Using tool layers for reference artwork

Lesson guide

1. Open reference-start.lzrproj. Reference is an ordinary Line layer. Its large rectangle initially appears in Preview with the tag and opening. Close Preview.
2. Select Reference and click its Color square. Choose Tool 1, one of the dashed swatches at the bottom of the palette.
3. The layer shows Tool and its laser settings disappear. Try Show off, then restore Show to keep the guide visible.
4. Click Toggle lock on layer objects at the top of Layers. The reference boundary is now protected from accidental edits.
5. Open Preview and hide Show Travel. Only the tag outline and opening remain. Close Preview and confirm the guide is still shown on the canvas.
6. Save a separate copy, reopen it and compare with reference-finished.lzrproj. In the corrected release, the tool layer keeps the custom name Reference.

Independent practice

Open reference-practice.lzrproj. Its guide is an ellipse. Convert only Reference to Tool 2, keep it shown and lock its object.

• Preserve the Artwork layer, 40 x 20 mm tag, 6 mm opening and elliptical guide geometry.
• Preview should contain only the tag outline and opening.
• Save your own copy, reopen it and compare with reference-practice-answer.lzrproj. Confirm the name Reference remains.

• Which control excludes the guide: Show, lock or the tool-layer type?
• What should remain in Preview?
• What should you recheck if you change the tool color back to a regular color?

Explained answer

Practice answer

Reference is Tool 2, visible and locked. Its 70 x 46 mm ellipse stays on the canvas. Artwork contains the 40 x 20 mm tag and 6 mm opening, both included in Preview.

Tool type and lock

The tool-layer type excludes the guide from output. Locking protects edits; it is not an output control.

Returning to a normal color

A regular palette color returns a processing layer. The verified workflow created Line with Output on. Inspect the settings and Preview after this change.

• reference-start.lzrproj

  Demo starter with a normal Line reference rectangle.

• reference-finished.lzrproj

  Corrected Tool 1 answer; name Reference retained.

• reference-practice.lzrproj

  Independent starter with an elliptical guide.

• reference-practice-answer.lzrproj

  Corrected Tool 2 answer; name Reference retained.

Save/reopen names match the corrected Beam Bench 0.2.38 release. Earlier versions may rename tool layers.