On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, John Dowdell wrote:

> I'm sorry, I got a little lost there, among the flowers... could you give
> me a rephrasing of the core graphics problem you're trying to solve,
> please...?
> 
The question is/was about a feature to combine layers into other layers
without actually getting rid of the source layers.  To "include" layer1
into layer2 at position x,y and rotation z, etc.. then you could modify
layer1 without needing to recreate layer2 again.  You would not need to
remember which layers are cominations of which layers to recreate the
end-result images.. simply copy the layer that is a composite of other
layers and it would automatically be updated as it needs to be (so you
could include layer 1 in 20 separate layers, then any updates to layer 1
would be automatically transferred to the other layers, including any
rotation/scaling, x/y placement that was done in the process.. another
example follows (very crude example, but maybe it will help :)

I create a stick figure using multiple layers, a layer named "head",
"torso" ,"leftupperarm", "leftlowerarm", "lefthand" etc

I then peice those layers together into other layers to create complete
bodies in different poses.  However, instead of actually merging the
layers, I use the theoretical "include" command to include layer "head" in
this one particular body layer. I can then select the "included" layer in
that body layer and rotate/scale/place, etc.  Changes to that included
layer would only affect that occurance in that layer.  If I go back later
to give my stick figure actual features once I get the poses right, the
updates will automatically transfer to the body layers, and will be
rotated, scaled, etc according to whatever I did to that included layer in
the composite layer.  So if I want to go back and change the hair later, I
don't have to totally recreate each layer from scratch, I just change the
source "head" layer, and all the body layers are updated instantly.. I
then just have to export those composite layers in whatever fashion I
choose.  Or, if the customer sees the work and decides they like the
poses, but want the figure to wear a skirt instead of slacks, I would only
need to change the appropriate layers.

Pat

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