There are two basic methods to choose from when creating animation layers. You can create an empty layer and add attributes to it later, or you can create a layer for a selected object and have its attributes added to the layer automatically.

You can also determine which modes an animation layer is in as you create it, or create the layer and change its modes later.

To create an empty animation layer

1. Do one of the following in the Animation Layer Editor:
   • To create an empty layer in Additive mode, select Layers > Create Empty Layer.
   • To create an empty layer in Override mode, select Layers > Create Override Layer.
   • Click the Create Empty Layer icon in the toolbar. This animation layer will be in Additive mode by default.

   A new layer is created and added to the stack in the Animation Layer Editor.

   When you are ready, you can add attributes to the empty layer. See Add and remove attributes from animation layers.

To create an animation layer for one or more selected objects

1. Select the object(s) you want to animate on an animation layer.
2. Do one of the following in the Animation Layer Editor:
   • To create a layer in Additive mode, select Layers > Create Layer from Selected.
   • To create a layer in Override mode, select Layers > Create Override Layer from Selected.
   • Click the Create Layer from Selected icon in the toolbar. This animation layer is in Additive mode by default.

   A new layer is created and added to the stack in the Animation Layer Editor.

   By default, all of the object’s attributes are added to the new layer. For information on changing which attributes are added by default, or on modifying which attributes are assigned to the new layer, see Add and remove attributes from animation layers.