# Groups and Layers

# Eraser Layer

This plugin will erase selected shapes in same layer. Ueful for objects! It won't remove the original objects

## Draw some objects and put them on the same layer

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/tKwMu5AvfSJkobPE-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/tKwMu5AvfSJkobPE-grafik.png)

## Select some objects to erase (leave a hole in layer) and run extension

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/T5hRfDaKFdWPcZKa-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/T5hRfDaKFdWPcZKa-grafik.png)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/FcAtM65jY6YtSNSW-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/FcAtM65jY6YtSNSW-grafik.png)

# Filter To Layer

Source: [<span>https://inkscape.org/~jabiertxof/%E2%98%85filter-layer</span>](https://inkscape.org/~jabiertxof/%E2%98%85filter-layer)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/4Z67yi1hLQFreu9C-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/4Z67yi1hLQFreu9C-grafik.png)

## Draw some object and and apply some filter

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/gBnU4RBF3hA9KVKt-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/gBnU4RBF3hA9KVKt-grafik.png)

## Check the XML structure

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/MzaatLxL9gDOckiX-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/MzaatLxL9gDOckiX-grafik.png)

## Run the extension and get results

"Filter to current layer" → choose "add"

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/3S57WOrs1ZEULiDS-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/3S57WOrs1ZEULiDS-grafik.png)

The layer got some new attribute "style" with filter:url content

# Group To Layer

This extension converts groups to layers. You can pick the desired depth.

## Draw some objects and make some groups

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/kFPppuz8om8W4kIB-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/kFPppuz8om8W4kIB-grafik.png)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/Z4LBkEdsUAsmtKQE-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/Z4LBkEdsUAsmtKQE-grafik.png)

## Run the extension

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/H2VjcsZcs7kuHrjZ-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/H2VjcsZcs7kuHrjZ-grafik.png)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/0PSoQvSE7syyfA9H-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/0PSoQvSE7syyfA9H-grafik.png)

# Remove Empty Groups

<div class="page view" id="bkmrk-this-extension-is-to"><article>This extension is totally minimal. It will just clean the whole document from groups without content (dangling groups). That usually happens if you have a group but remove it's paths for example. The group will possibly stay in the XML tree. This also applies for layers because layers are just special types of groups.

<p class="callout info">See also [Optimized with svgo (\*.svg)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/integrated-into-default-importexport-menu/page/optimized-with-svgo-svg)</p>

<div class="wiki-content" id="bkmrk-"></div></article></div>

# Styles To Layers

<div class="page-metadata-wrapper" id="bkmrk-"><div class="page-metadata">  
</div></div><div class="page view" id="bkmrk-this-extension-will-"><article>This extension will re-layer your selected items or the whole document according to their color (stroke or fill). Each style will be put onto it's own layer. This way you can devide elements by their colors with ease. If you have empty layers after sorting with different types (strokes, then first or vice versa) you can use [Remove Empty Groups](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/remove-empty-groups) to cleanup.

You can use the separate [Cleanup Styles](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/cleanup-styles) extension to migrate these separated attributes into style attribute.

<p class="callout info">This extension has possible parallels with [https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/Inkscape\_and\_WaterColorBot#Snap\_Colors\_to\_Layers\_.28beta.29](https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/Inkscape_and_WaterColorBot#Snap_Colors_to_Layers_.28beta.29)</p>

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/M91gIoqwY4APlaiV-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/M91gIoqwY4APlaiV-grafik.png)

<div class="wiki-content" id="bkmrk--1"></div></article></div>

# Ungrouper And Element Migrator/Filter

This extension parses the selection and will put all elements into one single group. If you have a cluster with lots of groups and elements you will clean up this way (one top level group, all elements below it). If you select a single element or a set of elements you just wrap it like using CTRL + G (like making a usual group). You can also use this extension to filter out unwanted SVG elements at all. If your drawing gets wasted by running this extension please use [Apply Transformations](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/apply-transformations) before because your groups just may contain some unwanted transformations like scalings and shiftings. If you have empty layers after sorting with different types (strokes, then first or vice versa) you can use [Remove Empty Groups](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz/page/remove-empty-groups) to cleanup.

<p class="callout info">See also [Optimized with svgo (\*.svg)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/integrated-into-default-importexport-menu/page/optimized-with-svgo-svg)</p>

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/SS3AZgUcme2NB4L8-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/SS3AZgUcme2NB4L8-grafik.png)