Network Navigation and Basic Rules
The basic rules of the Network view are quite simple. Once you understand them, a lot can be accomplished.
• | About Modules |
• | Input and Output Ports |
• | Adding Modules |
• | Composite Module |
• | Organizing Modules |
• | Connecting and Disconnecting Modules |
• | Cable Styles |
• | Navigator Display |
• | Panning the Network View |
About Modules
Each element in the Network view is called a module. Modules are often referred to as nodes. There are several different types of modules:
Module |
Description |
|
Drawing | Transfers drawing information. | |
Effect | Processes effects on drawings and transfers drawing information. | |
Input/Output | Act as the interface between each module and network. | |
Move | Controls the camera and element transformations over time. | |
Compositing | Combines multiple source images. |
Input and Output Ports
Each module has an input port at the top and an output port at the bottom. Some are blue and others are light-green or bright green.
• | Blue indicates drawing information. |
• | Light green indicates position and movement. |
• | Bright green shows the element on top of the composition and outputs that element’s Z position to the Composite module. When many elements have different Z positions (multiplane, different distances from the camera) and are placed through a Composite module that flattens them together (producing one image with one Z value), the system needs to give a Z position to this new image. It uses the bright green port information. |
Finally, some modules contain more than one input port. These are usually effect modules needing different drawing or position information in order to perform their calculation. When the two ports are blue, the Drawing is on the right and the Matte is on the left. If it is light green, the drawing needs extra position information.
Viewing Port Information
On each port is a tooltip which displays the source of input ports and the destination(s) of the output ports.
‣ | Hover the pointer over a port. |
The port's tooltip displays source and destination information.
Navigating the Network View
You can navigate to the parent or child module of the selected module or selected cable in the Network view.
‣ | In the Network view, select a module or cable, and press the Ctrl + Up/Down arrows. |
Adding Modules
Each module used to build a network is available in the Module Library view. In addition, each time you create a layer from the Timeline or Xsheet views, the corresponding module is created in the Network view.
‣ | In the Module Library, select a module and drag it to the Network view. |
Composite Module
The Composite module allows you to use several images and output a single image. You can compare that to doing pre-compositions in editing software. You connect several drawing modules in your Composite module and one bitmap comes out of it—see Composite Module.
By default, the image resulting from the Composite module is a bitmap. The layers are composited together depending on their position on the Z-axis (forward-backward) first, then their order in the Composite module. If two images are at the same position on the Z-axis, their order in the Composite will determine which one is displayed in front and which one is displayed behind.
Organizing Modules
When you are working in the Network view and adding many modules, your scene may look a bit messy and be difficult to follow. Harmony provides scripts which organize and display the modules in a more orderly fashion.
1. | In the Network view, select some or all of your modules. |
2. | Display the Network View toolbar by selecting Window > Toolbars > Network View. |
3. | Click the Order Network Up or Order Network Down button. |
The Order Network Settings dialog box opens.
4. | Set values for the X Overlap%, Layer Spacing and Vertical Spacing. The default value is set for optimal organization. |
5. | Click OK. |
Connecting and Disconnecting Modules
Making or removing connections between modules is quite simple.
1. | In the Network view, do one of the following: |
‣ | Extend a cable from the first module’s output port (bottom port) and connect it to the second module’s input port (top port). |
‣ | Select the module to connect, hold down the Alt key and drag the module on an existing cable. |
It is possible to create links between nodes in the Network views by clicking on one node and ctrl-clicking on a second port.
Select a node and Ctrl-click a port:
• | Click a node and then Ctrl-click the input port of a different node. The nodes are linked. |
• | Click the output port of a node, and then Ctrl-click a different node. The nodes are linked. |
• | Click the output port of a node, and then Ctrl-click a Composite node. The node is linked to a new input port of the Composite. |
• | Click a port of a node and then Ctrl + Alt-click a port of a Composite node. The selected port replaces the link in the Composite's input port. |
• | Click an output port of a node and then Ctrl-click the input port of a Group node. The selected output port replaces the link to the group. |
• | Click an output port of a node and then Ctrl + Alt-click the input port of a Group node. The selected output port links to a new in-port of the group. |
1. | In the Network view, do one of the following: |
‣ | Select the module to disconnect, hold down the Alt key and drag the module away. |
Cable Styles
You can customize the look of the cables in the Network view to fit your style of working. You can display the cable lines as Bezier (curved) lines or straight lines.
‣ | In the Network View menu, select View > Cable Style > Bezier or Line. |
Navigator Display
The Navigator is a small square window inside the Network view that displays a bird's eye view of the network. The view displayed in the Network view is shown framed in the Navigator display. You can drag this frame to pan the current Network view display.
Showing or Hiding the Navigator
You can show or hide the Navigator from the Network view.
‣ | In the Network view menu, select View > Navigator > Hide Navigator or Show Navigator. |
‣ | Press Ctrl + Shift + W (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + Shift + W (Mac OS X). |
Positioning the Navigator
The Navigator display can be placed in any corner of the Network view.
‣ | In the Network view menu, select View > Navigator > and select Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, or Bottom Right. |
Magnifying the Network view:
The magnifier helps you view the entire network so you can navigate and view the different modules.
1. | Press Z. |
A black outline surrounds the area you were at before pressing Z.
2. | Change the magnification level of the magnifier by rolling the mouse wheel. |
Panning the Network View
When your networks grows more complex, you can pan the Network view to locate and work on specific modules.
1. | Select a node, press Spacebar and drag to a new location. |