Layers View

The Layers view is where a scene’s layers are superimposed to form the final image.

When you import an image or draw in a panel, you are actually adding artwork to one of its layers. By default, each panel has two layers; a background layer (BG) and a foreground layer (A). As you add layers, they are automatically assigned subsequent letters in alphabetical order, but you can rename them. They are also placed on top of the selected layer or at the very top of other layers if there is no layer selected in the panel.

For tasks related to this view, see About Layers.

‣ In the Panel view, click the Add View button and select Layers.
Icon Tool Name Description

Selected Layer
 

Opacity

Allows you to adjust the opacity of the layer, to make it opaque or semi-transparent.

 

Layer Alignment

Allows you to select how the layer is aligned with the camera:

  • No Alignment: The layer is independent of the camera.

    NOTE If you change the alignment of a layer from Pin to Camera to No Alignment, its animation will be discarded and it will be in the position it is at the current frame throughout the panel.

  • Face Camera: The layer is oriented to face the camera, so it rotates around its pivot point to always face the camera, but does not move with the camera.

    NOTES
    • If you change the alignment of a layer from No Alignment to Face Camera, its offset and scale transformations and animations will be preserved, but not its rotation angle transformations and animations.
    • If you change the alignment of a layer from Pin to Camera to Face Camera, its animation will be discarded and it will be in the position it is at the current frame throughout the panel.

  • Pin to Camera: The layer is oriented to the camera's perspective. Essentially the layer always moves with the camera.

    NOTE When changing the alignment of a layer to Pin to Camera, all its transformations and animation are discarded.

For more information, see Aligning 2D Layers with a 3D Camera.
 

Export To

The following options allow you to control whether the selected layer appear in one of the three main export mediums for Storyboard Pro projects:

  • PDF: If enabled, the selected layer will show up in the exported document when you export your storyboard in Photoshop Document (.pdf) format—see About Exporting to Portable Document Format (.pdf).
  • Movie: If enabled, the selected layer will appear in the exported image when you export your animatic as a movie or as an image sequence—see About Exporting Movie Files.
  • Harmony: If enabled, the selected layer will appear in the exported scenes when you export your animatic as Harmony scenes—see Exporting Harmony Scenes.
  Layers The list of layers in the current panel.

Add Vector Layer

Adds a vector layer to the Layers list.

Add Bitmap Layer

Adds a bitmap layer to the Layers list.

Duplicate Selected Layers

Duplicates selected layers so you can quickly copy and paste in one operation. Unlike copying a layer, you cannot paste multiple copies of a layer on other panels. Duplicating layers is only available within one panel. Duplicated layers retain their names and are appended with a number.

Group Selected Layers

Groups selected layers. The grouped layer is named Group and appended with an underscore and a number. For example, Group_1. Each time you creat a group, the number is incremented.

Delete Selected Layers

Deletes the selected layers.