Layers View

The Layers view is where a scene’s layers are superposed to form the final image.

When you import an image or draw in a panel, you are actually adding artwork to one of its layers. By default, each panel has two layers, a background (BG) and a foreground layer (A). As you add layers, they are automatically assigned subsequent letters in alphabetical order, but you can rename them. They are also placed on top of the selected layer or at the very top of other layers if there is no layer selected in the panel.

For tasks related to this view, see About Layers.

Tool Name Icon Description

Selected Layer

Opacity

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Lets you adjust the opacity of a selected layer.

Layer Alignment

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Lets you align layers with the camera—see Aligning 2D Layers with the Camera.

 

No Alignment: The layer is independent of the camera.

If the layer is set to No Alignment and you switch to Face Camera, the offset and scale is retained but the rotation is removed.If the layer is set to No Alignment and you switch to Pin to Camera, all layer transformation is reset and animation is removed.

Face Camera: The layer is oriented to face the camera, so it rotates around its pivot point to always face the camera, but does not move with the camera.

If the layer is set to Face Camera and you switch to Pin to Camera, all layer transformation is reset and animation is removed.

If the layer is set to Face Camera and you switch to No Alignment, the offset and scaling are retained. You should change the rotation keyframes so the layer faced the camera at the current frame.

Pin to Camera: The layer is oriented to the camera's perspective. Essentially the layer always moves with the camera.

If a layer is set to Pin to Camera and you switch to No Alignment or Face Camera, the layer stays at its position at the current frame.

If a layer is set to Pin to Camera and set it back to No Alignment or Face Camera, the layer transformation is combined with the camera. The layer is left in place at the current frame.

Export To

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PDF: Lets you export a storyboard project as a PDF file which you can print or share electronically. You can set up your visuals to represent a classic storyboard on paper—see About Exporting to PDF.

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Movie: After your storyboard and animatic are created, you can export it as a movie file to share and play back easily for an efficient timing reference. You can export a movie file in three different formats: QuickTime, SWF Movie (Flash), and as image sequences—see About Exporting a Movie.

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Toon Boom: Using Storyboard Pro, you can export your animatic as Stage, Animate 2, and Animate Pro 2 scene files. You export the entire storyboard project or a selection of scenes. When the export is ready, you can open it in the destination software. When you first save this new scene, the exported file will be converted to the proper format depending on the software you used—see Exporting to Toon Boom.

Add Vector Layer

Adds a vector layer to the Layers list.

Add Bitmap Layer

Adds a bitmap layer to the Layers list.

Duplicate Selected Layers

Duplicates selected layers so you can quickly copy and paste in one operation. Unlike copying a layer, you cannot paste multiple copies of a layer on other panels. Duplicating layers is only available within one panel. Duplicated layers retain their names and are appended with a number.

Group Selected Layers

Groups selected layers. The grouped layer isnamed Group and appended with an underscore and a number. For example, Group_1. Each time you created a group, the number is incremented.

Delete Selected Layers

Deletes the selected layers.