Forum Discussion
Layer is hiding objects on base layer - even when I don't want to
Hello!
I started my first new project after updating Storyline and I noticed that there is something wrong with slide layers and slide layer properties. I want layer(s) not to hide objects on base layer. So I went to Slide Layer Properties and un-selected "Hide objects on base layer" from Visibility settings, see the screenshot below. Text continues after picture...
After doing this, I went to Preview this slide and for some reason this layer is still hiding the base layer. What should I do? I haven't had this problem before when changing Slide Layer Visibility settings. Thanks for your help! :)
19 Replies
Hi Rita
hard to say without seeing the slide but if you are using SL360 - have you tried toggling the 'visibility' eye icon in the slide properties panel
I have had this same problem. I don't have the eye toggled, I don't have the Slide Layers Properties selected. I don't have the timeline eye deselected. I am not sure why my slide refuses to let me know the base layer. Can you help please?
Heather
New layers come with a background fill for some reason. Format Background and choose No Fill and you should see your base layer again.
OMG you just solved my problem. Can I also say this is the dumbest default feature in Storyline? Why have an option to show objects on the base layer when the freaking default backround is automatically hiding them, AND there's no indication that there's a background color fill hiding them? Sheesh.
Heather, you ROCK!!! I have been struggling for hours to figure out why my layers won't show the text box on my base layer and THIS was why!!!
This is why I LOVE this forum! Thanks so much!
And, Articulate...WHY???
This post, 8 years later, is still relevant; thank you DavidAbel-fb3c2 for the remedy. I agree with SarahBerry-61ad; why have an option to show objects on the base layer when the default background is hiding them, and there is no indicator that a background color is hiding them?
Hello FrankCotton-aa2,
Thanks for calling this out! I understand how it could be unclear when objects set to show on the base layer don’t appear because the background covers them. We’ve shared your feedback with our product team so they know you’d like clearer indicators in Storyline. We'll share future updates in this thread so all are in the loop!
Hi, that doesn't appear to be an option. Some of the slides work with the base layer visible and some don't - please see slides attached.
Thoughts??
Everything previews correctly. If what you want the base layer items visible while working on the layer, click the Lock Visibility icon on the base layer. It was locked on the first slide and not the second. Is that what you mean by some slides work?
Hi Heather, I think I know what is going on here. (and I only got 1 slide in the download).
- I clicked on the Untitled Layer 1 which was blank.
- Then I right-clicked on the slide which, as you know, was blank.
- I selected Format Background.
- Make sure the Fill tab is active.
- Select the top option No fill.
Tricia, you are my favorite person in the universe right now. And two years after your post!!! I agree with all below. I wasted a lot of time trying to figure this out, had to duplicate objects over the last month to get my layers to show, and the stress. Now fixed when I asked the right question and saw this. OMG. When taking basic training, this should be pointed out, and FIXED as a default.
They haven't fixed this yet? I'm glad you found it helpful.
I'll be darned - I was having this same problem and this worked! WHY is there a default background fill?????? Thanks for this!
Hi, Sarah!
When you create a new layer, the default behavior should be to show the objects on the base layer. You would have to open the Slide Layer Properties and enable the setting to hide the objects on a base layer.
If this isn't working correctly in your Storyline file, try opening a new blank file. Add a slide with a few objects, then add a layer. Is the layer automatically set to hide the objects on the base layer?
Tricia,
Thanks so much. I have wasted way too much time trying to figure this out on my own.
Alyssa -- Although this may not be a "default," I have no idea how it started to happen in my project. I have never used a layer to hide a base; and if I wanted to, it would have been by using the regular Slide Layer Properties dialog box.
This is a nasty trap that should not exist; or at least have some sort of an override so that it can be corrected from the Slide Layer Properties dialog box.
Tricia,
Thank you so much!! This was EXACTLY what was wrong. I am bookmarking this in case I forget!
This just helped me as well, thank you. And love the "apply to all" feature.
Thank you, Tricia for your solution. 4 months after, it's still happening! The first few times I ran this (about a week of working the same project), the layering was happening as I thought it would -- with the base layer still visible despite the other layers appearing on top. Then all of a sudden, this hitch occurred. I spent an entire work day redoing my affected slides, but I don't have to do that anymore, yay!
