Libraries and Templates
Harmony allows you to use a library to store and reuse elements such as animation cycles, network effects and filters, trajectories, cut-out puppets, etc. We call these elements assets or templates. These libraries can be placed and used on different levels.
Harmony provides some library folders, to which you can add your own libraries. Harmony’s library can be accessed from any scene opened on the machine.
To store your assets somewhere other than the default location, you can create your own folder on your hard drive. If you are connected to a network, you can create a folder on the server to be shared with other network users.
We recommend that you name your library with a relevant project name, such as adventure_library
.
The library folders and their templates are completely external to Harmony and can be archived and moved independently from the production. They can also be sent to other Harmony users.
It is always a good idea to be descriptive when naming your templates (assets). Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended to use alphanumeric characters:
- a to z, 0 to 9 and underscore ( _ )
This will avoid technical issues when working on different platforms such as Mac OS X or Linux.
Library Structure Tips
The following recommendations may be useful as you structure your work. The main library can be divided into categories to match different template types:
- Character
- Background
- Audio
- Prop
- Effect
The character section is often altered the most. It is recommended that you divide this folder between:
- Main Characters
- Episode Characters
Within the Main Characters folder, you can create a folder for each individual character. Episode characters are generally less numerous and can be stored in folders corresponding to their episode. Each character’s folder can be further divided into subfolders, such as:
- Model
- Animation
- Keyposes
- Reuse Parts
The Animation section can be organized by actions, such as:
- Run Cycle
- Walk Cycle
- Jumps
- Miscellaneous
Some users may divide their animation folder by angle or view:
- Front
- Three-quarter
- Side
- Three-quarter back
- Back
Personal Libraries
During the animation process, an animator will often reuse certain templates. Some animators have their own personal libraries to store their favourite templates. If a template has been updated in the master library, the Library manager should send a note to the animators and the scene setup team to ensure that they update their personal libraries.