Patent ID: 8773468

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for manipulating a layering order of graphics objects in a digital canvas or document comprised of a plurality of layers, the method comprising: defining a subset of the graphics objects in the digital canvas or document that includes a first graphics object associated with a first layer located at a first depth in the digital canvas or document and any other graphics object in the digital canvas or document that overlaps with the first graphics object; and in response to a reordering command specifying a second layer that is located at a second depth in the digital canvas or document and is associated with at least one other graphics object in the subset, moving: (i) the first layer to the second depth in the digital canvas or document, (ii) each layer that includes a graphics object in the subset and that is located at a respective depth within an inclusive range defined by the first depth and the second depth towards the first depth to a next closest location in depth at which another layer that includes a graphics object in the subset is located, and (iii) the second layer towards the first depth to a next location in depth at which another layer that includes a graphics object in the subset is located, wherein the reordering command does not move a third layer that includes a graphics object that is not in the subset and is located at a depth between the first depth and the second depth, wherein the reordering command is generated responsive to changing a position of a selectable layering-order control from a first position to a second position, of a plurality of positions of the selectable layering-order control.