Direct Layer Editing Tools

Beyond masking and AI generation, Fater's Image Editor provides tools for direct pixel manipulation on individual image layers. These tools allow for fine-grained artistic control, corrections, or adding hand-drawn elements to your compositions.

Important Prerequisite: To use these tools, you must first select a single, unlocked layer in the Layers Tab. The edits will be applied directly to the pixel data of this selected layer.

All direct layer editing tools are selected from the Inpaint Toolbar.

1. Pencil Tool (✏️ Pen icon)

The Pencil tool allows you to draw freehand lines and strokes directly onto the selected layer.

  • How to Use:

    1. Select the layer you wish to draw on.

    2. Select the Pencil tool from the Inpaint Toolbar.

    3. Click and drag your mouse on the Inpaint Canvas over the selected layer to draw.

  • Tool Options (Right-Click Icon or Popover):

    • Pencil Width (px): Adjust the thickness of your pencil strokes. This can also often be changed by holding Shift + Mouse Wheel while the tool is active.

    • Color (RGBA Color Picker): Choose the color and opacity for your pencil strokes. A dedicated color picker usually appears when the Pencil tool is active or by right-clicking its icon.

  • Preview Cursor: A circular cursor shows the current size of your pencil tip on the canvas.

  • Use Cases: Mostly for adding edges manually on an edge control layer.

2. Cutter / Edge Drawing Tool (🔪 PenLine icon)

The Cutter tool (also referred to as Edge Drawing Tool) is designed for drawing straight white lines on the selected layer. This is often useful for creating or refining Edges maps for Control Layers.

  • How to Use:

    1. Select the layer you wish to draw on (e.g., a new empty layer intended to become an Edges map).

    2. Select the Cutter tool from the Inpaint Toolbar.

    3. Click on the canvas to set the start point of your line.

    4. Move your mouse and click again to set the end point. A white line will be drawn between these two points.

    5. Constrain Line (Shift Key): Hold down the Shift key while placing the second point to constrain the line to be perfectly horizontal or vertical relative to the start point.

  • Line Properties: Lines drawn with this tool are typically white and a fixed thin width, suitable for edge detection inputs.

  • Preview: As you move your mouse after the first click, a preview of the line segment is shown.

  • Use Cases: Creating precise outlines for AI control, manually defining edges for Edges maps, technical drawing elements.

3. Layer Eraser Tool ( Eraser icon)

The Layer Eraser tool removes pixel content directly from the selected layer, making those areas transparent. This is distinct from the Mask Brush's erase mode, which only affects the mask.

  • How to Use:

    1. Select the layer you wish to erase from.

    2. Select the Eraser tool from the Inpaint Toolbar.

    3. Click and drag your mouse on the Inpaint Canvas over the areas of the selected layer you want to make transparent.

  • Adjusting Eraser Size:

    • Hold down the Shift key and scroll your mouse wheel up (increase size) or down (decrease size).

    • The eraser cursor on the canvas will change to reflect the new size.

  • Preview Cursor: A circular cursor shows the current size of your eraser on the canvas.

  • Use Cases: Permanently removing parts of a layer, creating cutouts, or blending layer edges by partially erasing them.

Important Notes:

  • Destructive Editing: These tools directly modify the pixel data of the selected layer. Consider duplicating a layer before making extensive direct edits if you want to preserve the original.

  • Single Layer Focus: You must have one active layer selected for these tools to function.

  • Tool Deselection: Clicking the active tool icon again in the Toolbar usually deselects it, returning you to a neutral/pan mode. Pressing Escape also deselects the active tool.

  • Saving: Changes made with these tools will mark your project for an auto-save, but not until you deselect this type of tool. That mean in case of regretfull action, reloading the page will return to the last project save and the most recents loss will be reverted.

These direct editing tools provide an extra layer of artistic control for refining your images within Fater.

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