Layers

Layers are the ordered sources and processors that build the Phosphorge image. Use them to combine video, effects, still images, text, and custom shaders into one composited output.

Overview

What layers are for

A layer is one contribution to the final image. Some layers provide content, such as video, images, text, or OpenGL shaders. Effects Layers are different: they process the composite that has already been built below them.

The stack lets you decide what appears behind, what appears on top, and where processing happens. That makes layers useful for simple overlays, multi-source compositions, and performance patches where the same source is treated in several ways.

Screenshot placeholder: the left Layers panel with layer rows, the plus menu, visibility, solo, opacity, blend, and expanded controls

Order

How the stack renders

The Layers panel shows the top layer first, like most visual editors. The render builds from the lower layers upward. Drag the handle on a row when a layer needs to move in front of or behind another layer.

Effects Layers process the composite below them. Put an Effects Layer near the top for a global treatment, or place it lower when only part of the stack should feed into the effect chain.

Controls

Controls every layer shares

Visibility

The eye button shows or hides a layer without deleting it from the stack.

Solo

The S button isolates one layer so you can see what it contributes before returning to the full composition.

Opacity

Opacity controls how strongly a layer contributes to the final composite. Many layer opacity controls can also be modulated.

Blend

Blend chooses how a layer combines with what is already underneath it, including Normal, Additive, Multiply, Screen, Difference, Overlay, Hard Light, Soft Light, and Exclusion.

Reference

Layer types

Video Layer

Video Layers place the current video, folder clip, URL import, or webcam source into the compositing stack.

Effects Layer

Effects Layers run the active effect chain against the composite below them, turning effects into an ordered part of the layer stack.

Image Layer

Image Layers add still images to the composition and provide compact controls for color treatment, position, scale, modulation, reset, locks, and dice.

Text Layer

Text Layers add editable type overlays with font, size, HSL color, position, scale, opacity, blend, modulation, and automation support.

OpenGL Layer

OpenGL Layers run custom Shadertoy-style shader code as a composited layer with alpha, preview, pass, resolution, channel, and texture controls.

Workflow

A basic layer workflow

Step 1

Start with a visible source

Load a video, webcam, image, text layer, or shader so the viewer has something clear to render.

Step 2

Add one layer at a time

Use the plus menu at the bottom of the Layers panel, then choose Video Layer, Effects Layer, Image Layer, Text Layer, or OpenGL Layer.

Step 3

Order the stack intentionally

Drag rows to reorder them. The panel shows the top layer first, while the render builds upward from the lower layers.

Step 4

Expand only what you are editing

Use the chevron on a layer row to reveal Opacity, Blend, and type-specific controls.