Moving to the layers means something or someone can be in front or behind character or overlay.
You can use as many numbers as you want: -100 to 100 (probably even more)
CHARACTERS:
Commands:
@CHARACTER moves to layer #
@CHARACTER spot % X Y in zone # at layer #
This picture is an example to show how numbers working.
Entering characters (@CHARACTER enters from left to screen right) are always in front of everything (unless you move other characters or overlays to the layers)
If you using walks to spot command make sure to put your character in the layer you want by placing your character offscreen
@CHARACTER spot % X Y AND CHARACTER moves to layer -5 (offscreen)
@CHARACTER walks to spot % X Y in S
OVERLAYS
Commands:
INT. BACKGROUND with OVERLAY at layer #
(when you want your overlay to be already in the scene)
@overlay OVERLAY to layer #
(when you want to move your overlay in the middle of the scene, works for the beginning of the scene as well)
More about overlays and how to combine all the commands here:
A Guide to Using & Animating OVERLAYS
YOU CAN’T LAYER WEATHER EFFECTS but check out this thread
Alternative to RAIN effect’s layering
My EXAMPLE SCENE:
EXT. BUS STOP EVENING - NIGHT with CAR ANGLE SILVER to 1.000 -394 -113 at layer 2
@overlay EFFECT SMOKE create
@overlay EFFECT SMOKE shifts to 0 0
@overlay EFFECT SMOKE scales to 1.000 1.000
@overlay EFFECT SMOKE to layer 3
@overlay EFFECT SMOKE opacity 1 in 0
&BG1 spot 0.767 221 254 in zone 1 at layer -3 AND BG1 faces right AND BG1 is text_phone_neutral_loop
&BGMAN4 spot 1.106 122 -158 in zone 1 at layer -1 AND BGMAN4 faces right AND BGMAN4 is idle
&BGWOMAN4 spot 0.688 107 294 AND BGWOMAN4 moves to layer -4 AND BGWOMAN4 is talk_phone_excited_loop
&BGWOMAN2 spot 1.073 153 80 AND BGWOMAN2 moves to layer -2 AND BGWOMAN2 is think
BAR SCENE
INT. BAR - DAY with BAR at layer 2
@BARTENDER spot 1.150 230 97 in zone 1 at layer -1
@CHARACTER enters from left to screen center AND CHARACTER moves to layer 3
INT. BAR - DAY with BAR at layer 2
@BARTENDER spot 1.150 230 97 in zone 1 at layer -1
&CHARACTER spot 1.280 -104 0 AND CHARACTER moves to layer 3
@CHARACTER walks to spot 1.280 153 0 in 1.5