How do I import a flat bitmap image?

Step 1: Open the Import Images dialog box

1. Do one of the following to open the Import Images dialog box:
   • From the top menu, select File > Import > Images
   • In the File toolbar, click the Import Images button
   • In the Xsheet view, right-click anywhere in the frames area and select Import > Images
2. The Import Images dialog box appears:

Step 2: Adjust the settings for bitmap import

1. At the top, under the Files section, click the Browse button that is on the right side.

2. Locate the image file. A full list of supported formats can be found in About Importing Bitmaps.
3. In the Layer section, choose one of the following:
   • Create Single Layer Named: Creates a single with a name of your choice.
   • Create Layer(s) Based on Filenames: When importing multiple images, this option will create layers and frames based on unique filename prefixes.
   • Add to Existing Layer: Imports the images into an existing layer of your choice. The imported image type needs to match the existing layer’s image type. For instance, you can only import a bitmap into an existing layer that is also a bitmap.

4. Under the Import Options section, choose one of the following based on your needs:
   • Keep as Original Bitmap: Retains the original bitmap and will not allow the image to be edited by Harmony’s drawing tools.
   • Import As Toon Boom Bitmap Drawing: Allows the imported bitmap to be edited by Harmony’s drawing tools.
   • The Convert to Toon Boom Vector Drawing option is only for imports that need to be converted into greyscale vectors. 

5. Under the Colour Space section, you can choose a specific colour space for your imported image. This is usually only needed for projects that specifically require it, otherwise you can leave it as the default. See About Colour Spaces for more information.

6. Under the Alignment section, choose how you would like the imported image to fit the scene:
   • Horizontal Fit: Adjusts the width of the image (from left to right) so that it fits into the scene’s camera width.
   • Vertical Fit: Adjusts the height of the image (from top to bottom) so that it fits into the scene’s camera height.
   • Actual Size: Imports the image at its original size. This could be bigger or smaller than the camera frame depending on the bitmap image and the camera’s resolution. Choose this for large backgrounds that require camera movements.

7. Under the Transparencies section, choose the transparency type. This section will only make a difference if the image you are importing includes some type of alpha or transparency, like a PNG. If you are importing a solid bitmap, you can choose Straight. 

8. At the bottom, click the OK button.
9. The imported image will appear in the Camera view.

Q&A 

Question 1: 

Why does the imported image look blurry?

Answers: 

1. The imported image might have a low resolution. Double check the original bitmap’s DPI and canvas size, and re-import the image with a higher resolution if necessary.
2. You might need to increase the Bitmap Image Display Quality. 

Question 2:

Why does the transparency of my image look strange? There is something wrong with the edges.

Answer:

When importing the image, the wrong Transparency mode might have been chosen.  Re-import the image and try a different Transparency option.