What is a Master template?

A Master Template is a type of template that is saved in the Harmony library. It is defined as a Master Template by what is saved in the Library, and how it is used, otherwise it is like any other Library template in terms of format.

What is a template?

A template is a file format unique to Harmony and Storyboard Pro that allows you to access and reuse elements from your project, like animation, images, rigs, camera movements, etc. 

All templates are created via the Library view as a .tpl file.

Why is it called a Master template?

A Master template is called such because it specifically saves the entire hierarchy of a rigged character, with all of its rigged features and drawing library. Master templates are the final version of a rig which is ready to be used for animation.

A Master rig template has everything an animator will need to animate the character, and will contain some or all of the following:

• The full, completed rig hierarchy from top to bottom.
• Peg layers with pivots for transformation, and drawing layers for artwork.
• Official palette or palettes.
• Drawing substitution library.
• Rigging techniques such as deformers, patches, cutters and Master Controllers.
• Keyframed turnaround, poses and expressions.
• Organisation features like consistent naming, scene markers and backdrops.

About creating Master templates

When creating Master templates, be aware of the following:

• Make sure the rig is approved and finalised, or as finalised as it will be for this phase of the production.
• If the Master rig is changed significantly in any way, a new version of the Master template should be made and animators should be made aware of the changes. If Action templates were made from the Master template, they may need to be remade with the new Master rig. For more information, see What is an Action template?

Since Master templates always contain the whole rig, they are simple to create by copying and pasting the topmost nodes of the rig hierarchy from the Node view into the Library view.

You can also pull the closed rig layer into the Library view from the Timeline view, however it is easier to make errors this way if you haven’t correctly closed up your rig.

You can also pull in only sections of the timeline if you have a rig with all its poses laid out and only want to template specific poses. This is similar to creating an Action template, however it contains specific rig information instead of animation. These may not always be considered a Master template if it is just 1 or 2 poses.

About using Master templates

A Master template can simply be pulled in from the Library onto the Timeline view, or into the Node view. Be careful not to drop the template onto any existing layers.

Master templates can be dropped in at any duration on the timeline. The template will come in exactly how it was created in the original file.