Setting the Pivots

One of the last steps before storing the character in the library is to set the pivots for the different parts.

Harmony has three types of pivots:

Permanent Pivot
This is a permanent pivot, sometime referred to as peg pivot, that is applied to the entire drawing or peg layer. If you modify its position, it will be changed for the entire layer, modifying the animation, scale and rotation interpolation. The permanent pivot is set using the Rotate, Translate or Scale tool. The Transform tool will only move that pivot temporarily for positioning purposes, but the animation interpolation will be done from the original permanent pivot's position. The Transform tool is designed to move the pivot temporarily during the animation process. It also permits you to select multiple pegs and apply a common temporary pivot.

To permanently move a peg pivot, use the Rotate or Scale tool. You can also directly type the values in the Layer Properties window in the Pivot section's (x) Axis and (y) Axis fields.

In the Layer Properties window, in the Drawing Pivot section, select the Don't Use Embedded Pivot option to use the permanent pivot.

Drawing Pivot
The Drawing pivot is contained within each drawing. In one layer, each drawing can have its own pivot. If you have many different views of a character within one layer, the pivot can be different and the animation will adjust to the pivot. The Drawing pivot can also be referred to as embedded pivot. If you are not mixing different views within the same layers or are using pegs to animate your layers, it is recommended to use the permanent pivot.

You can set a different pivot for each one of your drawings. For example, if you have a series of drawings from different views, they are not likely to rotate from the same location. In that case, you can set a different pivot for these drawings by using the Drawing Pivot tool—see Drawing Pivot Tool.

In the Layer Properties window, in the Drawing Pivot section, select the Apply Embedded Pivot on Drawing Layer option to use the drawing pivot directly on the drawing layer. If you want to apply the drawing pivot to a parent peg to force the peg to follow the drawing pivot variations, enable the Apply Embedded Pivot on Parent Peg option.

Symbol Pivot
The Symbol pivot is similar to the Drawing pivot. Each symbol cell can have its own pivot and act the same as the Drawing pivot. The Symbol pivot can also be referred to as embedded pivot. Inside a symbol, each drawing can have its own pivot. If you are not mixing different views within the same layers or are using pegs to animate your layers, it is recommended to use the Peg pivot—see Setting Different Pivots for a Puppet Using Symbols.

For a simple character rig, it is recommended to set the Peg pivot (even on drawing layers) using the Rotate tool.

If you want the puppet's pieces to rotate correctly, you must set the pivot points right in the middle of an articulation, such as an elbow or a knee.

By default, your master peg pivot is placed at the centre of the Camera view, which generally equates to your character's hips. A good way to set your peg's pivot is to move it between the character's feet.