Roll20 organizes the graphics on the page into several layers. This makes it easier to work with just the set of graphics that you want, so for example you aren't moving the map around when you only mean to be interacting with the tokens on top of the map.

The Layers

The Objects/Tokens Layer is intended for tokens that you and the players will be manipulating throughout the game. Objects on this layer have a special radial menu to allow you to quickly change their properties, and also show bars and status markers.

The Maps Layer is intended for objects that will remain static throughout the game, such as the background map or pieces of furniture/decorations.

The GM Info Layer can only be seen by the GM. It's a great place to put drawings or text to remind you of traps or other information about the map that only the GM should see. You can also move tokens to this layer to hide them from players.

Changing Layers

<img src="/images/layersbutton.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" />

To change between the available layers, just mouseover the Layers button on the Toolbox. You'll see the three available layers, click to switch to a new layer.

You can also use the keyboard shortcuts:

• CTRL+O (CMD+O on Mac): Switch to the Object/Tokens layer
• CTRL+K (CMD+K on Mac): Switch to the GM Info layer
• CTRL+M (CMD+M on Mac): Switch to the Maps layer

Moving Objects Between Layers

By default, when you create an object (such as by dragging and dropping a token image or a map onto the tabletop), it's placed on whatever the currently active layer is. Sometimes you may want to move objects between layers, though. To do so, you can right-click on the object, and from the Layers option in the menu that appears, select the new layer to which you would like to move the object.

You can also use the keyboard shortcuts:

• CTRL+SHFT+O (CMD+SHIFT+O on Mac): Switch to the Objects/Tokens layer AND move any selected objects to that layer
• CTRL+SHFT+K (CMD+SHIFT+K on Mac): Switch to the GM Info layer AND move any selected objects to that layer
• CTRL+SHFT+M (CMD+SHIFT+M on Mac): Switch to the Maps layer AND move any selected objects to that layer

A common use case of this is to move tokens from the GM Info layer (where they are not visible to players) to the Objects layer (where they are) when you want to "reveal" enemies to the players in a suprise attack.