Layers Workflow

July 13, 2026

Layer Workflows

The greatest value of Layers is not only that it makes one image easier to edit. It lets one image become the source for an entire family of assets.

Layers enables you to lock-in what works and vary only what changes.

Reusing extracted elements elsewhere

Individual layers can be dragged out of the editor and placed on the main board.

This allows useful reference components to become reusable assets.

For example, you might extract and reuse:

  • A product cutout
  • A character
  • A typographic treatment
  • A logo lockup
  • A texture
  • A background
  • A graphic frame
  • A decorative motif

Those assets can be modified, cropped, downloaded, or incorporated into other compositions before being brought back into a Layers editor.

The result is a more connected production workflow rather than a series of disconnected exports.

Choosing resolution throughout the workflow

Resolution decisions should reflect the stage of production.

Early development

Use 1K extraction for:

  • Layout exploration
  • Early campaign branching
  • Copy testing
  • Rough localization
  • Initial aspect-ratio studies

Final refinement

Use 2K extraction when:

  • Fine details matter.
  • Text or product features require clearer separation.
  • The asset is approaching final approval.
  • A higher-quality source is needed for the intended output.

Because 2K extraction costs twice as much as 1K, you can conserve resources by proving the structure and direction at 1K before committing to higher-resolution work.

Preserve a master before branching

Before creating a large variation set, keep one clean version of the Layers editor as the master.

Do not use the master for experimental edits.

Instead:

  1. Copy the editor.
  2. Assign the copy to a specific purpose.
  3. Make the required changes.
  4. Retain the original layer organization wherever possible.
  5. Flatten only after that variation is approved.

This keeps the production structure understandable as the number of outputs grows.

Flattening the final composition

When the layer edits are complete, select the general Layers editor window and choose the Flatten button.

Flattening combines the visible layer stack into one final image.

The flattened output is:

  • WYSIWYG: What you see in the editor is what appears in the result.
  • Exported as a PNG.
  • Created at the same resolution as the highest-resolution image layer in the composition.

Hidden layers do not appear in the visible final composition, so review visibility before flattening.

Also check:

  • Layer order
  • Text accuracy
  • Font selection
  • Color and contrast
  • Product placement
  • Edge quality
  • Aspect ratio
  • Final composition boundaries

The flattened image is added to your board, where it can continue through the rest of your workflow.

Keep the layered source after exporting

Flattening creates the final image, but the layered composition remains the more valuable production asset.

Keep it available for future revisions.

You may get a request for a different headline, a new offer, another product, or an additional format. With the layered source, you can return to the composition and update only the affected elements.

The flattened image is the deliverable. The Layers editor is the reusable system behind it.