The Layer ManagerThe Layer ManagerCATModesCollapsing Animation LayersLayer Transform NodesLayer TypesRanges ViewSaving and Loading Poses and Animation

The Layer manager is the interface to the CATLayer system. As you animate with 3ds Max CAT, you this rollout serves as the center of your layering workflow. Here you can add, remove, move layers up and down , adjust and animate global or local layer weightings, and more.

Interface

CATMode: Click to switch between CATModes: Animation and Setup. See CATModes.
Color Mode: Set the current color mode for the CATRig. By default, the rig displays with the colors assigned to the individual bones. In Layer Color mode, however, the overall rig color is determined by the active layer and modified by underlying, blended layers.
Ranges View: Display the 'Ranges View' for all the layers. See Ranges View.
CAT Help: Launches the online 3ds Max CAT Help.
Add new Layer: Add a new layer to the layer stack. Click and hold on the Abs button to open the flyout, drag down to the layer type to add, and release to create the layer. See Layer Types.

NoteThe new layer is inserted above the highlighted stack entry. To add a layer at the end of the list (that is, the top of the stack), make sure the (Available) entry is highlighted.
Remove Layer: Remove the highlighted layer from the layer stack.
Copy Layer: Copy the currently selected layer ready for pasting.
Paste Layer: Paste the copied layer into the current layer stack. This tool is useful for quickly duplicating layers on one CATRig, or for copying animation from one rig to another in the same scene. It is better than using the animation saving and loading tools because some types of controllers, such as Reaction, cannot be saved using the Clip file saver.
Collapse Time Range:: Collapse a time range of your animation to an existing or new layer. See Collapsing Animation Layers.
Name: Shows the name of the highlighted layer. To change the name, edit this text field.

ImportantAfter editing a track name, press Enter to register the new name.
[color swatch]: The layer color. This determines the color of the layer’s transform node (see following), as well as the rig color in Layer Color mode.
Layer Transform Node: Create a transform node for the current layer in the layer stack. Transform nodes are available for absolute layers only. See Layer Transform Gizmo.
Key Current Pose: Key the current pose of the character into the selected layer when Auto Key is on or offset the current pose of the character into the selected layer when Auto Key is off.
Move Layer Up/Down: Move the highlighted layer up or down one position in the layer stack.

Weight group

These controls determine how the highlighted layer interacts with those before it in the layer stack; that is, those preceding it in the list. Except for Solo and Time Warp, the controls are unavailable for the first layer in the stack.

Ignore: When on, the highlighted layer’s animation is not applied to the rig.

NoteSetting a layer to Ignore causes its stack entry to be grayed out, indicating its inactive status.
Solo: When on, only the highlighted layer’s animation is applied to the rig; other layers are ignored.

NoteActivating Solo for a layer sets all other layers to Ignore status (see preceding).
Global Weight: The extent to which the highlighted layer affects the overall animation. For details, see Blending Between Layers.

To edit the animation curve for a layer’s Global Weight value, click the Curve Editor: Global Weights button.
Local Weight: The extent to which animation in the highlighted layer for selected bones affects the overall animation. For details, see Feathered Weighting.

To edit the animation curve for a layer’s Global Weight value, click the Curve Editor: Local Weights button.
Time Warp: Enables control of the velocity of an animation layer. This value is typically animated. For details, see Layer Time Warps.

To edit the animation curve for a layer’s Time Warp value, click the Curve Editor: Time Warps button.