Painter IX questions

[RayCraighead]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I've used Painter a long time, but not often enough to feel I very efficient in it. On a current project I ran into these questions. Maybe someone can answer them for me:

How do I...

1. Make a selection based on the current layer?

2. Merge two or more layers without dropping them to the canvas?

3. Stroke text or shape layer with stroke set BEHIND the fill?

4. Kern between individual characters in a word?

5. Turn OFF the transparency checkerboard?

I have lots more questions, but this will be a good start.

Thank you!
Ray

 

[RayCraighead]

I did learn the answer to #1:

Right-mouse (or Control) click on the layer icon in the layer palette and choose "Select Layer Transparency".

 

[RayCraighead]

OK, answer to #2:

Using the Layers fly-out menu, first "Group" the layers then "Collapse" the layer.

 

[RayCraighead]

Another question:

How do I create a "compound" path on a single shape layer? Every path seems to be its own layer and I see now way to create a "hole" in a shape.

 

[RayCraighead]

Well, after reading online help I figured out compound paths. Select two or more shapes and choose "Make Compound" from the Shape menu.