---
title: "Texture Painter Layers: Paint, AI, Decal, Solid Colour and Groups"
description: "How layers work in the Texture Painter: layer types, adding, renaming, reordering, grouping, merging and deleting layers, visibility, lock, opacity, blend modes, masks on AI layers, colour adjustments, and undo."
source: https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/layers
---

# Layers

How layers work in the Texture Painter: layer types, adding, renaming, reordering, grouping, merging and deleting layers, visibility, lock, opacity, blend modes, masks on AI layers, colour adjustments, and undo.

[Open the Texture Painter](https://www.3daistudio.com/TexturePainter/app)

Everything you paint or generate in the Texture Painter is a layer. Layers keep changes separate, so you can hide, adjust, reorder or delete any of them without touching the rest. This page explains the layer types, every layer action, and how masks on AI layers work.

![The Layers panel with Painted details, Projection 1, Paint 1 and Base](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/layers-panel.webp)

*The layer list: paint layers above and below an AI layer, with the model's original texture (Base) at the bottom.*

## Layer types

| Type | Shown as | What it holds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Base | **Base**, "The model's original texture" | The texture the model came with. Always at the bottom and can't be painted. |
| Paint layer | **Paint layer** | Your brush, fill and image brush work |
| Solid colour | **Solid colour layer** | One colour over the whole model |
| AI layer | **AI layer** (or **AI · 360°**, **AI · references**, **AI · upscaled**) | An AI result, revealed with a mask you paint |
| Decal | **Decal layer** | One placed sticker, logo or label |
| Group | **Group layer** | Several layers kept together. Click the arrow to open or fold it. |
| Adjustment | **Adjustment**, indented above its layer | Colour changes (brightness, saturation, hue…) for the layer below it. See [Adjust colors](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/adjustments). |

Layers higher in the list cover the ones below them. New paint goes on the selected layer.

## Add a layer

Click **+** (**New layer**) at the top of **Layers**:

| Item | What it adds |
| --- | --- |
| **Paint layer** | An empty layer to paint by hand |
| **Solid colour** | A layer that covers the model in your current colour |
| **Group** | An empty group, or a group with the selected layers in it |
| **Generate with AI** | Jumps to the prompt box to make an AI layer |
| **Image or decal** | Switches to the Decal tool: upload, pick from your dashboard or generate a sticker |
| **Adjustment layer** | Colour adjustments for the selected layer (see [Adjust colors](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/adjustments)) |

![The New layer menu with Paint layer, Solid colour, Group, Generate with AI and Image or decal](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/new-layer-menu.webp)

*The New layer menu.*

## Work with a layer

- **Select:** click the row. `Shift`-click to select a range, `Ctrl`-click to add single layers.
- **Rename:** double-click the name, type, and press `Enter`.
- **Hide or show:** click the eye at the left of the row (it appears when you hover). A hidden layer keeps its opacity for when you show it again.
- **Reorder:** drag the row up or down.
- **Keyboard:** with the list focused, `↑` and `↓` select the layer above or below, `Delete` deletes the selected layer, and `Ctrl+C`, `Ctrl+X` and `Ctrl+V` copy, cut and paste layers.

### The layer menu

Click **⋯** on a row to open its menu:

| Item | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| Name field | Rename the layer |
| **Opacity** | How strongly the layer shows (0 to 100%). On an adjustment it's called **Strength**. |
| **Blend** | How it mixes with the layers below (see below) |
| **Adjust colors…** | Brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and more for this layer. With an adjustment already on it, opens that one; **Add another adjustment** stacks one more. |
| **Lock** / **Unlock** | Protect it from painting. A locked layer can't be painted or deleted. |
| **Duplicate** | A copy of the layer, with copies of its adjustments |
| **Merge down** | Merge it into the layer below. With several layers selected: **Merge … selected**. For a group: **Flatten group**. |
| **Put in a group** / **Take out of the group** | Group or ungroup it |
| **Move up** / **Move down** | Change its place in the list |
| **Upscale** (AI and decal layers) | A sharper copy of the layer. See [AI painting](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/ai-painting#upscale-an-ai-layer). |
| **Apply with smooth edges** (AI layers) | Reveal the whole AI result with soft edges |
| **Download the image** (AI and decal layers) | Save the layer's source image |
| **Delete layer** | Remove it, together with its adjustments |

![The layer menu of a paint layer with Opacity, Blend, Lock, Duplicate, Merge down and more](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/layer-menu-paint.webp)

*The menu of a paint layer.*

![The layer menu of an AI layer](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/layer-menu-ai.webp)

*The menu of an AI layer adds Upscale, Apply with smooth edges and Download the image.*

### Blend modes

**Normal**, **Multiply**, **Screen**, **Overlay**, **Darken**, **Lighten**, **Color dodge**, **Color burn**, **Hard light**, **Soft light**, **Difference** and **Exclusion**. **Multiply** darkens (good for dirt and shadows), **Screen** lightens (good for glow and highlights), and **Overlay** adds contrast.

## Masks on AI layers

An AI layer works differently from a paint layer: the AI result is fixed, and you paint *where it shows*. Think of it as a stencil.

- A new AI layer starts fully hidden.
- With the AI layer selected, the **brush** reveals the AI result and the **eraser** hides it again.
- **Apply with smooth edges** reveals everything the AI saw, with soft edges.
- Your brush colour isn't used on AI layers. To paint colour, add a paint layer (**Paint colour** in the options bar).

This is why you can generate freely: a weak result costs nothing to ignore, and a good one can be used only where it looks right.

## Adjust a layer's colors

To change a layer's brightness, contrast, saturation, hue or colour temperature without repainting it, hover the row and click the sliders button (**Adjust colors**), or choose **Adjust colors…** in its **⋯** menu. The change is a separate **Adjustment** row directly above the layer, so you can tweak, hide or delete it any time. Masks work like on AI layers: with the adjustment selected, the eraser hides it and the brush brings it back. See [Adjust a layer's colors](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/adjustments).

## Compare with the original

Press and hold the eye icon at the top of **Layers** (**Hold to compare**) to see the original model without any of your layers. Release it to bring them back.

## Undo and redo

**Undo** and **Redo** are in the top bar, or use `Ctrl+Z` and `Ctrl+Shift+Z` (`Ctrl+Y` also redoes). One brush stroke is one undo step. Undo covers paint, layer changes and model rotations. On a touch screen, tap with two fingers to undo.

## Related

- [Painting tools](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/painting-tools)
- [AI painting](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/ai-painting)
- [Adjust a layer's colors](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/adjustments)
- [The 2D view](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/2d-view): check a single layer.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why can't I paint on the Base layer?

The Base layer is the model's original texture and stays untouched, so you can always go back. Paint on a paint layer above it; the 3D view offers a **Paint layer** button.

### How do I combine several layers into one?

Use **Merge down** in the layer menu, select several layers and choose **Merge … selected**, or press `Ctrl+E` with the layer list focused. For a group, choose **Flatten group**.

### Why does my painting disappear under an AI result?

Layers higher in the list cover the ones below. Drag your paint layer above the AI layer.

---

> Documentation index for AI agents: https://docs.3daistudio.com/llms.txt