Layer editor system for a pen-based computer
View Patent ↗The present invention is a system that provides a layer editor representing layers using box like controls. The layer controls are arranged in vertical stack representing the ordering of the layers in the paint application and provided with a highlight frame that indicates an active layer. The name or graphic of each layer depicted in the corresponding box for that layer can be created using drawing strokes of a stylus or pen of a pen-based computer. The pen is also used to select the controls, pop-up menus and perform selections or operations with underlying menus and/or functions. Making a mark with the pen can be used to select layer editing functions. A drawing dialog is used to write or draw the names applied to the layers.
1. A layer editor interface, comprising: a processor for displaying the layer editor interface: layer representation graphic having layer names inputable by a user and displayable as hand drawn strokes, and having selection targets with a box shape, each selection box comprising: a marking menu control activatable for each layer that allows the layer to be edited by hand drawn gestures where the marking menu control comprises edit controls for new layer, clear layer, rename layer, delete layer, merge layer, lock layer, hide layer and position layer; a re-order layers control; and a layer opacity control having a dialog box with a slider for setting layer opacity, wherein each of the controls has a target size of greater than 2e where e is a distance error accuracy of an input device, wherein an active layer is highlighted with a frame surrounding the name, wherein each layer graphic has an indicator indicating whether a corresponding drawing layer is visible, and wherein each layer graphic has an indicator indicating whether a corresponding drawing layer is locked.
2. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a drawing dialog box invoked by the control and allowing the user to input the layer names.
3. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control invokes a marking menu type layer editing menu.
4. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein an active layer is highlighted with a frame surrounding the name.
5. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein each layer control comprises:a marking menu control for layer editing; a move control for moving a position of a layer in a layer editor stack; and a transparency control controlling the transparency of a corresponding drawing layer.
6. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein each layer graphic has an indicator indicating whether a corresponding drawing layer is hidden or visible.
7. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein each layer graphic has an indicator indicating whether a corresponding drawing layer is one of hidden and locked.
8. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein a background layer has a text label.
9. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein activation of each control via a mark simultaneously selects a corresponding layer and selects an operation on the layer.
10. A layer editor interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein making a marking gesture in association with the layer representation graphic initiates a function with respect to one or more of the layers.