Mode-based graphical editing

1. A method performed by a computer programmed to provide tools for graphical editing of image data, the method comprising:

receiving an initial request to apply a first graphical editing tool to a first work area corresponding to a portion of graphical data to be edited;

responsive to receiving the initial request, associating the first graphical editing tool with the first work area and selecting a layer of the first work area as the active work area for editing, the layer of the first work area being a copy of the portion of graphical data to be edited;

receiving a request to apply a second graphical editing tool, the second graphical editing tool being associated with a second work area corresponding to another portion of graphical data to be edited;

responsive to receiving the request to apply the second graphical tool, deactivating the layer of the first work area and selecting a layer of the second work area as the active work area for editing, the layer of the second work area being a copy of the another portion of graphical data to be edited;

receiving a subsequent request to apply the first graphical editing tool; and

responsive to receiving the subsequent request to apply the first graphical editing tool, deactivating the layer of the second work area and selecting the layer of the first work area as the active work area for editing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical editing tool is configured to apply a predetermined set of graphical operations.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined set of graphical operations comprises a set configurable by an end user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to apply the second graphical editing tool comprises receiving a request explicitly indicating a change in editing mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to apply the second graphical editing tool comprises receiving a request indicating a change in editing mode from a first editing mode to a second editing mode differing in complexity.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a visual indication of one of the first work area or the second work area, when selected as the active work area.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating the first graphical tool with multiple work areas, and responsive to receiving the subsequent request to apply the first graphical tool, selecting the most recently modified area associated with the first graphical tool as the active work area.

8. A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, executable by one or more processors operable to cause a computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, an initial request to apply a first graphical editing tool to a first work area corresponding to a portion of graphical data to be edited; responsive to receiving the initial request, associating, by the computing device, the first graphical editing tool with the first work area and selecting a layer of the first work area as the active work area for editing, the layer of the first work area being a copy of the portion of graphical data to be edited;

receiving, by the computing device, a request to apply a second graphical editing tool, the second graphical editing tool being associated with a second work area corresponding to another portion of the graphical data to be edited;

responsive to receiving the request to apply the second graphical tool, deactivating, by the computing device, the layer of the first work area and selecting a layer of the second work area as the active work area for editing, the layer of the second work area being a copy of the another portion of graphical data to be edited;

receiving, by the computing device, a subsequent request to apply the first graphical editing tool; and

responsive to receiving the subsequent request to apply the first graphical editing tool, deactivating, by the computing device, the layer of the second work area and selecting the layer of the first work area as the active work area for editing.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the first graphical editing tool is configured to apply a predetermined set of graphical operations.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined set of graphical operations comprises a set configurable by an end user.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein receiving the request to apply the second graphical editing tool comprises receiving a request explicitly indicating a change in editing mode.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein receiving the request to apply the second graphical editing tool comprises receiving a request indicating a change in editing mode from a first editing mode to a second editing mode differing in complexity.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , the operations further comprising displaying a visual indication of one of the first work area or the second work area, when selected as the active work area.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising associating the first graphical tool with multiple work areas, and responsive to receiving the subsequent request to apply the first graphical tool, selecting the most recently modified area associated with the first graphical tool as the active work area.

15. A system comprising:

a user interface device; and

one or more computers operable to interact with the user interface device and to perform operations comprising:

receiving an initial request to apply a first graphical editing tool to a first work area corresponding to a portion of graphical data to be edited;

responsive to receiving the initial request, associating the first graphical editing tool with the first work area and selecting a layer of the first work area as the active work area for editing, the layer of the first work area being a copy of the portion of graphical data to be edited;

receiving a request to apply a second graphical editing tool, the second graphical editing tool being associated with a second work area corresponding to another portion of the graphical data to be edited;

responsive to receiving the request to apply the second graphical tool, deactivating layer of the first work area and selecting a layer of the second work area as the active work area for editing, the layer of the second work area being a copy of another portion of graphical data to be edited;

receiving a subsequent request to apply the first graphical editing tool; and

responsive to receiving the subsequent request to apply the first graphical editing tool, deactivating the layer of the second work area and selecting the layer of the first work area as the active work area for editing.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first graphical editing tool is configured to apply a predetermined set of graphical operations.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined set of graphical operations comprises a set configurable by an end user.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein receiving the request to apply the second graphical editing tool comprises receiving a request explicitly indicating a change in editing mode.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein receiving the request to apply the second graphical editing tool comprises receiving a request indicating a change in editing mode from a first editing mode to a second editing mode differing in complexity.

20. The system of claim 15 , the operations further comprising displaying a visual indication of one of the first work area or the second work area, when selected as the active work area.

21. The system of claim 15 , further comprising associating the first graphical tool with multiple work areas, and responsive to receiving the subsequent request to apply the first graphical tool, selecting the most recently modified area associated with the first graphical tool as the active work area.