Importing Bitmap Images As Original Bitmap

T-HFND-007-002

Importing a bitmap image in its original format ensures it is preserved exactly as is in Harmony. When importing a bitmap image, you have several options available such as where you want to import the file and how to name it.

How to import a bitmap image in its original format

Do one of the following:

From the top menu, select File > Import > Images.

In the File toolbar, click the Import Images button.

In the Xsheet view, right-click anywhere in the frame area and select Import > Images.

The Import Images dialog box opens.

In the Files section of the Import Images dialog box, click Browse to find and select one or more images on your computer.

Add the bitmap image to a new layer by selecting the Create Layer(s) option and one of the following options:

Create Single Layer Named: Creates a new layer with the specified name and imports the images into it.

Create Layer(s) Based on Filenames: Creates a layer based on each unique filename prefix. For example, if you import three files named a-1.tga, a-2.tga and b-1.tga, this will create two layers, one named "a" and one named "b". Layer "a" will contain the two first images and "b" will contain the third one.

Add to Existing Layer: Imports the images into the specified layer. Note that you can only import into layers that are compatible with your import options. For example, if you're importing images as vector drawings, you can only import them into vector drawing layers.

In the Vectorization section, make sure the Vectorize Image option is unchecked.

In the Import Options section, select the Keep As Original Bitmap option.

In the Alignment section, decide on the size and placement of your image within the camera frame. You can choose between the following options:

Parameter Description

Fit
Adjusts the image's size to fit completely within the scene's field, both vertically and horizontally, making sure the entire image is visible.

If the image's orientation is portrait, then it will adjust the image's height to fit the field's height, without affecting the image's aspect ratio:

If the image orientation is landscape, then it will adjust the image's width to fit the field's width, without affecting the image's aspect ratio:

Pan
This has the opposite effect to the fit parameter. The image's smallest dimension will be made to fit the scene frame's matching dimension, and the image's largest dimension will be adjusted proportionally, making the image fill the entire scene field, and bleed past its boundaries it if its aspect ratio does not match the field's aspect ratio. This option can be used to import a panning background image, also referred to as a pan.

If the image's orientation is portrait, it will adjust the image's width to fit the field's width, without affecting its aspect ratio:

If the image's orientation is landscape, it will adjust the image's height to fit the field's height, without affecting its aspect ratio:

Project Resolution
Scales the image to fit the scene's resolution, making each pixel in the image take one pixel in the scene's field. For example, if the image's dimensions in pixels are half of the scene's resolution in pixels, then the image's dimensions will appear to be half of the scene field's dimensions.

In the Transparency section, decide how the bitmap image will be antialiased, more specifically, the way the pixels along the edge are blended with the other colours. You can choose between the following options:

Parameter Description

Premultiplied with White

Individual pixels at the edge of an image are blended with white.

Premultiplied with Black

Pixels at the edge of an image are blended with black.

Straight

Pixels at the edge of an image are blended with black, white and greys.

Clamp Colour to Alpha Premultiplies the colour value with the alpha value. When the colour is clamped to the alpha, the colour value cannot be higher than the alpha value. It calculates the real colour value faster. When the RGB values are multiplied with the alpha value, that is to say, if you have a pixel of value R=247, G=188, B=29 and the alpha is 50% or the image has a 50% transparency, then the actual RGB values that are output would be half of the amounts listed above.

Click OK.

NOTEBy default, bitmap images will display in low resolution in the Camera view so as to avoid affecting playback performance. You can also adjust the display quality of a bitmap image by selecting it with the Transform tool, then opening the Bitmap Image Quality dialog via View > Bitmap File Quality. You can also preview your bitmap image in your scene's resolution by activating the Render Preview

mode in the Camera view.

Parameter	Description
Fit	Adjusts the image's size to fit completely within the scene's field, both vertically and horizontally, making sure the entire image is visible. If the image's orientation is portrait, then it will adjust the image's height to fit the field's height, without affecting the image's aspect ratio: If the image orientation is landscape, then it will adjust the image's width to fit the field's width, without affecting the image's aspect ratio:
Pan	This has the opposite effect to the fit parameter. The image's smallest dimension will be made to fit the scene frame's matching dimension, and the image's largest dimension will be adjusted proportionally, making the image fill the entire scene field, and bleed past its boundaries it if its aspect ratio does not match the field's aspect ratio. This option can be used to import a panning background image, also referred to as a pan. If the image's orientation is portrait, it will adjust the image's width to fit the field's width, without affecting its aspect ratio: If the image's orientation is landscape, it will adjust the image's height to fit the field's height, without affecting its aspect ratio:
Project Resolution	Scales the image to fit the scene's resolution, making each pixel in the image take one pixel in the scene's field. For example, if the image's dimensions in pixels are half of the scene's resolution in pixels, then the image's dimensions will appear to be half of the scene field's dimensions.

Parameter	Description
Premultiplied with White	Individual pixels at the edge of an image are blended with white.
Premultiplied with Black	Pixels at the edge of an image are blended with black.
Straight	Pixels at the edge of an image are blended with black, white and greys.
Clamp Colour to Alpha	Premultiplies the colour value with the alpha value. When the colour is clamped to the alpha, the colour value cannot be higher than the alpha value. It calculates the real colour value faster. When the RGB values are multiplied with the alpha value, that is to say, if you have a pixel of value R=247, G=188, B=29 and the alpha is 50% or the image has a 50% transparency, then the actual RGB values that are output would be half of the amounts listed above.