Perspective for folders

[Reindeer]

As far as I can tell I can use the Perspective tool only on vector layers and image layers.
If I want to distort more layers at once by putting them into a folder layer, I can only rotate the folder without prospective distortion. Am I correct or am I missing some hidden option?

[ggoblin]

Hi Reindeer, what do you mean by 'perspective tool' ?

There is a Perspective Points tool, that will only work on points inside vector layers.

Then there is Shear Layer and Rotate Layer XY tools which will work on layers including vector layers and image layers. These also work fine on group layers which include vector and image layers.

[Greenlaw]

Perspective and Shear should work on Groups, independently from using the same tools on the contained layers. It works here anyway.

One way to check is to go to an animation frame and apply these tools on the layers and on the parent group. Then you can Mute the channels for each item to see the effects of the tools on unmuted items.

[SimplSam]

You can also use Quad Meshes and have multiple art layers in the group bound to the same Mesh layer, so they behave/distort similarly.

[Greenlaw]

Sorry, where I wrote Perspective I mean Rotate Layer tool, which can sort of be used like a perspective tool and it works on groups as well as other layers. I sometimes use this to force a low camera perspective on characters. As noted by GGoblin, the tool that's actually called Perspective, found in the Draw section, is only for points.

@SimplSam, good call about using a Quad mesh.

@Reindeer, if you us a single quad shape that's unconnected to other shapes, Moho treats this as a Perspective Warp, so you get accurate perspective distortions. And yes, multiple layers can use the same quad. Note that this doesn't work with group layers, but you can select multiple layers inside the group and apply the warp to all of them at one time.

[Reindeer]

Hi Reindeer, what do you mean by 'perspective tool' ?

There is a Perspective Points tool, that will only work on points inside vector layers.

Then there is Shear Layer and Rotate Layer XY tools which will work on layers including vector layers and image layers. These also work fine on group layers which include vector and image layers.

Yes, I can rotate and skew but that doesn't exactly equate to a perspective distortion. It'll work for a good many situations but not those where one wants a more realistic effect.

[Reindeer]

You can also use Quad Meshes and have multiple art layers in the group bound to the same Mesh layer, so they behave/distort similarly.

Thanks, I'll try this solution!

[Reindeer]

Sorry, where I wrote Perspective I mean Rotate Layer tool, which can sort of be used like a perspective tool and it works on groups as well as other layers. I sometimes use this to force a low camera perspective on characters. As noted by GGoblin, the tool that's actually called Perspective, found in the Draw section, is only for points.

@SimplSam, good call about using a Quad mesh.

@Reindeer, if you us a single quad shape that's unconnected to other shapes, Moho treats this a Perspective Warp, so you get accurate perspective distortions. And yes, multiple layers can use the same quad. Note that this doesn't work with group layers, but you can select multiple layers inside the group and apply the warp to all of them at one time.

Yes, that's what I meant. Rotation and Skew are good but not satisfactory when looking for a truer perspective distortion. The suggestion of using meshes sounds good, I still have to try it! Thanks!

[slowtiger]

"a truer prespective" sounds ... odd.

The thing with perspective is that it's a distortion of the projected image of things which follows some (simple) rules. First rule: everything in an image seen through the same lens is sharing the same perspective. In constructing perspective of different objects most people forget that the lens is a factor, too.

I recommend to work from an underlying sketch. If you find that rotate and skew don't get you the desired effect, check the lens length parameter (that's "Zoom camera (5)"). Shorter lens = stronger perspective distortion. Longer lens = less distortion. Infinite lens = isometric perspective.

[Reindeer]

"a truer prespective" sounds ... odd.

The thing with perspective is that it's a distortion of the projected image of things which follows some (simple) rules. First rule: everything in an image seen through the same lens is sharing the same perspective. In constructing perspective of different objects most people forget that the lens is a factor, too.

I recommend to work from an underlying sketch. If you find that rotate and skew don't get you the desired effect, check the lens length parameter (that's "Zoom camera (5)"). Shorter lens = stronger perspective distortion. Longer lens = less distortion. Infinite lens = isometric perspective.

Agreed, "truer perspective” is nonsense But the parameters of the Zoom Camera - if those are the ones you mean for “lens length” - don’t seem to modify the Perspective (for points) or Rotation and Skew tools (for groups) behaviour in any way, but I guess I'm missing out on something.