You drag a layer inside a group or bone layer up or down in the layer palette. (not a switch). You do this on any frame other than frame 0. Now select the parent layer, the group or bone layer that contains the layer you moved. There should now be a key frame on the "layer order channel".
Other than looking at your file I can't think of any explanation for not seeing a change in layer order. Are you certain you are dragging a layer that is visible?
Let me explain. I often have many group layers in one document. I may even have duplicates of the same bone or group layer. I sometimes get confused and try to do things on a layer inside a group that is covered by other group layers. Just a thought.
-vern
Depth sorting issue
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SaintMikey
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:30 am
Well, I be damned- originally, I had the file set up for sorting layers by depth. As soon as I unchecked everything in that mode, boom!, the keyframes started to appear! I guess that's what heyvern was driving at.
Also, the parent layer of all this was a bone layer inside a switch layer: as soon as I removed the bone layer from that switch layer, boom! again, it started playing exactly as I want to. I have three views- side, front and 3/4 front- of each character inside a switch layer for more active positioning, though not every scene uses all of them.
I'm very glad to have this upgrade. But man, I wish they would have added explanations of this feature in the Help menu.
Also, the parent layer of all this was a bone layer inside a switch layer: as soon as I removed the bone layer from that switch layer, boom! again, it started playing exactly as I want to. I have three views- side, front and 3/4 front- of each character inside a switch layer for more active positioning, though not every scene uses all of them.
I'm very glad to have this upgrade. But man, I wish they would have added explanations of this feature in the Help menu.
I am not sure that layer sorting-by-depth affects the appearance of keys on the timeline under 'layer ordering'. I am relatively new to AS so may be wrong but it seems as long as the layer is in a folder (bone, group - NOT switch) changes will be shown - outside frame 0.
It seems the layer has to be in a folder. A bit tedious but...
I had a character behind a door/wall and had to put the wall in the bone layer to be able to have her end up in front.
It seems the layer has to be in a folder. A bit tedious but...
I had a character behind a door/wall and had to put the wall in the bone layer to be able to have her end up in front.
Layer order ANIMATION requires the layers be inside a bone or group layer. On any frame other than 0 you CAN NOT drag a layer OUTSIDE of a bone or group layer. You must be on frame 0 to do that.
However just reordering layers not in a group does not require this.
The keys for ANIMATED layer ordering are on the GROUP layer, not the layers being reordered.
If you have depth sorting turned on for a group layer and the z translation of a layer inside that group is changed reordering layers in the palette or any other way will not change how they appear. The z depth will override the layer order. If a layer is on top of another layer in the layer palette but its z depth is HIGHER or above any layers in the layer palette it will appear over those layers even if it is under them in the layer palette.
I would still recommend that all layers be inside either a group or bone layer unless you need to import layers into another document but you can do that as needed. It's just easier to maintain a document if everything is in at least one group or bone layer. Plus it saves time later if you plan to do more or need to use bones.
-vern
However just reordering layers not in a group does not require this.
The keys for ANIMATED layer ordering are on the GROUP layer, not the layers being reordered.
If you have depth sorting turned on for a group layer and the z translation of a layer inside that group is changed reordering layers in the palette or any other way will not change how they appear. The z depth will override the layer order. If a layer is on top of another layer in the layer palette but its z depth is HIGHER or above any layers in the layer palette it will appear over those layers even if it is under them in the layer palette.
I would still recommend that all layers be inside either a group or bone layer unless you need to import layers into another document but you can do that as needed. It's just easier to maintain a document if everything is in at least one group or bone layer. Plus it saves time later if you plan to do more or need to use bones.
-vern
>> recommend that all layers be inside either a group or bone layer
Yes, I had been wondering about this as a general standard. Getting basic work flow and processes established is a challenge for the neophyte as often the implications are far from clear. Planning seems paramount but not knowing what to allow for technically...
bit by bit -- or step by step if the pun is too much :)
thanks - arfa
Yes, I had been wondering about this as a general standard. Getting basic work flow and processes established is a challenge for the neophyte as often the implications are far from clear. Planning seems paramount but not knowing what to allow for technically...
bit by bit -- or step by step if the pun is too much :)
thanks - arfa