Linking a Layer to an External Image
When working on a large production, you may want to centralize the backgrounds in one directory instead of duplicating the background several times in different scenes. As backgrounds are generally reused in many scenes, some studios like to save space on the server and link the different scenes to the background directory. Also, if they modify one background, it is modified everywhere at the same time without having to reimport it. To do so, you must use the Timing columns.
Timing columns are exposure sheet columns that link to files that are outside the scene’s structure. Because of these external links, care must be taken not to break the links by moving the scene’s location or the background directory’s location. Breaking a link will result in images not appearing in your scene.
If you are working with Toon Boom Harmony Server and all your scenes are located on a centralized server, you can also use the Link to Images option.
- From the top menu, select File > Import > Link to Images.
The Link to Images dialog box opens.
- Click the Browse button to select the image you want to link your scene to.
- Do one of the following:
‣ | Select the Create Timing Layer option to create a new Timing column in the Xsheet view. Then select one of the following: |
Create Single Timing Named: Type the new column name in the text field.
Create Timing(s) Based on Filenames: Creates file names based on the selected file's name.
‣ | Select the Add to Existing Timing Layer option to insert the file into an existing Timing column. |
- Select the Copy to Timings Directory option if you want to copy the selected file into the Timings folder located in the scene directory. Note that the Timing column will link to the Timings folder.
- In the Import Options section, select one of the following:
‣ | Keep As Original Bitmap: Retains an imported image as a bitmap. In the Alignment section, decide on the size and placement of your image within the camera frame. Depending on the Scene Settings (the height and width in pixels that you chose for your project), an image that you import may get scaled to the point where all its individual pixels become visible. There are three options available in the Alignment section: |
Parameter | Description |
Fit |
Enlarges or shrinks (but not distorts) the image height to match the full height of the scene grid.
If the image orientation is landscape, this will enlarge or shrink (but not distort) the image width to match that of the scene grid.
Note that the Fit alignment rule equals the Center Fit rule in the layer properties. |
Pan |
This is the opposite of the Fit parameter. If the image orientation is portrait, its width will be made to match the width of the scene grid. As a result, part of the image’s height will extend beyond the height of the frame. This can be useful if you want to make your background move up and down, or from left to right to make it appear as if the camera is panning or to actually perform a camera pan.
The opposite will apply to a landscape image. Its height will be fit to the scene grid, therefore it is possible that the image will extend beyond the scene grid's boundaries.
Note that the Pan alignment rule equals the Center First Page rule in the layer properties. |
Project Resolution |
Scales the image in proportion to the scene's resolution. The system looks at the resolution of the bitmap image, for example 4000 x 2000, then compares it to the scene's resolution, for example 1920 x 1080, and adjusts the scale factor in proportion. So, in this example, the bitmap would appear at 208% (4000/1920). If you import a bitmap that is 960 x 540, it will be displayed at 50% (960/1920) of the size of the project resolution.
Note that the Project Resolution alignment rule is equal to the As Is rule in the layer properties. |
‣ | Import As Toon Boom Bitmap Drawing: Imports a drawing into a vector layer where you can edit the image using the drawing tools. In the Alignment section, select one of the following: |
Parameter | Description |
Vertical Fit |
Enlarges or shrinks (but not distort) to your image height to match the full height of the scene frame (alignment grid).
|
Horizontal Fit |
Enlarges or shrinks (but not distort) to your image height to match the full width of the scene frame (alignment grid).
|
Actual Size |
Scales the image in proportion to the scene's resolution. The system looks at the resolution of the bitmap image, for example 4000 x 2000, then compares it to the scene's resolution, for example 1920 x 1080, and adjusts the scale factor in proportion. So, in this example, the bitmap would appear at 208% (4000/1920). If you import a bitmap that is 960 x 540, it will be displayed at 50% (960/1920) of the size of the project resolution. |
‣ | Convert to Toon Boom Vector Drawing: Imports a drawing and converts it to a Toon Boom vector drawing. In the Vectorization section, select one of the following: |
Black and White: Vectorizes drawings as a solid black line; creates a 100% vector-based drawing.
Grey: Vectorizes the image as a mix of vector contour and greyscale bitmap filling. Lines keep the texture from the scan, and the white of the paper becomes transparent.
New Preset: Lets you create a new preset.
Delete Preset: Lets you delete any preset in the list.
Custom vectorization: Lets you set custom vectorization parameters—see Creating a Vectorization Style .
- Click OK.