Introduction
This tutorial introduces a feature not covered in the previous tutorials: Image Layers.
Image layers are a way of including artwork created in other programs in a Moho project.
Any application that can produce image files can be used with Moho: photo editors, 3D
modeling programs, natural media painting programs, the list goes on...
An image layer in Moho contains a single image file that can be used as a background,
or combined with a bone layer to build a character. Image layers and vector layers can
be mixed and matched in the same project.
Start With a Sample File
For this tutorial, we'll start with a project file that's almost finished. It's named
Tutorial6 and it's located in the Tutorials subfolder within the main Moho folder. Open
this file in Moho, and expand the "Hula Girl" layer in the Layers palette, and you should
see something like this:
This project is almost complete as it is. The only thing that's missing is the dancer's
left hand. Add the hand as follows: First, click on the layer named "L Arm" (we want the
new layer to be just above the left arm). Next, click the new layer button
in the Layer palette to create a new layer. In the popup menu that appears, choose
"Image Layer". Moho will prompt you to select an image file. Choose the file "l_hand.png"
in the Moho Tutorials folder. Double-click the new layer and rename it to "L Hand".
At this point, your Layer palette should look like this:
New image layers are centered in the workspace, so the dancer's hand is not yet properly
attached:
To position the arm properly, first switch to Moho's Image mode. In the main Moho window,
click the Image tab near the upper left corner to switch Moho into Image mode.
Next, use the Translate Layer tool
to drag the left arm into position at the end of the left hand. Allow for a little overlap
between the two parts at the elbow:
The last step is to attach the new part to the dancer's skeleton. Switch to Bone mode.
Select the Attach Layer to Bone tool
,
and click on the lower arm bone on the dancer, as shown below:
You're done! To see the animation in action, switch to Animation mode and press the Play button.
Of course, we skipped over the process of building and animating the skeleton, but the basics
of working with skeletons was covered in previous tutorials - all of that information applies
when using bones with image layers.