Animation Layer Editor menu bar

Layers menu

The Layers menu contains the following items.

Create Empty Layer

Creates an empty animation layer.

Create Layer from Selected

Creates an animation layer that (by default) contains all of the selected object’s attributes.

Create Override Layer

Creates an empty animation layer set to Override mode.

Create Override Layer from Selected

Creates a new animation layer that (by default) contains all of the selected object’s attributes, and sets the layer to Override mode.

Add Selected Objects

Adds attributes of the selected object(s) to the selected animation layer(s). See Add and remove attributes from animation layers.

Remove Selected Objects

Removes all attributes of the selected object(s) from the selected layer(s).

Extract Selected Objects

Extracts the selected object from the selected layer and places it on a new layer. The new layer is named after the selected layer, plus the suffix _extract.

Select Objects

Selects all objects in the scene that have attributes assigned to the selected layer(s).

Copy Layer

Creates a duplicate of the selected layer(s), containing all of the same attributes and animation.

Copy Layer (No Animation)

Creates a duplicate of the selected layer(s) containing all of the same attributes (and none of the animation).

Merge Layers

Merges the selected animation layers. See Merge animation layers.

Extract Non-Layered Animation for Selected Objects

Extracts any non-layered animation from selected objects onto a new layer. See Extract animation to or from an animation layer.

Extract Non-Layered Animation for All Objects

Extracts any non-layered animation for all objects in the scene onto a new layer. See Extract animation to or from an animation layer.

Select All

Selects all animation layers in the stack.

Select Branch

Selects all child layers in the hierarchy below the selected parent layer(s).

Select Layer Node

Selects the animation layer node and displays the node’s attributes in the Channel Box.

Export Layer

Lets you export a selected layer as a separate file. The exported file includes the layer node, its animation curves and blend nodes. See Import and export animation layers.

Export Branch

Lets you export the entire hierarchy of layers below a selected parent layer.

Note

You can only export one branch at a time.

Membership

Opens the Relationship Editor for animation layer(s) so you can add and remove attributes. See Add and remove objects or attributes from animation layers.

Attribute Editor

Opens the Attribute Editor for the selected animation layer.

Delete

Deletes the selected layer(s) and all associated animation curves. See Delete or empty animation layers.

Empty

Removes all attributes and deletes animation curves from the selected layer.

Delete Empty Layers

Deletes any layers in the stack that have no attributes assigned.

Package Into Assets

Creates an asset for each animation layer in the stack, and for the BaseAnimation. The related nodes for each layer (including the layer node, blend nodes, and animation curves) are automatically placed in the asset.

See Package animation layers into assets.

Options menu

The Options menu contains the following items:

Key in Selected Layer(s)

When this keying mode is active, keyframes are set only in animation layer(s) you have selected. Use this keying mode if you want to keep your workflow simple and manually select each animation layer to set keys on it.

Important

When using this keying mode, you must select the BaseAnimation bar to set keys on objects that are not included on animation layers.

If the attributes you are keying are not found in the selected animation layer, or if the selected layer is locked, no keyframes are set.

Each attribute can be keyed on only one layer at a time, so if you select more than one layer, Maya determines which of the selected layers receive keyframes.

For example, if the last selected layer in the stack does not contain one of the attributes you are keying, or if that layer is locked, Maya checks the next selected layer, and so on. If none of the selected layers includes the attribute, or if all selected layers are locked, no keyframes are set.

See also Keyframe objects on animation layers.

Key in Last Active Layer(s)

When this keying mode is active, Maya automatically determines which animation layer receives keyframes, regardless of which layer you have selected. Use this keying mode if you want Maya to place keyframes on the best layer automatically, without you manually selecting the layer first.

When you use this mode, Maya places keyframes on the last active layer for the object or attribute you are keying. The last active layer is the last layer in the stack that contains the keyed attribute and is currently unlocked.

If the last layer is locked, keyframes are set on the next active layer in the stack, and so on. If the selected object or attribute has no unlocked animation layers, keyframes are set on the BaseAnimation.

See also Keyframe objects on animation layers.

Hybrid

This is the default and recommended keying mode for animation layers, and it combines the functionality of the Key in Selected Layer(s) and Key in Last Active Layer(s) modes.

When you use this keying mode, keyframes are set on the animation layer you have selected. If no layers are selected, or if the selected layer does not contain the objects or attributes you are keying, Maya automatically places the keyframes on the last active layer in the stack. (The last active layer is the last layer in the stack that contains the keyed attribute and is currently unlocked.)

If the object or attribute being keyed has no unlocked animation layers, keyframes are set on the BaseAnimation.

See also Keyframe objects on animation layers.

Make New Layers Current

When on, a new layer is selected as the current active layer in the stack when it is created. When off, adding a new layer does not change which layer is currently selected and active in the stack.

Insert New Layers After Current

When on, new layers are added to the stack immediately above the currently selected layer. If multiple layers are selected, the new layer is added above the top-most layer. When off, new layers are added to the top of the stack.

Select Children Under Collapsed Parent

For layers organized into hierarchies, this option sets how layers are selected when a parent layer is collapsed.

When on, a layer hierarchy is treated as a single layer if the parent layer is collapsed. Selecting the collapsed parent selects all child layers, and deselecting the collapsed parent deselects all child layers.

When off, child and parent layers are treated independently, so child layers can stay selected when their parent layer is collapsed. Selecting the collapsed parent does not select the child layers.

See also Animation layer hierarchy for more information on parent and child layers.

Lock Muted Layer

When on, muted animation layers are also locked so they cannot receive keyframes. When off, muted animation layers are unlocked and can still receive keyframes.

Template Curves of Locked Layers

When on, animation curves are templated when you lock the associated animation layer. See Template the curves of locked animation layers.

Auto Ghost Selected Objects

Turns on ghosts for selected objects when any layer Ghost button is turned on. This is the default layer ghosting option. See also Display ghosts for layered animation.

Auto Ghost Objects in Layer

Turns on ghosts for all objects associated with a layer when its Ghost button is turned on.

Turn On Ghosts Manually

Lets you turn on ghosts by manually selecting the Animate > Ghost Selected option from the main menu bar. You can then use the layer Ghost buttons to turn on ghosts per layer.

Buttons on Right

Moves the Animation Layer Buttons to display on the right-hand side of the Animation Layer Editor. By default, the layer buttons display on the left-hand side of each animation layer.

Reverse Layer Stack

Flips the display of animation layers in the stack.

By default, animation layers display bottom-to-top. This means the BaseAnimation bar is pushed toward the bottom of the pane as new layers are added at the top of the pane.

Reverse Layer Stack flips the stack display so that layers display top-to-bottom. New layers are added at the bottom of the pane.

Show menu

The Show menu includes the following options:

All Affected Layers

When on, only layers that contain attributes of objects selected in the scene display in the Animation Layer Editor.

All Layers

When on, all animation layers display in the Animation Layer Editor, regardless of what is selected in the scene.

Namespace

This option provides the same function as Show Namespace in the Render Layer Editor.

Floating Window

Opens the Animation Layer Editor as a window separate from the Channel Box.