon — closed = hidden, open = visible. Tap to toggle. To show or hide every Layer at once, use the 3-dot menu at the top right of the sidebar. For the full walkthrough, see [How to Show/Hide Layers](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-showhide-layers-2kqnpb/).

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/layersshowhidepng_1wy0mzb.png =300x211)

### Coloring a Layer

Assign a color to a Layer so it stands out in the sidebar (and in the Annotation Outline). Tap the color dot to the left of the Layer name, then pick a color from the swatches. See [How do I assign a color to a layer in the Layers Menu?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-assign-a-color-to-a-layer-in-the-layers-menu-1y1zbn9/) for details.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/layerscolorswatches_28a2y9.png =300x202)

### Managing your Layers

Tap the **3-dot menu** at the top right of the Layers sidebar for these options:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/layersmenu2png_1ip64ih.png =300x280)

* **Edit** — [rename](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-rename-a-layer-1udf34p/), [delete](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-delete-a-layer-1q0dy2h/), and [reorder](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-reorder-layers-in-the-layers-menu-1r1lno2/) Layers;
* [**Merge**](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-merge-layers-1k9kad7/) — combine two or more Layers into one;
* [**Duplicate**](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-duplicate-a-layer-1o6vlht/) — create a copy of a Layer (handy before destructive edits);
* **Show All / Hide All** — toggle every Layer's visibility at once;
* **Settings** — set the [opacity of background Layers](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-change-the-opacity-of-background-layers-10a5ad3/), [show or hide the layer switcher](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/switch-layers-easily-26d09t/), and [optimize layers](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-layer-optimization-5uoih5/).

### Moving annotations between Layers

You can move or copy an existing annotation onto a different Layer using the Assignment Toolbar. Tap any annotation, choose **Layers** from the pop-up, and pick the destination. Full walkthrough: [How do I move or copy annotations between layers?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-move-or-copy-annotations-between-layers-brzu5p/)

### Info Layers

In addition to the Layers you create, Scriptation can automatically generate **Info Layers** that overlay useful production information — revision colors, large scene numbers, scene dividers, 8th page counts, and dialogue numbers. See [What are Info Layers, and how do I use them?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-are-info-layers-and-how-do-i-use-them-1gkr5qc/)

|| 📝 NOTE: Info Layers is an [Industry Pro](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-scriptation-industry-pro-1jfjecg/) feature. 

### Sharing Layers

Layers let you share a specific set of notes with a collaborator without sharing your whole script. The most common workflow:

* [**Export Layers**](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-share-layers-with-export-14uqv6c/) as a Scriptation Layer File (.slf) → your collaborator [imports](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-import-layers-18b0u91/) it onto their own copy of the script;
* [**Live Layers**](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-are-live-layers-and-how-do-i-get-set-up-1fowibn/) — Scriptation Team and Enterprise's instant-sharing version of the same workflow;
* [**Export as PDF**](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/can-i-send-a-layer-as-a-pdf-65q8kl/) — share a flat PDF of the script with just one Layer's notes, for collaborators who don't use Scriptation.

|| 📝 NOTE: Sharing Layers via Export is an [Industry Pro](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-scriptation-industry-pro-1jfjecg/) feature. Any Scriptation user can receive and import a .slf file.

| ✅ TIP: To send the **entire script** with all of your notes baked in, use [How to Share Notes or Email a File](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-share-notes-or-email-a-file-181353n/) instead.

# What's Next

[How to Show/Hide Layers](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-showhide-layers-2kqnpb/)
[How to Share Layers with Export](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-share-layers-with-export-14uqv6c/)
[How to Import Layers](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-to-import-layers-18b0u91/)
[Can I transfer multiple Layers at a time?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/can-i-transfer-multiple-layers-at-a-time-e0bd0w/)