Skeleton Optimization
In the Network view, you can add extra modules, such as a Display, and group all the modules to keep your work organized.
There are four steps to make sure your puppet can be reused efficiently:
• | Deleting the Write Module |
• | Renaming the Display Module |
• | Changing the Composite Type |
• | Grouping Modules |
Deleting the Write Module
The first step in optimizing your network is to delete the Write module, which used for rendering certain portions of the Network view.
When you render a scene that contains three or four characters and they each have a Write module in their skeleton, a render is created for each one and they overwrite each other.
1. | In the Network view, select the Write module. |
2. | From the top menu, select Edit > Delete or press Delete. |
Renaming the Display Module
The Display module lets you see a section of the network in the Camera view. By renaming the Display module with your character's name, you can quickly identify it in the Global Display toolbar and isolate your character to see it better while working on it.
If you do not have a Display module in your network, you can add one by selecting one from the Module Library view and dragging it into the Network view.
1. | In the Network view, click on the Display module's Properties button to open the editor. |
2. | In the Layer Properties window, rename the Display module with your character's name. |
3. | Click Close. |
1. | In the Module Library view, select the IO tab and select the Display module. |
2. | Drag the module to the Network view. |
3. | Connect the Composite module's output port into the Display module's input port. |
Changing the Composite Type
When you create a character with Harmony, you have to connect all your modules in the Composite module. The Composite module takes all the different images coming out of your drawing modules and flattens them into one single image.
This is useful when it is time to apply an effect to your entire character or group your layers for a more organized network.
The regular Composite module will flatten all the pieces into one image preventing interaction with props or characters connected to a different Composite module. That is why you have to change the Composite module's type to a special one that will still output one single image but will not flatten the drawings together. This will allow you to nudge your drawings on the Z-axis so that parts of you characters can pass in front and behind other characters and objects. This Composite type is called Pass Through.
1. | In the Network view, click on the Composite module's Properties button. |
The Layer Properties dialog box opens.
2. | From the Mode menu, select Pass Through. |
3. | Click Close. |
Grouping Modules
Once your rigging is completed, you must group the puppet's skeleton to help organize the often large and complex networks. This way, once you have imported two or three characters into the scene, three Group modules will be displayed instead of all the rigging connections of three puppets.
1. | In the Network view, select all your modules. |
2. | In the top menu, select Edit > Group > Group or press Ctrl + G (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + G (Mac OS X). |
Your modules are grouped.
3. | Click on the Group module's right arrow to enter the group. |
4. | If you do not have a Multi-Port Out module inside your group, in the Module Library view, go to the Group tab and select a Multi-Port Out module. |
5. | Drag the Multi-Port-Out module to the Network view. |
6. | Connect the Composite module's output port into the Multi-Port Out module. |
An output port is created on your Group module.
7. | In the bottom-left corner of the Network view, click Top to return to the network's root. You should now see an output port on your Group module. |
8. | Click on the Group's Properties button to open the Layer Properties window. |
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9. | In the Layer Properties window, rename the Group module with your character's name. |
10. | Click Close. |