Layers let you separate different elements of a PDF page, which can be especially useful when you are working with architectural plans that involve layers of elements. In Right PDF Editor, not only can you control the display of layer using the default and initial state settings, but also rename, merge and flatten layers, and change the properties of layers.

Import layers

You can import layers from a PDF or image file into another PDF. Right PDF supports image files in the following formats: BMP, GIF, SHP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PCX, PNG, and TIFF.

  1. Open a PDF file and choose Document > Assemble > Layers .

  2. In the Layers panel, click the Options button and select Import as Layer… from the options.

  3. In the Import as Layer dialog box, click Browse and locate a file to import. If the source file is a multipage document, use the up and down arrows or enter the value to set the page number you want to import in Page Number.

  4. In the Import Options section, select one of the following import options:

    • Create new layer. Create a single, separate layer from the source file. Click and enter a name for the new layer.

    • Add to group. Add the imported layer to the existing layer group. Click the drop-down arrow and specify a layer group. This option is available only when there are one or more existing layer groups in the target PDF document and when the Create new layer option is selected.

    • Add to existing layer. Specify an existing layer to add the content from the source document. The imported content will have the same layer properties as the layer in the target document. This option is available only when the target document already contains layers.

    • Copy layers from source. Import layers from the source document to the target PDF document. This option is available only when there are layers in the source document.

  1. In the Position section, adjust the scale, position, and rotation settings as needed.

  2. In the Appearance section, set a transparency level for the new layer, and whether it is placed in front of the page or behind it.

  3. In the Preview section, specify the Target page number if the target file is a multipage document.

  4. Click OK.

Note: once placed, layers cannot be deleted or replaced, so please double check before you proceed.

Show or hide layers

You can show or hide the content associated with each layer in the Layers panel. Some layers may be organized into nested groups with a parent layer. The lock icon to the right of each layer name acts like a switch which lets you lock or unlock the layer, but you are not allowed to change the visibility of locked layers. On the other hand, the eye icon next to each layer name indicates the visibility of the layer. The layer is visible if the eye icon is present and hidden if absent.


A. An eye icon indicating a displayed layer B. Locked layer C. Hidden layer

  1. Open a PDF file and choose Document > Assemble > Layers .

  2. To hide or show a layer:

    • To hide a displayed layer, click the eye icon next to left of the layer name.

    • To show a hidden layer, click the empty box to restore visibility.

  1. Click the Options button and select one of the following from the options menu:

    • List Layers for All Pages. Display every layer across all pages of the document.

    • List Layers for Visible Page. Show layers on the currently visible pages only.

    • Reset to Initial Visibility. Reset layers to their default state as defined in the Default state in the Layer Properties dialog box.

    • Apply Print Overrides. Display layers according to the Print settings in the Layer Properties dialog box (print if visible, never, or always).

    • Apply Export Overrides. Display layers according to the Export settings in the Layer Properties dialog box (export if visible, never, or always).

    • Apply Layer Overrides. Make all layers visible, even layers not listed in the Layers panel or layers grouped under their parent layers. You cannot change layer visibility using the eye icon until this command is deselected. To make changed layer properties take effect, you can choose Reset to Initial Visibility in the options menu, or save the file and reopen it. See Edit layer properties for details.

    • Select Expand All or Collapse All to expand or reduce the layer-tree.

Edit layer properties

The Layer Properties allow you to rename a layer or adjust various settings, such as default state, visibility, print and export initial state.

  1. In the Layers panel, do one of the following to open the Layer Properties dialog box:

    • Select a layer and click the Show property icon to the right of the layer.

    • Click the Options button and select Layer Properties… from the options.

  1. In the Layer Properties dialog box, edit the name of the layer or any of the following properties and then click OK. The box at the bottom displays the information of the file creator and additional properties of the selected layer.

    • Intent. Select View to allow changing layer visibility state, which means you can click the eye icon to turn it on or off. If Reference is selected, however, the layer stays visible at all times and you are not allowed to change the layer properties, except for the layer name.

    • Default state. This option lets you define the initial visibility state of the layer when the document is first opened or when the Reset to Initial Visibility command is used. Select On or Off to make the layer visible or invisible when the document is first opened, or when the initial visibility is reset.

    • Initial State.

      • Visible lets you define the on-screen visibility of the selected layer. If you select If on, the default state determines whether this layer is shown or hidden when the document is opened. If you select Never, the layer is hidden when the document is opened. If you select Always, the layer is shown when the document is opened. 

      • Print lets you define under which condition a layer will print.

      • Export lets you decide if the layer appears in the resulting document when the PDF document is exported to an application or file format that supports layers.

Note: to make layer properties settings effective, please go to Preferences and select General >Miscellaneous > Open Settings > Allow layer state to be set by user information. If this option is not selected, settings other than Layer Name and Default state will not be able to take effect.

Merge or flatten layers

The merged layers acquire the properties of the layer into which they are merged. Meanwhile, Flatten Layers lets you merge all layers into the document, hiding any content that is invisible. Note that you cannot undo either action upon completion.

 

Merge layers

  1. Open a PDF file that contains layers and choose Document > Assemble > Layers .

  2. In the Layers panel, click on the Options button and select Merge Layers….

  3. In the Layers to be merged box to the left, select one or more layers to be merged. In the Target layer to merge into box to the right, select the target layer into which the selected layers will be merged. Click OK. The selected layers are combined with the target layer and can no longer be present in the Layers panel.

 

Flatten layers

  1. Open a PDF file that contains layers and choose Document > Assemble > Layers .

  2. In the Layers panel, click on the Options button and select Flatten Layers.

  3. In the box that pops up, click OK to proceed the operation.


Using the Merge Layers dialog box (Left) The fifth layer is merged into the fourth layer (Right)

 


The visibility state of the second layer is off. (Left) All layers are merged into the document and the invisible content is hidden. (Right)

More Resources...