Am 09.04.2009 um 22:54 schrieb Design Department:
Thks. I was incorrectly assuming that the dimension properties, especially width, should be set in \definelayer. I'm not clear on the purpose of a separate \definelayer command, unless it's to allow the abstraction of layer offsets from topspace and backspace value, the way I have in this example.
It works now, though, and I'll accept that as an answer given my unwillingness to review that code for \definelayer ;-)
\definelayer creates new element to place elements in the background and \setlayer fills it with content. the width and height for \definelayer have a different purpose than the one for \setlayerframed, it's best to write just \definelayer[mylayer] or \definelayer[mylayer][width=\paperwidth,height=\paperheight] Wolfgang