How do I export vector artwork from Harmony?

Harmony Premium has powerful vector drawing tools and it can be useful to export this artwork and use it in other vector applications. This article will cover how to export vector artwork made in Harmony Premium for use in other vector softwares. If you want to export vectors in an SWF format, please see Exporting Flash (SWF) Movies.

Best practices before exporting

If you want to export vector artwork from Harmony for use in other vector softwares, you need to be aware of the following guidelines:

Artwork:

• Any bitmap artwork or layers will not render. Remove these before export.
• Pencil and brush lines will always be exported as a solid vector. Any applied textures will not be visible in the export.
• Many softwares do not recognise Harmony’s pencil lines. It is best to convert all pencil lines to brush strokes before export. 
• Colours with any transparency will show up as 100% opaque in the export.
• Gradients will not export accurately, or will export as a flat colour.

Layers:

• Multiple layers can be used, but overlapping vector shapes may be flattened into one.
• Only Line Art and Colour Art layers will be exported.

Nodes:

• This technique does not work with rigs or complex Node view setups. 
• Using cutters or effects of any kind will result in a black screen export.

Step 1: Set up the artwork for export

1. In the Node view, make sure all the layers you want to export are connected to the same composite.

2. Open the composite’s layer properties by clicking on the node’s yellow box.

3. In the Layer Properties window, change the Mode dropdown from its current mode to As Vector and close the window.

4. The composite will change to a chevron-like shape.

Step 2: Set up the Write node for export

This step outlines the specific settings you need to have for vector export. If you would like to read about the other Write node image settings, see Write Node.

1. In the Node view, find or add the Write node.
2. Make sure the Write node is attached to the composite with the artwork.

3. Open the Write node’s layer properties by clicking on the node’s yellow box.

4. In the Output tab, under the image settings, set your destination folder and filename.
5. Under the Image Format dropdown, choose PDF.

6. Close the window when done.

Step 3: Export the artwork

1. In the top menu, go to File > Export > Render Write Nodes…
2. The Render Write Nodes window opens.
3. Under the Range section, choose the range of drawings you want to export.

4. Click OK.
5. The vector image/s will be exported to your folder of choice as a PDF.

Q&A 

Question: 

Why is my export showing elements that I can’t see in Harmony?

Answers: 

1. Check the Best Practices Before Exporting section in this article. It’s possible you have a transparent colour, bitmap artwork, or textures applied. Remove all bitmap artwork and make sure no textures are applied to strokes.
2. Make sure your pencil lines have been converted to brush strokes.
3. Make sure you are not trying to export a rig or a scene containing cutters, effects, etc.

Question: 

How do I convey a feeling of transparency in my export?

Answers: 

The vector export does not support alpha. If you are using a transparent colour, create an opaque swatch with the same colour that the transparent colour has when overlaid with another. You may have to create more swatches this way, but you will get a similar result in the vector export.