Snowflake with the Duplicate Layer
m (add {{Literal to options + remplace [select|check] for checkbox) |
m (Try to transform all Liretal to {{Literal and all MenuCommand to {{c|<) |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
Select the {{Literal|Bline tool}}, and in the tools options, make sure that only {{Literal|Create Region Bline}} is checked. (If you use the {{Literal|Polygon tool}}, check either {{Literal|Create Polygon Layer}} or {{Literal|Create Region Layer}}, as you wish). | Select the {{Literal|Bline tool}}, and in the tools options, make sure that only {{Literal|Create Region Bline}} is checked. (If you use the {{Literal|Polygon tool}}, check either {{Literal|Create Polygon Layer}} or {{Literal|Create Region Layer}}, as you wish). | ||
| − | Draw the branch in the upper middle part of your image. Once it's drawn, select the newly created layer (I will refer to it as the "Branch layer") and make sure that the bottom of the branch is more or less at the same place as the green dot showing the center of the image. You can move your branch by selecting all the points | + | Draw the branch in the upper middle part of your image. Once it's drawn, select the newly created layer (I will refer to it as the "Branch layer") and make sure that the bottom of the branch is more or less at the same place as the green dot showing the center of the image. You can move your branch by selecting all the points {{Shortcut|Ctrl|A}} and using the {{l|Normal Tool}} |
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb207/rore4wiki/Synfig/snow_step1.png | http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb207/rore4wiki/Synfig/snow_step1.png | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
== Adding the Rotate and Duplicate Layers == | == Adding the Rotate and Duplicate Layers == | ||
To make a whole 6-branches snowflake, we need to make several copies of the branch, and rotate them.<br/> | To make a whole 6-branches snowflake, we need to make several copies of the branch, and rotate them.<br/> | ||
| − | First, we need a {{l|Rotate Layer | Rotation layer}}. Right click on the image and select | + | First, we need a {{l|Rotate Layer | Rotation layer}}. Right click on the image and select {{c|<Layer>|New Layer|Transform|Rotate}}. You should now have a Rotate Layer on top of the Branch layer. |
| − | Then, we'll use the Duplicate Layer. Right click on the image and select | + | Then, we'll use the Duplicate Layer. Right click on the image and select {{c|<Layer>|New Layer|Other|Duplicate}}. |
So far, no change is visible on our image, it's normal :). | So far, no change is visible on our image, it's normal :). | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
== Connecting everything together == | == Connecting everything together == | ||
| − | Select the Duplicate layer and look at the {{l|Params Panel}}. There's an | + | Select the Duplicate layer and look at the {{l|Params Panel}}. There's an {{Literal|Index}} value that is automaticaly exported. Its name is {{Literal|Index 1}}. (It looks like {{Literal|Index(Index 1)}} in the panel). <br/> |
| − | This value is made of 3 subparameters : | + | This value is made of 3 subparameters : {{Literal|From}}, {{Literal|To}} and {{Literal|Step}}. |
Those parameters tells how many times an object is duplicated. | Those parameters tells how many times an object is duplicated. | ||
<!--- |((From - To)/Step)|+1 = Number of duplicates. ---> | <!--- |((From - To)/Step)|+1 = Number of duplicates. ---> | ||
| − | We need 6 branches so set the | + | We need 6 branches so set the {{Literal|To}} parameter to '''6''' (keep {{Literal|From}} and {{Literal|Step}} to 1). |
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb207/rore4wiki/Synfig/snow_step3.png | http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb207/rore4wiki/Synfig/snow_step3.png | ||
| − | Now move to the {{l|Children Panel}}, and select our | + | Now move to the {{l|Children Panel}}, and select our {{Literal|Index 1}} value. (Unfold the {{Literal|ValueBase Node}} if necessary). |
In order to have 6 rotated branches, we need to link the duplication and the rotation together. | In order to have 6 rotated branches, we need to link the duplication and the rotation together. | ||
Select the Rotate layer, and go back to the Params panel. <br/> | Select the Rotate layer, and go back to the Params panel. <br/> | ||
| − | The Rotate layer has just 2 parameters: | + | The Rotate layer has just 2 parameters: {{Literal|Origin}} and {{Literal|Amount}}. The important one here is {{Literal|Amount}}, it tells the angle of the rotation. |
| − | Right click on | + | Right click on {{Literal|Amount}} and select {{c|<Convert>|Scale}}. <br/> |
| − | Now Amount is made of 2 subparameters, | + | Now Amount is made of 2 subparameters, {{Literal|Link}} (an angle) and {{Literal|Scalar}} (a real), the whole rotation being equal to Link * Scalar. |
| − | Set the | + | Set the {{Literal|Link}} subparameter to 60 (that's the angle between the snowflake branches). |
| − | Right click on the | + | Right click on the {{Literal|Scalar}} parameter and select {{Literal|Connect}}. It will connect the previously selected {{Literal|Index 1}} value (in the Children panel) to the Scalar parameter. |
''How it looks after the connection:''<br/> | ''How it looks after the connection:''<br/> | ||
Revision as of 11:53, 28 November 2012
This tutorial explain a simple example of the use of the Duplicate Layer, to create a snowflake.
Contents
First branch of the snowflake
The 1st part is very simple : We'll create a single snowflake branch with the BLine Tool (or the Polygon Tool).
Select the "Bline tool", and in the tools options, make sure that only "Create Region Bline" is checked. (If you use the "Polygon tool", check either "Create Polygon Layer" or "Create Region Layer", as you wish).
Draw the branch in the upper middle part of your image. Once it's drawn, select the newly created layer (I will refer to it as the "Branch layer") and make sure that the bottom of the branch is more or less at the same place as the green dot showing the center of the image. You can move your branch by selecting all the points CtrlA and using the Normal Tool
Adding the Rotate and Duplicate Layers
To make a whole 6-branches snowflake, we need to make several copies of the branch, and rotate them.
First, we need a Rotation layer. Right click on the image and select "<Layer> → New Layer → Transform → Rotate". You should now have a Rotate Layer on top of the Branch layer.
Then, we'll use the Duplicate Layer. Right click on the image and select "<Layer> → New Layer → Other → Duplicate".
So far, no change is visible on our image, it's normal :). In the Layers Panel, make sure that the layers are in the following order : Duplicate on top, Rotate in the middle, and the "Branch" layer on the bottom.
Connecting everything together
Select the Duplicate layer and look at the Params Panel. There's an "Index" value that is automaticaly exported. Its name is "Index 1". (It looks like "Index(Index 1)" in the panel).
This value is made of 3 subparameters : "From", "To" and "Step".
Those parameters tells how many times an object is duplicated.
We need 6 branches so set the "To" parameter to 6 (keep "From" and "Step" to 1).
Now move to the Children Panel, and select our "Index 1" value. (Unfold the "ValueBase Node" if necessary).
In order to have 6 rotated branches, we need to link the duplication and the rotation together.
Select the Rotate layer, and go back to the Params panel.
The Rotate layer has just 2 parameters: "Origin" and "Amount". The important one here is "Amount", it tells the angle of the rotation.
Right click on "Amount" and select "<Convert> → Scale".
Now Amount is made of 2 subparameters, "Link" (an angle) and "Scalar" (a real), the whole rotation being equal to Link * Scalar.
Set the "Link" subparameter to 60 (that's the angle between the snowflake branches).
Right click on the "Scalar" parameter and select "Connect". It will connect the previously selected "Index 1" value (in the Children panel) to the Scalar parameter.
How it looks after the connection:
You should now have a complete snowflake, yay!
What happened?
We linked the "Scalar" value of the rotation to the duplicate layer:
Thanks to the Duplicate, the Scalar parameter was set to values between 1 and 6 (From and To), by steps of 1 - instead of being set to a single value.
So we had 5 rotations in addition to the original branche : One of 60° (Scalar * Link = 1 * 60°), another of 120° ( 2 * 60°), another of 180°, etc. And all of these rotations were displayed together.
You can think of the Duplicate Layer as something allowing you to have a list of values, that you can link to a (real) parameter in the same way you could link a single value to a parameter.
