Day 35/ 38 – Moho
References allow you to create a master file, and then you can reference that file in other files. If you make a change to the master file, it will reflect in whatever project you are working in.
Things to Know:
✔ Learn how to reference a layer
✔ Know how to manipulate a duplicate layer
Create a Reference Layer
- Layers Panel – select your bone layer.
- Select the Paper with the arrow icon – Reference Layer.
You will now have a duplicate of your original bone layer. The target icon lets you know it is your original, while the arrow lets you know that it is being referenced.
If you change your Reference Layer (on left), your duplicate layer will also change.
If you change your Duplicate Layer (on right), your Reference Layer will remain the same.
If you need to protect a specific duplicate layer from changes made to the original? Use Break Reference. This safely disconnects that single layer, ensuring any future tweaks to your source artwork won’t ruin your duplicated setup.
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“Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find your self.”
— Austin Kleon
Using a Reference Layer
You can also bring your character into another piece of artwork/project that you have created, Use: CTL+Shift+Y and select your character. Before you bring it in at the bottom right you can click “import reference.” When you have imported your character as a reference, you can make changes to the original and it will carry over to the other page. One thing to note, if you make a change it will not show until you “save” it. The duplicate file will show now show a red arrow, indicating that you changed the original. To update it, click on the right later, and update layer reference.
Day 35 — Afterthoughts
Day 35, that number sits there for a second.
There were moments in this where it didn’t feel like it would stretch all the way here. But it did, one lesson at a time, even on the days that felt too small or too tired or too distracted to count.
Today was short. Not every day needs to be a big one. I did like that you could duplicate an artwork and keep it the same when you wanted, and change it when you didn’t. Handy.
I already starting to imagine the space after this. The time that won’t be filled with these 38 days. The next thing. Another course maybe. Another structure to step into. Although the goal next time has shifted…letting the “project” part take up more room than the “preparation” part. A bigger slice of the pie for projects, an awareness of the opportunity cost of spending so much time gathering over doing.
For now though, it’s just Day 35.3️⃣✋ Nik
