Clayers

Clayers is a term used in digital media to describe a system of layered content architecture used to organize and manipulate visual or audio data. It refers to the concept of dividing content into discrete layers, each with its own properties and transformations, which can be combined to form a final output.

In image editing and compositing software, clayers provide features such as per-layer opacity, blending modes, visibility toggles, masks, grouping, and non-destructive editing.

Design and implementation vary between tools. Some implementations model layers in a stack with z-order; others use a scene graph or tile-based layer structures. Common operations include adding, removing, reordering, duplicating layers, applying effects, and exporting composite results.

In practice, clayers support workflows across graphic design, animation, game art, and asset pipelines, enabling iterative edits and reusable layer presets.