Mechanism for displaying visual clues to stacking order during a drag and drop operation

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for displaying graphical design artworks by performing the steps including:
• displaying first and second graphical design artworks in a first state and in a graphics design application program, wherein in the first state a portion of the second graphical design artwork that is overlapped by a portion of the first graphical design artwork is completely obstructed from view by the portion of the first graphical design artwork;
• and
• displaying the first and second graphical design artworks in a second state and in the graphics design application program, wherein in the second state the portion of the second graphical design artwork that is overlapped by the portion of the first graphical design artwork is represented as being visible along with the portion of the first design artwork and with fainted visibility relative to a portion of the second graphical design artwork that is not overlapped by a portion of the first graphical design artwork;
• wherein the graphics design application program has a mat providing an exterior perimeter for surrounding a scene, and the scene providing an interior perimeter for surrounding the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork;
• wherein, in response to a selection of at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork, displaying an extended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork extending outside of the scene and into the mat as being visible in the mat with muted fainted visibility relative to an unextended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork, wherein the selection occurs while displaying the unextended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork.

An electronic system, comprising:

• a monitor;
• a processor coupled to the monitor;
• and
• a memory arrangement coupled to the processor;
• wherein the memory arrangement is configured with instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps including:
• outputting for display on the monitor first and second graphical design artworks in a first state and in a graphics design application program, wherein in the first state a portion of the second graphical design artwork that is overlapped by a portion of the first graphical design artwork is completely obstructed from view by the portion of the first graphical design artwork;
• and
• outputting for display on the monitor the first and second graphical design artworks in a second state and in the graphics design application program, wherein in the second state the portion of the second graphical design artwork that is overlapped by the portion of the first graphical design artwork is represented as being visible along with the portion of the first design artwork and with fainted visibility relative to a portion of the second graphical design artwork that is not overlapped by a portion of the first graphical design artwork;
• wherein the graphics design application program has a mat providing an exterior perimeter for surrounding a scene, and the scene providing an interior perimeter for surrounding the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork;
• wherein, in response to a selection of at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork, displaying an extended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork extending outside of the scene and into the mat as being visible in the mat with muted fainted visibility relative to an unextended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork, wherein the selection occurs while displaying the unextended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork.

An apparatus for displaying graphical design artworks, comprising:

• means for displaying first and second graphical design artworks in a first state and in a graphics design application program, wherein in the first state a portion of the second graphical design artwork that is overlapped by a portion of the first graphical design artwork is completely obstructed from view by the portion of the first graphical design artwork;
• and
• means for displaying the first and second graphical design artworks in a second state and in the graphics design application program, wherein in the second state the portion of the second graphical design artwork that is overlapped by the portion of the first graphical design artwork is represented as being visible along with the portion of the first design artwork and with fainted visibility relative to a portion of the second graphical design artwork that is not overlapped by a portion of the first graphical design artwork;
• wherein the graphics design application program has a mat providing an exterior perimeter for surrounding a scene, and the scene providing an interior perimeter for surrounding the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork;
• wherein, in response to a selection of at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork, displaying an extended portion of the at least first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork extending outside of the scene and into the mat as being visible in the mat with fainted visibility relative to an unextended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork, wherein the selection occurs while displaying the unextended portion of the at least one of the first graphical design artwork and the second graphical design artwork.