Application Topic
   >  An Introduction to Animation
   >  Animation using KDEnlive
   >  Animating Photo using GIMP
   >  Animation using Pencil
   >  An Introduction to Synfig Studio
   >  Importing Images into Synfig
   >  Applying Transformation in Synfig
   >  Keyframe Animation in Synfig
   >  Rendering & Exporting in Synfig


Applying Transformations to Images in Synfig Studio

Applying a Transformation to a Layer

Once the various parts of your image have been imported and encapsulated you will then want to apply transformations to the various layers to allow you to create the required movement. This is done by right-clicking on the image you want to change then choosing the type of motion that you want to apply. In this article, we will be using the example of applying a rotation, so we would right click the image layer and choose:

New Layer → Transform → Rotate:

The Add Translation Option

A new layer will be created, named after whichever transformation was chosen (-in this case, "Rotate"); rename this to something more meaningful to avoid confusion later:

Continue creating the transformations for all the layers that you require to move:

After each rotational layer is created, be sure to drag the green positional duck to the desired centre of rotation (-i.e. the point around which the rotation will pivot). In the case of an arm, this point will be the centre of the shoulder socket:

To actually rotate the limb, click and drag the blue rotational duck instead in the desired direction of rotation (e.g. clockwise or anti-clockwise):

Compound Transformations

Often, when you manipulate one layer in an image, you will also want this to affect other layers: a common example is, when moving a human figure, if you rotate the hips (-i.e. lean the figure forward or back), you will want the head and arms to follow the trunk, not to be left behind.

In Synfig, this is done by exporting the transformation's properties, then cloning the transformation layer into all the required parts that need to move in unison with it.

Simply click on the transformation to be linked, then move over to the properties panel, right-click the "Amount" field and choose the Export option:

Rename the exported property to a unique (-and meaningful) value:

Do the same for the "Origin" property (-once you have correctly set the centre of rotation duck as detailed above). You should see a linked chain icon shown next to each property exported.:

Next, right-click back on the transformation in the layers panel and choose the "Copy" option:

Finally, right-click on the layer that you wish to be linked to this transformation and "Paste" option:

You should now see a copy of the transformation layer displayed in the layers palette. In our example, the "RotateTrunk" transformation can be seen under both the "Trunk" and "Head" encapsulations:

Now, if you click back on the original rotation and adjust the rotational duck, you should see that all the parts of the image containing the clone of the transformation will move together. In our example, when you rotate the man's trunk, his head and arms will also rotate by the same amount:

Note: if you want to rotate the part in isolation, simply select the rotational layer for that part only (-e.g. "RotateHead" in our example above will only move the head, whereas "RotateTrunk" will move the body, head and arms together)

HomeSite IndexDesktop GuideServer GuideHints and TipsHardware CornerVideo SectionContact Us

 sitelock verified Firefox Download Button