To import an image file as a layer using the Windows browser

1. Choose Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor.
2. Do one of the following:
   • If you want the layer to be created on a new canvas, click the view in which you want the new canvas to be created.
   • If you want the layer to be created on an existing canvas, select the canvas by using the icon next to the canvas name in the Construction Plane Editor or select it from the lister in the Canvas Layer Editor. The former takes priority.
3. In the Canvas Layer Editor, choose Layer > New Image Layer (import).

   The Image Import browser opens.

4. In the browser, choose an image to import.

   The image is shown in the Preview window.

   
5. In the browser, set Layer Type to Image.

   The content of the Preview updates.

6. If you want to import the image into a new canvas, turn on Always create New Canvas. Otherwise, make sure that it is turned off.
7. Click on the Select button.

   If Always create New Canvas was on, a new canvas plane is created and the image is loaded onto it as an image layer (filling the entire canvas plane). The size of the canvas plane is based on the size of the current view window.

   Otherwise, the image is imported as a new image layer and centered on the canvas plane.

   The new layer becomes the active layer.

   If importing a Photoshop PSD file, all the layers are imported as separate image layers in the canvas, with the same names.

To import an image file as a layer, using the Alias browser

1. Do one of the following:
   • If you want the layer to be created on a new canvas, click the view in which you want the new canvas to be created.
   • If you want the layer to be created on an existing canvas, select the canvas by using the icon next to the canvas name in the Construction Plane Editor or select it from the lister in the Canvas Layer Editor. The former takes priority.
2. Choose File > Import > Canvas Image to open the option box.
   
3. Set Layer Type to Image.
4. If you want to import the image into a new canvas, turn on Always create New Canvas. Otherwise, make sure that it is turned off.
5. Click Go.

   The File Browser opens

6. Use the File Browser to select the image file you want to load and click Import Image.

   If Always create New Canvas was on, a new canvas plane is created and the image is loaded onto it as an image layer (filling the entire canvas plane). The size of the canvas plane is based on the size of the current view window.

   Otherwise, the image is imported as a new image layer and centered on the canvas plane.

   The new layer becomes the active layer.

   If importing a Photoshop PSD file, all the layers are imported as image layers in the canvas, with the same names.

About importing mask layers from PSD files

Layer masks and Vector masks from PSD files are not supported. The mask effects on the layers are ignored when they are imported into Alias. To work around this:

1. Convert all needed layer masks and vector masks into image layers in Photoshop.
2. After importing all the image layers into Alias, choose Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor.
3. Use the Convert > Copy layer to mask or Convert > Copy layer to invisibility mask tools in the Canvas Layer Editor to convert these layers back to mask layers.

To import images from Windows Explorer or PortfolioWall as image layers

1. Click the Alias view you want to load image files onto.
2. Drag the images from Windows Explorer or PortfolioWall and drop them into Alias.

   The images are imported as new image layers on the canvas plane in the active view.

   Note

   If there is no canvas plane in the active view, a new canvas plane is automatically created.

   Note

   If there is no active view, the images are not imported.