Lesson video

Hi, everyone.

My name is Mrs. Jenkins.

I can't wait to learn with you today! Welcome to today's lesson, which is called "Layers and objects." It is taken from the unit "Introduction to vector graphics." And by the end of today's lesson, you will be able to recognise that vector drawings consist of layers of objects.

Let's get started.

In today's lesson, we have three keywords.

We're going to look at what those keywords mean before we get started.

This really helps us throughout the lesson as these words will appear all the way through our lesson.

The three words are layer, object, and order.

A layer is a level in your drawing where objects sit on front or behind each other.

The object is a shape or line that you can move and change in your drawing.

The order is the front-to-back positions of objects in a drawing.

Okay, so those three words are layer, object, and order.

Keep an eye out for them throughout the lesson.

In today's lesson, "Layers and objects," we have three learning cycles.

We have identify layers in an image, change the order of layers in a vector drawing, and use layering to create an image.

So we're going to start with identify layers in an image.

Andeep says, "What is a layer?" That's a good question and a good thing to get us started with.

In vector drawings, each object is placed on its own layer.

When you add a new shape, it goes in front of the existing layers.

So here we have a frog, and each object on this frog is its own layer.

So here are all the pieces that made a frog.

Each time you add an object, it stacks in front like a pile of paper.

So we can see we added object 1 first, then 2, and then 3.

A drawing is made one shape at a time.

Watch how the frog is built.

Okay, so we could see how all the layers build on top of each other when the frog is being built.

Andeep says, "But why does the order matter?" If the eyes are drawn before the head, the head will cover the eyes.

The order matters when layering shapes.

What happens when you add a new object to a vector drawing? A, it goes behind all the others, B, it becomes part of one shape, C, it appears in front of the others, or D, it disappears from the canvas.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked, "What happens when you add a new object to a vector drawing?" A, it goes behind all the others, B, it becomes part of one shape, C, it appears in front of the others, or D, it disappears from the canvas.

The answer is C, it appears in front of the others.

Great job.

The frog is made from many shapes.

Each shape is on a separate layer.

What was added first? What did you think? What was added first? What was added last? So, the dark green circle or oval was added first, and then the nostrils and the pupils in the eyes were added last.

True or false? When you add a new shape, it becomes the back layer.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, "True or false? When you add a new shape, it becomes the back layer." The answer is false.

When you add a new shape, it becomes the front layer.

Great job.

Okay, in a moment, you're going to look at the picture made from shapes, and can you work out the order the shapes were added? So you're going to number the shapes, 1 being the first shape added.

Use what you know about layering to help you decide.

And then question 2, fill in the blank.

The mm shape was added last because it's at the front.

So here are the pictures.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you to look at the picture made from shapes, and can you work out the order the shapes were added? Number the shapes, so 1 is the first shape added, and use what you know about layering to help you decide.

2, fill in the blank.

The mm shape was added last because it's at the front.

Okay, so we've got our shapes numbered here.

The blue rectangle was laid first.

It is at the back.

The yellow triangle was added second.

It was in the middle.

And the red circle is at the front, so that is number 3.

So to fill in the blank, the circle shape was added last because it's at the front.

Great job, everyone.

We are going to move on to learning cycle two now, change the order of layers in a vector drawing.

Let's get started.

Izzy asks, "Can you change the order of the layers?" Sometimes shapes are in the wrong layer or have been added later but need to appear behind other layers.

So the order of layers can be changed.

Use the select tool to select the shape that needs to be in a different layer, and then select arrange.

This gives you the options to either bring to the front, bring forward, send backwards, or send to the back.

So there are four different options.

So bring to front brings the shape to the very front, so the very front of all the shapes.

Bring forward moves the shape one layer forward.

Send backwards sends the shape one layer backwards.

And send to back sends the shape to the very back.

Okay, another check in here.

To make a triangle go behind a circle, what should you do? A, change the colour, B, use the resize tool, C, send the triangle to the back, or D, delete it.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, "To make a triangle go behind a circle, what should you do?" A, change the colour, B, use the resize tool, C, send the triangle to the back, or D, delete it.

To make a triangle go behind a circle, you need to send the triangle to the back.

Great job, everyone.

Look at the three different shapes.

What has happened to shape number 3? Shape number 3 has been moved back one layer.

It hasn't been sent to the very back, it has just moved one layer behind shape 2.

What about now? Look at the shape again.

What has happened to shape number 3? It has been moved back one more layer and is now at the back.

So they may have chosen send backwards, or they may have said send to the back.

True or false? The last shape added always stays on top, it cannot be moved.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, "True or false? The last shape added always stays on top, it cannot be moved." The answer is false.

The shape can be sent to the back, and the order of layers can be changed.

Great job.

Okay, so we're going to go into our second task now.

I would like you to open Google Drawings, and there is our link, and create a picture using at least four shapes, so it could be a face, a robot, a simple animal, and make sure the shapes overlap.

I'd like you to use arrange and order to move the layers forward and backwards.

Think about which parts need to go to the front and which should be behind.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you to open Google Drawings and create a picture using at least four shapes, e.

g.

a face, robot, or simple animal.

Make sure the shapes overlap.

Use arrange and order to move the layers forward and backwards.

And think about which parts need to go at the front and which should be behind.

Here's some of my examples.

Share yours with your class.

Great job, everyone.

We're going to move on to learning cycle three now, use layering to create an image.

How can these be built using shapes? So I asked you just to discuss how can these be built using shapes? Here's an example of how our flower could be built.

We could use some darker, longer petals, some smaller, paler petals, and a centre circle.

Layering light and dark colours can create more of a 3D look.

Which technique helps you make a flower look more realistic? A, use random shapes, B, use layering with light and dark colours, C, use only one colour, or D, group everything.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, "Which technique helps you make a flower look more realistic?" A, use random shapes, B, use layering with light and dark colours, C, use only one colour, or D, group everything.

The answer is B, use layering with light and dark colours will make a flower look more realistic.

Great job.

Here is our toadstool, and we've got some examples here of how this can be built using shapes.

Using smaller objects around the shape can help it blend into the scene, and layering can add detail and interest.

So we've got some grass going round the bottom there to make it look like our toadstool is growing in the grass.

True or false? Layering shapes has no effect on how your drawing looks.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, "True or false? Layering shapes has no effect on how your drawing looks." The answer is false, and the reason why, layering can make a picture look more realistic and effective.

Great job.

Okay, we are on to our final task now.

I would like you to open Google Drawings, and you're going to create an image inspired by nature.

So it could be a tree, a flower, a bird.

And I would like you to use layering, resize, rotate, and align, copy and paste, and fill colour and border effects.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you to open Google Drawings and create an image inspired by nature, so could have been a tree, a flower, a bird, or something from your imagination, and to use layering, resize, rotate, and align, copy and paste, fill colour, and border effects.

I'd like you to share your image with the rest of the class.

Maybe you can have a bit of a gallery time sharing all the different images.

Great job, everyone.

We've come to the end of today's lesson, so let's summarise what we have learned today.

In vector drawings, each object is placed on its own layer.

When you add a new shape, it goes at the front of the layers.

Sometimes shapes are in the wrong layer or have been added later but need to appear behind other layers.

The order of the layers can be changed.

Layering light and dark colours can make a picture appear more realistic.

Great job, everyone.

You have done so well today.

I hope to learn with you all again soon.