How do I set a new channel for rotation + a few more questions

[PixelPeas]

I'm taking the Bloop Moho animation course and I have three issues I need help with.

1. I created a rectangle and set a keyframe for it. The tutorial also wants me to set a keyframe for rotating the rectangle as it moves along. The video shows the instructor take the Transform Layer tool (M) move it until the cursor turns into the rotation cursor, clicks on the screen and adds a keyframe for the rotation on its own channel. But when I click, no new keyframe for rotation gets added. How do I do this?

2. To the left of the keyframes, there is a channel icon. In the tutorial it has a plus sign and looks like the Transform Layer tool and it has a green dot next to it. My icon has no + sign and no green dot. How do I fix this?

3. Lastly, I'm using a M1 Mac and I have the Moho icon set to stay in the dock. When I open it, it creates a new icon, so I have 2 Moho icons in the toolbar. Not a huge deal but is there a way to stop this from happening?

4. Also, does the Moho trial have limitations not listed on the trial description? I'm just learning it but it acts a little weird sometimes but that could be user error.
* I am using the Pro demo version of Moho.

Thanks

[Greenlaw]

Hi,

Just to be sure, are you transforming the layer or the drawing? Based on your description, I think you want to transform the layer. I'm asking because there are two different transform tools in Moho: Transform Points and Transform Layer.

When you use the Transform Layer tool, you can keyframe each channel separately. The tool's widget has multiple regions to click on: Inisde/Outside for Postion, inner boundary for Rotation, and any handle for Scaling.

Also, you must be on frame 1 or later to keyframe an animation. (Remember, frame 0 is for setup, not animation.) After you create a key on frame 1 or later, you will see a keyframe appear at frame 0.

If your drawing is not transforming the way you expect, make sure the origin (i.e., pivot point) is properly positioned by moving it with the Set Origin tool.

Hope this helps.

[Greenlaw]

Bonus tip: this is beyond what you described from the tutorial video, but another way to separate transform channels is to put the layer inside a group. Now the layer and the group can have separate Transform animations (for example, rotation for the layer and position for the group.)

[hayasidist]

Welcome!

The layer rotation issue -- make sure you are somewhere other than frame 0 in the timeline when you rotate the layer -- that should work (even in the demo version)

the "+ by the channel icon" sounds as though you're looking at the View / Timeline Channels Menu ???? that allows you to show or hide channels in the timeline - make sure the layer rotation one isn't "off" (i.e. make sure its "-" isn't selected)

Sorry, but I can't help with any mac-specific stuff.

hope that moves you forwards ...
[bit of cross-post! - apologies!]

[PixelPeas]

Ok, I went into Preferences and turned off 'Consolidate Timeline Channels' under Timeline. That solved issues 1 and 2. So now, I have the two separate channels: one for the movement and one for the rotation, but now there is a 'point motion' layer (four tiny squares) added to the timeline but it's not in the tutorial. How do I get rid of that? I like having my screen look as close to the tutorial as possible so I can learn what everything is at the right time. Thanks

https://imgur.com/a/2Pwfnm9

[slowtiger]

Any channel in the timeline only appears after you've set a key somewhere in it. This often happens by mistake. Click on that channel's icon left to the timeline, this selects all keys, and hit delete.

[PixelPeas]

Any channel in the timeline only appears after you've set a key somewhere in it. This often happens by mistake. Click on that channel's icon left to the timeline, this selects all keys, and hit delete.

That worked (I need to remember this tip)! Thanks for the help everyone