Move stroke types between layers?

[NickA]

Sometimes, I forget what layer I'm on and start inking or colouring on my sketch layer. Often I don't realize until I'm half way through. I'm sure this will be less of a problem in the future, but is there a way to move certain types of strokes (ie strokes that were made with the same/similar tool settings) into a different layer?

It would be a relief to know that this kind of idiot - proofing is available.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Paul Fierlinger]

You can lock layers, you know.

[NickA]

yea I know, but I'm just as likely to forget to lock a layer as switch to a new one. If there isn't a way, that's fine. Occasionally it's handy to change things as an afterthought that's all, but I probably won't need that as I practice using the software more.

[slowtiger]

Happens to me as well. In this case I would either duplicate the layer or copy just the one frame to a new layer. Then I draw a selection around what I want to keep, invert it, and erase everything around.

[Paul Fierlinger]

ST, could you explain? What do you mean by "then I invert it"? I don't know this trick and it sounds useful. I usually just make a double of the layer and erase what I don't want and put things back together again.

[Hervé]

The shaker (shortcut 'a') is a good tool to check where you are before drawing.

[Sierra Rose]

For me, it's like remembering to save. I lost a lot of work until I made it a point to save often.

You just have to accept the need to remember either to lock the layer or check which layer you are painting on. I don't make that mistake very often anymore but I used to frustrate myself a lot with that. The pain of the wasted time is a good teacher.

[slowtiger]

I just invert the selection. It's one of the selection options in the panel. Since I use this a lot, I've assigned a shorcut like in Photoshop to it.

So the complete workflow would be like this:
- duplicate layer or frame
- make selection of accidentially painted parts
- erase that part on one layer/frame
- invert selection
- erase everything else on the other layer/frame

[NickA]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

That duplicate and make selections is a pretty good way of recovering parts slowtiger.
I agree with Sierra, the pain of wasted time (or effort) is a good teacher.

I'm locking, shaking and paying attention to layers more already.

[Paul Fierlinger]

There is one more trick I use and probably more often than the lock. I fade all layers but the one I'm drawing on. If I get by mistake onto another layer my pencil will show up as weak and gray and instantly it tells me I'm on the wrong layer. In addition I've made a red (Layer: hide all) and a green button (Layer: show all). The green one brings all layers up to 100% in a single click and the red one hides them all.

[NickA]

Hi Paul

Sounds good, I might give give it a try. I've also started using the = key more to solo the particular layer I'm on.

I had a feature request thought for TVP. Since the software is already keeping track of your past strokes via the undo feature. Would it be possible to make a feature where you could select (for example) you last 100 strokes. Then you could simply cut - paste and voila, it's on another layer. It'd work really well with cutting fills as well.
It might also be handy for trying out different line styles (but there's probably a way to do that already).