Layer order (reverse, reverse inside groups etc)

[jackamus]

Is there a quick way to reverse the order of layers?

[MEB]

Hi jackamus,

No, there's no specific command for this. You have to do it manually.

[jackamus]

Is this the same a the 'Z' order?

[MEB]

Yes, you can say so. Z order is used to define the order in a Z axis (depth). Translating to Affinity Layer's panel it can be used to define the order of the layers in the layer's stack. Although it would not be my first choice when talking about layers in Affinity it does make sense when talking about CSS code for example (z-index property).

[Hangman]

Has this been made into a feature request, I would certainly second the ability to reverse the layer order, both for 'all' layers in a document and layers within groups independently, so that only the layers within the group are re-ordered, I seem to spend a lot of time doing this manually at the moment.

What would be great in addition is perhaps a preference that allows new layers to be added below, rather than above the current layer or something similar so people can select which they prefer.

[MEB]

Hi Hangman,
I'm moving this thread to the Feature Requests section. Title edited for clarity.

[Hangman]

Thanks, much appreciated...

[jackamus]

10 minutes ago, Hangman said:

Thanks, much appreciated...

Me too!

[mad99]

+1
Many times or most of the time the order is twisted. Would be great to get some easy button or some command/script like in GIMP:
https://docs.gimp.org/2.9/en/script-fu-reverse-layers.html.

 To do it manually is a pain and very error-prone with lots of layers.

[jackamus]

I'll check this out to see if it can be done DrawPlus8.

[lalcimo]

Hello Everyone,

I don't know if anyone already know this yet but I'll share it anyway. I'm using Affinity Designer 1.7

1. Select everything you want to reverse the order

2. Cut it (Ctrl + X)

3. Enable "Insert behind the selection" or go to LAYER > INSERTION > BEHIND

4. Paste it

You can see that the order of the objects are now reversed. :D

[jackamus]

On 9/7/2018 at 7:56 AM, mad99 said:

+1
Many times or most of the time the order is twisted. Would be great to get some easy button or some command/script like in GIMP:
https://docs.gimp.org/2.9/en/script-fu-reverse-layers.html.

 To do it manually is a pain and very error-prone with lots of layers.

I have just tried this link but it doesn't work. Do you have another?

[mad99]

ohh, long time ago,
I guess, gimp version has changed.
 

But this Link https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/blob/master/plug-ins/script-fu/scripts/reverse-layers.scm

seams to be the script for Gimp in any version. Has googled for. So maybe you will find also a doc for. But this is the script for .

 

Chears Martin

[jackamus]

Thanks Martin - LOL a bit out of my area of expertise!

[mad99]

Hey jackamus,
This was only for feature-request.

I tried the hint from @lalcimo and in Designer it works fine.
So you don't have to have the expertise ;o) (Maybe dev's from Affinity will have the missing expertise for in future: Maybe Affinity will insert a button for/or a simple other 1-Click solution. )
-> Only select and insert: Then the Layers are inverted below the current layer.

[Hangman]

Even a simple cmd click/ctrl click a.k.a other similar software to allow a new layer to be created below the currently selected layer would be a good start.

[Tim Pro]

I want to revive this topic. The Reverse function is very important. For example, I make a calendar and naturally create layers with names: January, February, March, April, etc.
The order of the layers will be appropriate:
etc.
April
March
February
January.
Psychologically, it is not convenient to read from the bottom up. I expect January to be the top layer.

I can drag and drop layers 12 times or I could click one button.

[tomsynth]

On 9/30/2019 at 1:32 AM, lalcimo said:

Hello Everyone,

I don't know if anyone already know this yet but I'll share it anyway. I'm using Affinity Designer 1.7

1. Select everything you want to reverse the order

2. Cut it (Ctrl + X)

3. Enable "Insert behind the selection" or go to LAYER > INSERTION > BEHIND

4. Paste it

You can see that the order of the objects are now reversed. :D

THIS WORKS .  thanks 

[Raptosauru5]

On 9/30/2019 at 10:32 AM, lalcimo said:

Hello Everyone,

I don't know if anyone already know this yet but I'll share it anyway. I'm using Affinity Designer 1.7

1. Select everything you want to reverse the order

2. Cut it (Ctrl + X)

3. Enable "Insert behind the selection" or go to LAYER > INSERTION > BEHIND

4. Paste it

You can see that the order of the objects are now reversed.

LOL this is such a cool trick :D:D I have no idea how could you even find about this! It almost feels like a bug.

 

anyway, I want to BUMP THIS TOPIC!

This feature would make so much sense, together with setting where I want the CTRL+J duplicate to appear (above or below selected layer)

Thanks!

[lalcimo]

On 11/19/2022 at 6:35 AM, Raptosauru5 said:

LOL this is such a cool trick :D:D I have no idea how could you even find about this! It almost feels like a bug.

 

anyway, I want to BUMP THIS TOPIC!

This feature would make so much sense, together with setting where I want the CTRL+J duplicate to appear (above or below selected layer)

Thanks!

Yep I think it's a bug but somehow served another purpose. 🤣 I discovered it when I pasted multiple objects behind another object. It seemed that "insertion > behind" will also apply to the objects in the clipboard. To avoid this, I group the objects before pasting it behind another object.

Now this bug sorta works as "reverse layers" feature. XD Still works in V2

[JariH]

On 9/30/2019 at 11:32 AM, lalcimo said:

...

1. Select everything you want to reverse the order

2. Cut it (Ctrl + X)

3. Enable "Insert behind the selection" or go to LAYER > INSERTION > BEHIND

4. Paste it

You can see that the order of the objects are now reversed...

Thanks for this trick.

Please Affinity. This could still be a bit simpler: reverse order of selected layers in menu or simply select and cut layers in reverse order and paste.

[Dybkjær]

Also, this "feature" does not seem to work in the iPad version.

I could really use a proper "reverse layers" feature. I'm diagramming instructions, and sometimes I ask the reader to "turn over". That would be easier to draw if I could just reverse the selected objects' layer order.

[Alfred]

13 minutes ago, Dybkjær said:

this "feature" does not seem to work in the iPad version

It works for me, but please note that the ‘Insertion Targets’ options need a target! If you’ve cut everything to the clipboard you won’t have a target, so you need to create an object (e.g. a rectangle) before you paste the clipboard contents.