Combinations

Combinations are the final output - unique images created by mixing and matching layers from each trait.

How Combination Works

VariantLab composites layers in order:

1. Start with a transparent canvas (or background layer if defined)
2. Place each layer according to its bounding box
3. Composite from back to front (following layer order)
4. Save the result as a new image

Each combination uses exactly one layer per trait.

Combination Math

The total number of possible combinations is:

Total = layers_trait1 × layers_trait2 × layers_trait3 × ...

Example:

Trait	Layers (incl. original)
background	3
body	1 (original only)
eyes	5
hat	4

Total: 3 × 1 × 5 × 4 = 60 combinations

Large Collections

With many traits and variations, combinations grow quickly:

• 5 traits × 5 layers each = 3,125 combinations
• 8 traits × 5 layers each = 390,625 combinations

Use the limit option to generate a manageable subset.

Favorite-Only Mode

By default, VariantLab only uses favorited layers for combinations. This means:

• Only layers you starred are included
• Unfavorited variations are excluded
• Original layers are always available

This gives you control over exactly which layers appear in your final collection.

Limiting Combinations

When you have many possible combinations, you can set a limit:

• Shuffle - Randomly selects from all possibilities
• Limit - Caps the total number generated

This is useful when you want variety but don't need every possible combination.

Layer Order Impact

Layer order (set in Detection) affects the final look:

Back → Front
background → body → clothing → face → accessories

A layer listed later will appear on top of layers listed before it.

Combination Display Names

Each combination gets a unique display name based on its layers:

final_eyes_v0_hat_v2_bg_v1

This encodes:

• final_ - It's a combination
• eyes_v0 - Using original eyes layer
• hat_v2 - Using variation #2 of hat
• bg_v1 - Using variation #1 of background

See Display Names for the full naming system.

Combination Process

1. Navigate to Combine page
2. Review layer counts - See how many combinations are possible
3. Configure options:
   • Favorite-only mode (recommended)
   • Limit (optional)
   • Shuffle (optional)
4. Click "Combine All"
5. Wait for generation - Progress shown in real-time
6. Preview results - Browse the gallery

Deleting Combinations

You can delete combinations:

• Individual - Click delete on a specific combination
• Batch - Select multiple and delete together
• All - Clear all combinations to start fresh

Deleting combinations doesn't affect your layers - you can regenerate anytime.

Tips

1. Start small - Generate 10-20 combinations first to check quality
2. Check layer order - Wrong order causes layers to hide each other
3. Review favorites - Make sure you've starred your best layers
4. Use limits - For large collections, work in batches
5. Preview before export - Check combinations look correct before downloading