Editing With Layers

Editing With Layers

Understanding the Layers editor

The editor contains two connected views:

• The composition itself
• The ordered layer stack

The composition shows how all visible layers currently fit together. The layer stack shows each individual element and its position relative to the others.

You can use the stack to:

• Select a layer
• Change its order
• Group related layers
• Control visibility
• Delete an element

You can use the composition area to:

• Select visible elements
• Move them horizontally or vertically
• Resize or reposition them
• Arrange imported assets
• Evaluate the finished layout

Changes made in either view are reflected in the other.

Selecting and moving a layer

Click an element in the composition or select its name from the stack.

Once selected, you can reposition it inside the editor. Only that layer moves, while the remaining elements stay where they are.

This makes small layout adjustments much easier. For example, you can move a headline upward to create room for a CTA without disturbing the subject, logo, or background.

Changing the stacking order

The order of the layers determines which elements appear in front.

Drag a layer higher in the stack to bring it forward. Drag it lower to place it behind other elements.

This is often referred to as the layer’s z-order.

You might use it to:

• Move typography in front of a background graphic.
• Bring a foreground object in front of the subject.
• Tuck a decorative element partially behind the headline.
• Place an imported asset between two extracted layers.

If an element appears to have disappeared, check whether it has been placed behind a larger layer.

Grouping related layers

Layers can be grouped by shift+clicking them in the stack, then using the ‘G’ keyboard shortcut or the Group button above the framed selection.

Grouping is useful when several elements belong to one logical component, such as:

• A product and its shadow
• A headline and subheadline
• A subject and a foreground accessory
• A logo and its surrounding graphic treatment
• Several elements that make up a CTA

Groups help keep more complex compositions organized and reduce the chance of accidentally moving one connected element without the others.

Showing and hiding layers

Each layer has a visibility control, it’s the eye icon to the right of the layer name.

Hiding a layer removes it from the visible composition without deleting it. This is useful when comparing variations or testing whether an element is necessary.

For example, you could:

• Compare a poster with and without supporting copy.
• Test several headline treatments.
• Hide the original product after creating a replacement.
• Evaluate alternate backgrounds.
• Create several options inside one editor.

Visibility controls make the Layers editor a useful space for controlled experimentation.

Deleting layers

You can delete any layer that is no longer needed.

Use deletion when you are confident the element should be removed from the composition. Use visibility instead when you may want to bring it back later.

For a safer iteration process, it is usually best to hide uncertain elements first and delete them only after the direction has been approved.

Modifying one image layer

There are many different ways you can prompt to modify or create variants of a layer.

Each image layer includes an instruction field for making a targeted change.

Select the layer you want to edit and describe what that element should become.

Here are some prompt examples:

Replace the red running shoe with a white leather sneaker photographed from the same angle. Preserve the existing lighting direction and shadow placement.

or

Change the selected shoe into a clean white leather sneaker. Match the original camera angle, scale, lighting, and position.

or

Create a white leather version of this sneaker while keeping its current orientation, perspective, proportions, and studio lighting.

Select a background layer and enter:

Change this background into a warm cream studio backdrop with a subtle paper texture.

or

Replace the selected background with a soft cream-colored studio wall featuring a very light paper grain.

or

Create a warm neutral backdrop in a pale cream tone. Keep the texture minimal and preserve the existing lighting direction.

Select a person and enter:

Change the jacket to dark green while preserving the person, pose, expression, and lighting.

or

Replace the selected jacket with a deep green version. Keep the subject’s identity, body position, facial expression, and lighting unchanged.

or

Make the jacket a dark forest green while preserving the person’s appearance, pose, framing, and all other clothing details.

The instruction is applied to the selected layer rather than the entire image.

This is what makes Layers particularly valuable for precision editing: the background, layout, text, and every unselected element can remain intact.

How layer variations are preserved

When you modify an image layer, the newly generated result is added inside the editor as another layer.

The original becomes hidden rather than being immediately discarded. The original and regenerated version are grouped together, allowing you to retain both states.

This gives you a built-in comparison and fallback system:

• Show the original to return to the previous version.
• Show the variation to use the new result.
• Preserve both while continuing to evaluate.
• Create additional variations without losing the source.

This is a more controlled process than repeatedly overwriting an image.

Modifying multiple layers

You can also modify multiple image layers during the same editing process.

This is useful when a requested change affects several related elements.

For example:

Change the product packaging to dark blue and update the product shadow to match its new shape and position.

or

Redesign the selected package in a deep navy color, then adjust the selected shadow so it accurately matches the updated packaging.

or

Make the product packaging dark blue while preserving its branding and perspective. Update the shadow layer so its shape, direction, and softness remain physically consistent.

Another example:

Turn the background into an evening scene and adjust the window reflections to match the new lighting.

or

Change the selected environment to early evening and update the selected reflections so they match the darker sky and warmer interior lights.

or

Transform the background into a blue-hour setting. Adjust the window reflections and highlights to remain consistent with the new time of day.

Selecting only the relevant layers helps keep the change focused while protecting everything else in the composition.

Working with image layers as regular assets

Every image layer behaves like a regular image asset.

You can:

• Download it
• Inspect its file information
• Crop it
• Modify it
• Move it onto your board
• Use it elsewhere in your project

This means Layers is not a closed editing environment. An extracted element can continue through other Luma workflows.

You might extract a character from a poster, drag it onto the board, use it as a reference for another image, and later bring the new result back into the original Layers editor.

Adding images from the board

Drag any compatible image from your board into the Layers editor to add it to the composition.

Once inside, the imported image can be:

• Repositioned
• Reordered
• Grouped
• Hidden
• Deleted
• Cropped or modified

Editing text directly

Depending on the selected text, you can update:

• The written content
• Font
• Font size
• Color
• Position
• Stacking order

Using custom fonts

Layers supports custom fonts so teams can work with their own typography rather than relying only on default options.

• Admin roles can upload and delete custom fonts.
• Team members can view available fonts and use them on any board.

Changing the aspect ratio

The Layers editor supports common aspect-ratio combinations.

This allows the composition itself to change shape, giving you space to rebuild the layout for another format.

The aspect-ratio control can be locked or unlocked.

Locked

When the editor is locked, the content scales with the editor.

Use this when you want the entire composition to grow or shrink proportionally as the editor changes.

Unlocked

When the editor is unlocked, the editor can change size without automatically scaling its contents.

Use this when adapting a design to a new format. The expanded or reduced canvas gives you room to reposition each layer independently.

For example, when converting a square design into a vertical composition, unlocking the editor lets you extend the working area and then move the headline, subject, product, and logo into a new vertical layout.

Copying and pasting an editor

The entire Layers editor can be duplicated by option+click+dragging a new copy on your board.

This is useful before making a major change. One editor can remain as the approved master while the copy becomes a new variation. Keeping a clean master makes it easier to branch into many variations without losing the original composition.