# Vellum
> Blueprintr's own diagram editor, covering the canvas, the two layers and the drawing tools.
Vellum is Blueprintr's diagram editor and the default engine for any new
diagram. It runs inside the blueprint editor, as a standalone diagram, and as a
desktop app.
## Two layers
Every shape sits on one of two layers.
| Layer | For |
| --- | --- |
| **Blueprint** | The diagram itself. Shapes here can carry strata, be linked to, and be read by Continuum. |
| **Notes** | Working annotations. Stickies, questions, things to resolve. |
Press W to switch which layer you draw on. The pills at the bottom
left control which layers you can *see*, so you can hide the noise without
deleting it.
Press Shift Cmd P to promote a Notes item to
the Blueprint layer.
## Getting around
Cmd K searches every shape, icon and command.
Cmd 0 resets the view; Cmd 1 fits
everything to the viewport.
## Tools
| Key | Tool |
| --- | --- |
| Q | Tool lock, keeping a drawing tool active so you can drop several shapes in a row |
| 8 | Container, a frame you drag shapes into |
| 9 | Freehand pen, for annotating over the canvas |
| L | Laser pointer, a fading cursor trail for screen shares |
> [!TIP]
> The **Tips & shortcuts** button in the editor lists everything, always
> current. The [shortcuts page](/foliums/blueprintr-user-guide/vellum/keyboard-shortcuts)
> here mirrors it.
> [!TILES 3]
>
> === [Shapes and connectors](/foliums/blueprintr-user-guide/vellum/shapes-and-connectors)
>
> What you can draw, and how connectors attach.
>
> === [Icon packs](/foliums/blueprintr-user-guide/vellum/icon-packs-and-libraries)
>
> Thousands of vendor icons, plus your own.
>
> === [Other engines](/foliums/blueprintr-user-guide/vellum/draw-io-excalidraw-and-mermaid)
>
> draw.io, Excalidraw and Mermaid.