ANIMATION LAYER EDITOR
Q1. What is the Animation Layer Editor?
Answer:
• The Animation Layer Editor helps to control and mix animation layers.
• It allows you to blend animations together to create the final result.
• It includes three main menus:
1. Layers Menu
2. Options Menu
3. Show Menu
Q2. What are the main tasks you can do using the Animation Layer Editor?
Answer:
You can:
• Create a new animation layer or an empty layer.
• Change layer modes (Additive, Override, or Pass-through).
• Extract animation from selected objects.
• Re-order layers (move them up or down).
• Parent layers (make one layer the parent of another).
• Add or remove attributes using the Relationship Editor.
• Delete layers.
• Set Zero Key or set layer weight (0 or 1).
Q3. What is the function of the Animation Layer Toolbar buttons?
Answer:
Button Function
Zero Key Layer Sets a key with zero offset from the original animation.
Set Weight to 0/Set Key Sets and keys the layer weight to 0.
Set Weight to 1/Set Key Sets and keys the layer weight to 1.
Move Layer Up Moves the selected layer(s) up in the layer stack.
Q4. What are the main items in the Layers Menu?
Answer:
• Create Empty Layer – makes a new blank animation layer.
• Create Layer from Selected – creates a layer with attributes of selected objects.
• Create Override Layer – creates a blank layer set to Override mode.
• Create Override Layer from Selected – creates a new Override layer with selected
attributes.
Q5. What can you set using the Create Layer Options?
Answer:
You can choose how new layers behave, such as:
• Passthrough (Override Only) – sets Override layers to Passthrough mode.
• Rotation Accumulation By Component – rotates each part separately.
• Rotation Accumulation By Layer – rotates by the entire layer.
• Scale Accumulation Multiply – multiplies scale values.
• Scale Accumulation Additive – adds scale values together.
Q6. What are the functions of Add and Remove options in Layers Menu?
Answer:
• Add Selected Objects – adds attributes of the selected objects to the layer.
• Add Objects Options include:
o All Keyable – adds all animatable attributes.
o From Channel Box – adds only selected attributes.
o All Keyable Except – adds all except chosen types (Translate, Rotate, Scale,
etc.).
• Remove Selected Objects – removes attributes of selected objects from the layer.
• Extract Selected Objects – moves selected objects to a new layer named “_extract”.
Q7. What do Copy and Merge Layer options do?
Answer:
• Copy Layer – duplicates the selected layer with animation.
• Copy Layer (No Animation) – duplicates layer without animation.
• Merge Layers – combines selected layers into one.
Merge Options:
• Top Selected Layer – merges into the topmost layer.
• Bottom Selected Layer – merges into the lowest layer.
• Layers Hierarchy:
o Selected – only merges selected child layers.
o Include Children – merges all child layers automatically.
Q8. What is the Graphic Editor?
Answer:
• The Graphic Editor is a tool for editing and previewing animation frames.
• It supports many file formats like .ico, .gif, .avi, .cur, .ani.
• Allows real-time preview while editing sprites.
• Supports multiple layers for easy drawing.
• Has onion skinning to see previous and next frames.
• Can export animations as:
o Sprite sheet
o Individual image files
o .gif animation
• Can import images from scanner, camera, or other TWAIN devices.
• Includes pixel-art tools, palette control, and color replacement features.
Q9. What are the benefits of using the Graphic Editor?
Answer:
• Works with many formats.
• Lets you preview animation live.
• Uses multiple layers for better control.
• Onion skin helps check motion flow.
• Flexible export options.
• Supports image import from devices.
• Has pixel-art features for quick editing.