What is this in reference to?
Well the current method I use to compensate for Photoshop is using multiple icon states to make layers of one base icon. i.e.
[IconState] [IconState] [IconState] [IconState]
Base Outline Base Color Base Shading Details
There could be some button that lets you create any number of layers. Flipping through each layer turns all other layers transparent. There could be some other button that turns all or individual layers on. Then, finally, a button that lets you merge all layers and complete the icon into one. So Something like this :
