Layers are the "bread and butter" of advanced graphics programs such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, and Paintshop Pro. In many ways, this is the key concept underlying how GIMP works and the reason for its existance. A full discussion of layers is beyond the scope of this tutorial. For a deeper discussion, check our links to other tutorials. Presented below are the mechanics of how to use layers effectively in GIMP for beginners.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING:
Provided is a "complex" ten layer drawing created by a student for this tutorial. The layers are currently unorganized and poorly named. Reorganize the layers to look like the provided key image and give them appropriate names which describe their purpose. Additionally, try different opacity settings on various layers and try different mode settings on various layers to see the effects of each change.