How to Make a Layer Transparent in Toon Boom Harmony?

To make a layer transparent in Toon Boom Harmony, you primarily use the Opacity parameter available for each drawing layer.

Understanding Layer Transparency with Opacity

Harmony offers methods for adjusting the visibility of elements in your scene, and one direct way is through the Opacity parameter. As mentioned in the reference, The Opacity parameter is a parameter each drawing layer possesses.

• By default, this parameter is set to 100%, meaning the layer is fully visible (opaque).
• By lowering it, you can make an individual layer appear more transparent. A value of 0% would make the layer completely invisible, while a value like 50% would make it semi-transparent.

This allows you to control how much of the layers beneath are visible through the selected layer.

How to Adjust the Opacity Parameter

Adjusting the Opacity parameter is a straightforward process typically done within Harmony's interface. While the exact location can vary slightly depending on your workspace setup, here's a common approach:

1. Select the Target Layer: In the Timeline view or Node view, click on the drawing layer you want to make transparent.
2. Access Layer Properties: Open the Layer Properties panel. You can usually do this by double-clicking the layer in the Timeline or by right-clicking and selecting "Layer Properties".
3. Locate the Opacity Parameter: Within the Layer Properties, find the Opacity setting. It's often found under the "Drawing" or "Layer" tab.
4. Adjust the Value: Change the numerical value for Opacity from 100% to a lower percentage. You can often type in a value or use a slider/scrubber.
5. Observe the Change: As you lower the value, you will see the selected layer become more transparent in the Camera view.

Key Considerations

• The Opacity parameter directly affects the selected drawing layer and its contents.
• Harmony has other ways of adding transparency or manipulating layer visibility, but adjusting the Opacity parameter on the layer is a fundamental and common method for individual drawing layers.

Adjusting the Opacity provides granular control over the visibility of specific layers, essential for effects like ghosts, reflections, or integrating different scene elements smoothly.