Can you sync the movement paths of different layers?
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Deinosuchus
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:07 pm
Can you sync the movement paths of different layers?
Is it possible to 'copy' the movement path of a layer and 'paste' it onto another layer so that they move in the exact same way. For example, what could you do to make sure a sun in one layer will move in sync with it's 'rays' in another layer? The rays need to be in a separate layer because they are spinning around as well, and the sun has a face so it cannot spin around. I've tried rather painstakingly copying the path of one of the layers by creating a new movement path and trying to match their shapes, but it still isn't perfectly in sync.
Re: Can you sync the movement paths of different layers?
I can think of 3 options off hand. there may be more.
1. Put both layers in another group or bone layer and then animate THAT group layer. this will move both layers together.
2. If you can't put both layers in another group layer for whatever reason, put ALL layers inside another bone group layer. Bind both layers (sun and rays) to a bone. Translate this bone instead of using layer translation. The bone can also be rotated. Also if you use TWO bones (one a child set to 0,0 translation) you can assign the Sun layer to the TOP bone (parent) and assign the Rays layer to the second child bone. Translate both layers by translating the PARENT bone, and rotate the Rays layer by rotating the CHILD bone. This is a really good way to handle it since there is no need to copy/paste or duplicate layer translation keys for two layers, there is just one bone translation to worry about and it also gives you more control in one spot to change animation on both layers. Another benefit is that you don't even NEED two layers. Just put Sun and Rays vectors on one layer. Assign the Rays points to the CHILD bone, and the Sun points to the PARENT bone.
3. Final option, you could use the Follow Path feature. Create a new vector layer and draw a path for both layers to follow for layer movement. Then you can assign both layers to the same path to sync the movement.
Hope these ideas help out. If you need more info on option 2 (best one of the 3 in my opinion) let me know. I could provide a sample file.
-vern
1. Put both layers in another group or bone layer and then animate THAT group layer. this will move both layers together.
2. If you can't put both layers in another group layer for whatever reason, put ALL layers inside another bone group layer. Bind both layers (sun and rays) to a bone. Translate this bone instead of using layer translation. The bone can also be rotated. Also if you use TWO bones (one a child set to 0,0 translation) you can assign the Sun layer to the TOP bone (parent) and assign the Rays layer to the second child bone. Translate both layers by translating the PARENT bone, and rotate the Rays layer by rotating the CHILD bone. This is a really good way to handle it since there is no need to copy/paste or duplicate layer translation keys for two layers, there is just one bone translation to worry about and it also gives you more control in one spot to change animation on both layers. Another benefit is that you don't even NEED two layers. Just put Sun and Rays vectors on one layer. Assign the Rays points to the CHILD bone, and the Sun points to the PARENT bone.
3. Final option, you could use the Follow Path feature. Create a new vector layer and draw a path for both layers to follow for layer movement. Then you can assign both layers to the same path to sync the movement.
Hope these ideas help out. If you need more info on option 2 (best one of the 3 in my opinion) let me know. I could provide a sample file.
-vern
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neeters_guy
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:33 pm
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Re: Can you sync the movement paths of different layers?
After you've translated the rays layer, couldn't you duplicate the layer, delete the contents, and paste in the sun vectors? You can rotate rays layer separately, but the origins need to be dead center in both the sun and rays layers.