> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://armorsmith-designer.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Organize pattern layers and groups

> Choose a drawing destination, organize shapes, and control visibility and selection in Workshop.

> [!NOTE]
>
> These instructions are for **Armorsmith Designer 2.1.1.0**. Earlier versions, including 2.1.0.10, can show different panels and labels.

Use drawing layers to organize a workspace's outlines, images, and text. For a foam armor panel, keep the base outline, raised trim, and reference image on separate drawing layers so you can find and protect them while drafting.

These are **drawing layers**. For physical height and raised foam pieces, use [foam layers](https://armorsmith-designer.mintlify.site/foam-preview/layers-and-materials.md).

## Choose a drawing layer

![Patterns browser showing Drawing Into Base, an expanded Chest Trim group with two splines, and a locked Reference layer.](https://mintcdn.com/armorsmith-designer/7y9yUVTZaoXwpVC7/images/pattern-layers-groups-2110.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=7y9yUVTZaoXwpVC7\&q=85\&s=2176b2ebef81e1e7294212fe82bfa71b)

*Drawing layers organize outlines and reference images; Drawing Into identifies the destination for new objects.*

1. Open Workshop and choose the workspace.
2. Open **Workbench → Browse → Patterns**.
3. Click **+ Layer**, then name the layer.
4. Use **Set As Drawing Layer** on the layer's context menu.
5. Check **Drawing Into** before creating the next object.

The drawing destination and the selected object serve different purposes. A hidden or locked destination is shown as such; choose an editable layer before drafting.

## Move and rename content

Use **Search Layers And Patterns** to find items. Select a layer or item and click **Rename**, or press **F2**.

Right-click selected items and choose **Move To Layer** to choose an existing destination. Use **New Layer From Selection** to organize those items into a new layer. The up/down layer controls change drawing order; they do not change a foam piece's physical height.

## Group and ungroup

Select the drawing objects you want to handle together, then choose **Group Selection (Ctrl+G)**. Use **Ungroup (Ctrl+Shift+G)** to separate the group again.

Expand a group in the browser and select a member when you need to edit that item directly. A group is an organizational selection; it is different from an instance whose outline edits are linked to another pattern.

## Hide, isolate, and lock

Use the **Viewport** column to show or hide a layer or item. **Alt-click** a visibility control to isolate or restore visibility; the context menu also offers **Isolate / Restore Visibility**.

Use the **Lock** column to protect content from selection while working nearby. A parent group or layer can hide or lock its children. If an item's own visibility switch does not reveal it, check its parents too.

## Delete safely

Check the selection before pressing **Delete** or using the context menu:

* **Delete Selected Items** removes those items.
* **Delete Layer And Contents** removes the layer and everything inside it. The confirmation identifies the layer.
* **Ungroup** separates members instead of deleting them.

Use **Edit → Undo** to reverse an unwanted change. Save the costume after organizing the workspace.


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