Hide render layers in the editor

DotBot · March 29, 2025, 12:53pm

Godot Version

4.4

Question

I am making a top-down 3D RPG game that has a minimap. The minimap is a viewport, with a camera that has a Cull Mask set only to “2”, which is the layer I use for minimap icons for the player, enemies, walls, etc.

However, this means that in the editor I can see these icons, since it shows all render layers, and they clip through the floor and are very distracting. Is there a way I can toggle the visibility of render layer 2 in the editor, without affecting its visibility ingame? Like a camera’s cull mask, but for the editor viewport?

gentlemanhal · March 31, 2026, 12:05am

I was just searching on how to do this, and found this thread. I also found an open proposal, so I’d assume this currently isn’t possible.

For any future people who find this thread first, the proposal is here:

github.com/godotengine/godot-proposals

Add ability to mask view layers for the in-editor viewport

opened 09:37PM - 28 Aug 21 UTC

m5tuff

topic:editor

### Describe the project you are working on A 3D game. ### Describe the pr…oblem or limitation you are having in your project The in-editor viewport is lacking the ability to mask view layers. ### Describe the feature / enhancement and how it helps to overcome the problem or limitation I am a big user of view layers for UI enhancement and minimap rendering, however these added objects meant for secondary camera rendering often clutters the editor viewport. I propose adding layers to the viewport settings, so objects set to render on certain layers can be masked out from the editor viewport. ### Describe how your proposal will work, with code, pseudo-code, mock-ups, and/or diagrams Much like in-scene cameras, and the 'Preview' camera function already existing in Godot, I propose a similar feature be offered for the editor viewport camera. All view layers will be visible by default, and the user can mask out layers as needed. ![layers_feature](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/749385/131231612-0de4d8c2-9772-4a22-824d-614ae12adb70.png) ### If this enhancement will not be used often, can it be worked around with a few lines of script? This behavior is not scriptable without literally hiding objects in the scene, which will need to be unhidden when playing the game. ### Is there a reason why this should be core and not an add-on in the asset library? This seems like a necessary feature to add to core.

Go to increase the chance of this proposal being implemented at some point.

Sasino · November 12, 2026, 6:57pm

I also need this, I made a tool that generates a minimap-only mesh for my road meshes with its own material, but the problem is it’s z-fighting with the actual mesh, only solution was to put it below the map for now