File Menu

The File menu lets you open, close, save, scan, print, and import and export files.

Command Description

New

Creates a new scene while closing any scene already open. The New Scene dialog box opens, asking for directory, name, and resolution information.

Open

Displays the Open Scene dialog box where you can browse for a scene file. You can open a new scene from the current one and the previous scene will close.

Open Recent

Displays a list of the most recently opened scenes.

Clear

Clears the list of recently opened scenes.

Close

Closes the currently opened scene, but does not close the Harmony application.

Save

Saves all changes made to the opened scene, drawings, palettes, and palette lists.

Advanced Save

Lets you do the following:

  • Save the scene as the current version.
  • Save different versions representing different stages of the production of your scene.
  • Save different versions representing different scene setups.
  • Choose specific assets that you want to save, such as drawings or palettes.

Rights to Modify Scene Version

Allows you to modify the selected version of the scene and access the version manager during the opened session

Rights to Modify Scene

Allows you to modify the currently selected scene version, but locks access to the version manager during the opened session.

Read Changed Drawings

Determines which drawing files have been modified on disk since you loaded them. All updated drawings will be reloaded.

NOTE: Reloading a locked drawing will discard unsaved changes.
Manage Versions

Allows you to manage all the versions of the current scene.

Save As

Saves the current file with a different name and at a different location.

Saves the current state of a scene as another scene. The Save As window prompts you for a new name and a different location for this scene before saving it. This will create a complete scene directory for the new scene.

NOTE: The scene name cannot exceed 23 characters.
Save as New Version

Saves the current scene as another version. The Save Version dialog box prompts you to give a name for this new version. This will create a new .xstage file in your current project directory.

Back Up Scene

Backs up the current scene to a location you choose.

Update Database Scene

Updates your database with only the changes you made to the scene. To do this, you must enter your host name and host port in the Preferences dialog box, General tab.

Download Database Changes

If any changes were made to the scene you downloaded, you can perform an update by downloading these changes, which will be integrated into your scene.

Remove Unused Files

Removes the unused palettes from the scene list.

Import

From Scanner

Imports drawings from a TWAIN scanner.

Images

Imports bitmap images which you can choose to vectorize—see About Bitmap Images.

3D Models

Once you have exported a model using a 3D authoring software, you can import it and integrate it in your 2D animation scene. You have the possibility to convert your 3D models to *.osb files upon import to Harmony and save them as such. This will allow Harmony to render 3D files with the associated textures without the need to copy them manually (as long as the auxiliary files are linked correctly and named appropriately on your disk)—see Importing 3D Objects.

Link to Images

Links to images stored on a centralizer server when working with Harmony Server.

Movie

Lets you convert a QuickTime movie to an image sequence and audio file.

Sound

Lets you import sound files into your project.

Colour Model

Lets you import TVG drawing file into your project. Once imported, it is display in the Model view for use as a colour model which you can load into any Harmony scene.

SWF, Illustrator Files to Library

Lets you import SWF files into your project.

Export

Movie

Exports animation as a QuickTime movie—see Exporting QuickTime Movies.

Render Write Nodes

Renders all the Write nodes in a node structure.

When working with Harmony Server, you can send your scene to batch processing and to a render farm—see Batch Rendering.

Soundtrack

Exports a sound file as a merged soundtrack or series of individual files. The exported soundtracks are generated as *.wav files—see Exporting Sound.

SWF

Exports a Flash movie file.

The SWF export supports some bitmap effects (which can be previewed in Render View mode) and SWF Blend Modes (vector effects which can be previewed in OpenGL View mode).

OpenGL Frames

Exports OpenGL frames (fast display mode) for a quick screen renders of a scene that contain no transparency channel. Heavier scenes containing 3D, multiple effects and camera moves can be fairly long to export—see Exporting OpenGL Frames.

Layout Image

Exports all the elements in your scene to a layout .psd file.

Layout Image from Selection

Exports only the selected elements to a layout .psd file—see Exporting PSD Layouts.

Print

Xsheet

Prints the exposure sheet so you can take it to your animation table, provide a copy to the animator, or create your Xsheet skeleton directly in Harmony.

Node View

Prints the Node view for reference purposes.

Quit

Closes the application.