Positioning an Element Using the Layer Properties

Each layer has a series of parameters that can be modified to adjust the object's position. These parameters can be access in the Layer Properties view. In the Layer Properties view, you can type in a value rather than moving the object in the Camera view. These values can also be animated over time.

You can also access a layer's parameters in the Timeline view. Click on the Expand Parameters arrow and the Show Data View button.

It is important to understand the coordinate values in Harmony. Harmony's core is based on the origins of animation. In traditional animation, a scene's size and camera motion are calculated in fields. A field has a 4:3 ratio and measures 0.5 inch in width. A specific grid has been created for this purpose. It is known as a field chart. Harmony uses this unit of measurement as its coordinate system.

A field chart uses cardinal directions. The X axis is the east-west direction, the Y axis is the north-south direction and the Z axis is the forward-backward direction.

In Harmony, a drawing's pivot is located at the centre of the field chart, regardless where your drawing has been drawn on the page. Your drawing is the entire sheet of paper, not only the drawing strokes you have drawn on the page. This allows scanned drawings, imported images and paperless drawings to be properly registered together.

If you want to move your drawing in the upper left region of the camera frame, you would type in something like the following:

X Axis: -4 or 4W (4 West)
Y Axis: 5 or 5N (5 North)

If you want to move your drawing in the lower right region of the camera frame, you would type in something like the following:

X Axis: 3 or 3E (3 East)
Y Axis: -2 or 2S (2 South)

Layer Properties Options

A drawing layer properties dialog box is composed of four tabs.

Transformation Tab
Drawing Tab
Advanced Tab
Controls Tab