Layer improvements

I find the layers in Draw to be in need of some improvements.

If the mouse is over the layers palette and you roll the scroll wheel, it should either scroll the layers palette, or just do nothing.  Currently, it will zoom the document.  The program should know where the mouse is currently positioned.  There's a lot of this focus problem going on in various places in Draw.

Another problem is the layers aren't flexible enough and don't have enough features.  I've never used a Master layer in my life in Corel Draw, but I can't hide the one that is always there.

Expand to show selection.  When enabled, lower layers fly right off the bottom of the palette and vanish which is certainly not what I want.  If I disable it, there's no longer any indication of what layer you're working on because Draw doesn't hi light the layer on which you're currently working.  Neither option is suitable and there are no other options.  Draw needs to simply high light the layer you're working on.  If you click a piece of art on a different layer, it should automatically hi light that layer.  Otherwise, I'm lost working in Draw if I attempt to use layers.

The layers are ugly.  Make them look nice and clean and easy on the eyes.

Give the layers some cool and useful "Illustrator-like" functionality, such as with key modifier, click on 1 eye to turn off all other layers, and back on.  With key modifier, click on one eye to view it as wireframe and back, etc.  This is extremely useful.

Show a tiny image out beside the layers to show that there's actually something on the layer.

I don't know if this is possible, but in Illustrator, each layer assigns a color for the selection/outline of any art selected in that layer.  This way I know I'm on different layers without even noticing the layers palette.  I also use specific contrasting colors that help me do things like draw with the pen tools.  When a path has no outline and no fill, in Illustrator it is the color designated by the layer and you can choose whatever color you want for that.

I would also like to be able to hide the Page layer.  I only use layers in Draw, no pages and no master pages.  Just allow the hiding of things you don't want wasting space and adding to the confusion of what you're actually looking at.

Oh and I forgot.  It should be possible to hide the guides layer and add guids directly on whatever layer you happen to be on.

    • Hi KuttyJoe,

      I hate to say it, but having read a lot of your posts I think you are just anti-Corel pro-Adobe. Some of your above comments are ridiculous. For starters, as soon as click on any item in CorelDraw the Object Manager immediately highlights the layer name in red and the item itself in blue; no idea what programme you are using. Secondly, you expand all layers to show contents and OBVIOUSLY the layers will go off the bottom of the docker if you have more layers/items than it can show. What do you expect it to do, magically expand your monitor to 40" to accompany the rest of the items?

      The Object Manager in Draw is about as simple as it gets, it is not the slightest bit confusing. I have never been unsure about what page, what layer or whatever I was working on. It is simple and clear. You just want it to work the way Illy does, but this is Corel, not Adobe.The last thing we want in CorelDraw is to have it emulating Illustrator. CorelDraw is so much more user-friendly and productive.

      In Draw you can hide the Guides Layer and you can also place Guides directly on a Guides Layer specific to the page you are working on. This was one of the main features of the new layers in Draw. If you want a guideline available to all pages, simply drag it onto the page. If you want it only available to the page you are working on then select the Guides Layer for that page in the Object Manager and then drag your guide to the page. If you later change your mind and want it available to all pages, drag the guide from the page specific Guides Layer to the Master Guides Layer in the Object Manager. Similarly, you can drag from the Master Guides Layer to the page specific Guides Layer. I am wondering if you are always working in Layer Manager View? If this is the case deselect it and you may find things much easier to work with.

      Just one other question, seeing that you are an Adobe man: You once mentioned somewhere that PS allows one to have 2 windows open at the same time of the one image....and 2 different views (say a single channel in one window and all channels in the other) will zoom/pan in harmony. This functionality does not exist; or if it does please tell me how and where. You can select an item in the Window menu to match zoom and position, but it does not automatically update to stay in synch with the window you are working in. As soon as you zoom or pan you then have to click the option again to re-sync the views.

      I am sorry if I have offended you in any way with this post, but I am so over all the bs I hear from Adobe users who usually know absolutely NOTHING about Corel. We get enough of that elsewhere without having to hear it in here too.

      Best regards,