Moho Animation Forum

Can anyone tell me why my line width sometimes seems thicker on different shapes? Both are set to 4, but one seems to be at least 8. I'm sure it's something simple I'm over looking, but I can't figure it out.

Well, did you scale the layer?

Yes, or apply some kind of depth to one layer versus the other?

Stroke width of a style/shape can be changed in the style window, but you can change the line width at individual points with the Line width tool too. So there 2 different kinds of line width you have to consider.

Yes Slowtiger, I did scale the layer. I thought that may have something to do with it, but I couldn't figure out how to correct it.

Unfortunately, scaling any singular element or layer, really screws up the overall piece of art. I cannot begin to count how may times scaling something has totally thrown off something I've drawn and/or created. I've actually seen it advised in these forums to not scale anything, because of the consequences...

wizaerd wrote:Unfortunately, scaling any singular element or layer, really screws up the overall piece of art. I cannot begin to count how may times scaling something has totally thrown off something I've drawn and/or created. I've actually seen it advised in these forums to not scale anything, because of the consequences...

Anyway, you can uncheck "Scale compensation" from the layer proprieties (and for several layers at the same time in version 10). That should fix the problem.

selgin wrote:

wizaerd wrote:Unfortunately, scaling any singular element or layer, really screws up the overall piece of art. I cannot begin to count how may times scaling something has totally thrown off something I've drawn and/or created. I've actually seen it advised in these forums to not scale anything, because of the consequences...

Anyway, you can uncheck "Scale compensation" from the layer proprieties (and for several layers at the same time in version 10). That should fix the problem.

"Should" being the key word... Alas, it's not always the case. Especially with nested layers.

wizaerd wrote:"Should" being the key word... Alas, it's not always the case. Especially with nested layers.

I'm testing with nested layers and bones and it works fine. Do you have a file where it doesn't work? I would like to take a look.

I turned the option off in the preferences, added two vector layers to a group layer, and rescaling the group layer both strokes do not retain their original size when scaling. If I scale the individual layers, inside of the group layer, the strokes still resize as well. If I remove one of the vector layers from the group layer, and resize it, the stroke still resizes. It appears to only not rescale on new layers, before anything's actually done with it. Something else a bit interesting is if I select the layer within the group, the stroke jumps back to the original width, but if I then select the group layer, the nested layers stroke jumps back to the narrower width.

However, with that said, I did a test render and the strokes appeared the same size. So I'm not exactly sure when the stroke width changes versus when it doesn;t...

wizaerd wrote:I turned the option off in the preferences, added two vector layers to a group layer, and rescaling the group layer both strokes do not retain their original size when scaling. If I scale the individual layers, inside of the group layer, the strokes still resize as well. If I remove one of the vector layers from the group layer, and resize it, the stroke still resizes. It appears to only not rescale on new layers, before anything's actually done with it.

Did you create the layers after changing the preference? If the layers were already created, they will keep the Scale compesation checked, so you will have to change it by hand.

selgin wrote:

wizaerd wrote:I turned the option off in the preferences, added two vector layers to a group layer, and rescaling the group layer both strokes do not retain their original size when scaling. If I scale the individual layers, inside of the group layer, the strokes still resize as well. If I remove one of the vector layers from the group layer, and resize it, the stroke still resizes. It appears to only not rescale on new layers, before anything's actually done with it.

Did you create the layers after changing the preference? If the layers were already created, they will keep the Scale compesation checked, so you will have to change it by hand.

Nope, I create a new document, and turned off the preference. Then drew a new shape on a new vector layer, then created another vector layer and drew a shape. Scaled both layers individually, and the stroke stayed the same. As soon as I dropped them into a group layer, all bets were off, and the stroke witdth changed if I recaled the group layer, as well as each layer under the group layer if I scaled them individually.

I shut the app down, re-opened, assured the preference was still off, then did the same thing with the exact same results.

As long as you are in the process of creating characters (or props) on different levels, never scale the layer, but instead scale the points. This way the line width stays the same. Any objects consiting on many layers should have all layers unscaled.

I'll try you guys advice when I get home.

Once you know you are going to be using a Group Layer to house a bunch of parts, it's best to create all the new sublayers while working within the Group, which prevents the "all bets are off scenario". The "quick fix" for elements of a drawing is to select the offending points and just scale all of the lines larger / smaller with the "Scale Points Tool" to match the desired surrounding points, then be careful in the future with scaling Layers and drag all your Vector Layers into the Group Layer at once. Been in that hell myself, I guess we're not all saints.
Good Luck!