User Guide

CHAPTER 4
128
Managing Layers
Creating a light or camera layer
Light and camera layers create interesting effects for the 3D layers in a composition. To
learn more about lights and cameras, see “Using cameras” on page 292 and “Using lights”
on page 298.
To create a light or camera layer:
1 With the Composition or Timeline window active, choose Layer > New > Camera, or
Layer > New > Light.
2 In the Camera or Light Settings dialog box, select the settings you want.
Creating an adjustment layer
When you apply an effect to an ordinary layer, the effect affects only that layer and no others.
However, an effect can exist independently if you create an adjustment layer for it. Any effects
applied to an adjustment layer affect all layers below it in the composition stacking order. An
adjustment layer at the bottom of the stacking order has no visible effect.
Because adjustment layer effects apply to all layers beneath them, they are useful for
applying effects to many layers at once. In all other aspects, an adjustment layer behaves
exactly like other layers; for example, you can use keyframes with any adjustment layer
property, and rename the layer. You can also create masks on adjustment layers.
To create a new adjustment layer:
1 Display the Composition or Timeline window to which you want to add an adjustment
layer.
2 Choose Layer > New > Adjustment Layer. A new adjustment layer appears at the top of
the Timeline window.
3 Apply one or more effects to the adjustment layer.
For information about effects, see “Working with effects” on page 269.
Note: Transformations on adjustment layers behave slightly differently; they transform only
the matte but not the fill.
UG.book Page 128 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM