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Layer visibility and order

You can choose to hide or show the Timeline. While the Timeline is visible, you will see all layers in your composition.

Screenshot of the timeline with red rectangle showing the show/hide timeline button

You can also see your layers in the Layer section of the sidebar.

Screenshot of Descript with red rectangle highlighting the layer list in the sidebar

Layer order

The layer order in the timeline mirrors the arrangement of visuals in the canvas. Layers positioned towards the back in your canvas will appear lower in the timeline stack, and vice-versa.

Screenshot: Timeline and Canvas with numbers visuals in the canvas to that correnspond to the layer order

For visual layers extended over multiple scenes, the layer's position in the timeline is set by its order in the first scene. This holds true even if you change the layer's position in a later scene.

Adjusting layer order (visual only)

You can move and rearrange visual layers from the Timeline or the Canvas:

  • Right-click on any visual layer and select its new location from the menu options.
  • If you have Show all layers enabled in the Timeline, you can simply click and drag the layer to adjust its order.

Layers extended across multiple scenes

If you are working with a visual layer extended across multiple scenes, changing its layer order from the Timeline affect the layers position in all scenes. Use the Canvas if you want to change an extended layer's order in just one scene

Screenshot showing steps for moving visual layers in the Timeline.

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