Editing 2D computer graphics (section)

====Layers====<!-- This section is linked from [[Layer]] -->
[[File:BabyAnimation.png|thumb|A 2D animated character [[compositing|composited]] with 3D backgrounds using layers]]

{{main|Layers (digital image editing)}}
The models used in 2D computer graphics usually do not provide for three-dimensional shapes, or three-dimensional optical phenomena such as lighting, [[shadow]]s, [[Reflection (physics)|reflection]], [[refraction]], etc. However, they usually can model multiple ''layers'' (conceptually of ink, paper, or film; opaque, [[translucent]], or [[Transparency (graphic)|transparent]]&mdash;stacked in a specific order. The ordering is usually defined by a single number (the layer's  ''depth'', or distance from the viewer).

Layered models are sometimes called "2{{frac|1|2}}-D computer graphics". They make it possible to mimic traditional drafting and printing techniques based on film and paper, such as cutting and pasting; and allow the user to edit any layer without affecting the others. For these reasons, they are used in most [[graphics editor]]s. Layered models also allow better [[spatial anti-aliasing]] of complex drawings and provide a sound model for certain techniques such as ''mitered joints'' and the [[even–odd rule]].

Layered models are also used to allow the user to suppress unwanted information when viewing or printing a document, e.g. roads or railways from a [[map]], certain process layers from an [[integrated circuit]] diagram, or hand annotations from a business letter.

In a layer-based model, the target image is produced by "painting" or "pasting" each layer, in order of decreasing depth, on the virtual canvas. Conceptually, each layer is first [[rendering (computer graphics)|rendered]] on its own, yielding a [[digital image]] with the desired [[Image resolution|resolution]] which is then painted over the canvas, pixel by pixel.  Fully transparent parts of a layer need not be rendered, of course. The rendering and painting may be done in parallel, i.e., each layer pixel may be painted on the canvas as soon as it is produced by the rendering procedure.

Layers that consist of complex geometric objects (such as [[String (computer science)|text]] or [[polyline]]s) may be broken down into simpler elements ([[Character (computing)|character]]s or [[line segment]]s, respectively), which are then painted as separate layers, in some order. However, this solution may create undesirable [[aliasing]] artifacts wherever two elements overlap the same pixel.

See also [[Portable Document Format#Layers]].