How can I create a clone of my character that follows the movements of the original?

When using effects, one might want to have a copy of the animation to create shadows and reflections that follow the original. This article will show you how.

Step 1: Prepare the layers for cloning

1. If you are copying a single layer, head to Step 2.
2. If you are copying multiple layers, consider the following:
   • Are you copying a rig? Make sure it closes up into one peg layer as this makes it easier to copy.
   • Are you copying multiple paperless layers? Consider grouping these before copying.
3. Once your layers are organised, move onto the next step.

Step 2: Clone the layers

If you want the effect animation to follow the original exactly, as well as update when you adjust the original, we will need to make a clone. If you’re unsure what a clone is, see What is the difference between a copy, a clone and a duplicate?

1. In the Timeline view, select the layer, group, or master peg you want to copy. Make sure the group or peg is closed to a single layer if you want to copy all layers beneath it.

2. Right click on the layer and select Clone Selected Layers: Drawings and Timing. This will ensure that both the keyframe motion and timing of the drawings will link and update with the original.

3. A clone will appear in the Timeline view:

4. Based on the animation you are cloning, do one of the following:
   • If your clone is a rig that you want to apply an effect to and it isn’t already grouped, select the master peg in the Timeline view and group it by right clicking and selecting Group Selection.
   • If your clone is a single layer, go to Step 3.
   • If your clone is a group of layers, go to Step 3.

Step 3: Peg the clone

Any changes on the cloned layers will update the original and vice versa. Do the following to adjust the position of the clone independently.

1. In the Timeline view, select the cloned layer or group.
2. Add a reposition peg to the layer/group by pressing the Add Peg button.

3. Set the pivot of the peg using the Rotate tool in the Advanced Animation toolbar.
4. In the Camera view, use the reposition peg to move, scale, rotate, skew or flip the clone into a new position. The clone will still follow the same animation as the original, but its overall position will change.

Optional: Add an effect to the clone

1. If you are cloning the animation to turn it into an effect like a shadow or reflection, do the following:
   • If you are applying the effect to a single layer, simply add it to the cloned layer.
   • If you are applying an effect to a rig or multiple layers, the effect has to be applied to a group of the layers.
2. Apply the effect by going to the Timeline view plus dropdown and picking from the Effects menu.

Q&A

Question:

When I try to move my clone character, I only see the original moving.

Answers:

1. Make sure the clone has a new reposition peg added to it after it’s cloned so you can move it separately. Moving any pegs or layers that match the original will move both versions and it will seem as though there is only one.
2. Make sure you are moving the correct peg on the correct version of the character (closing up the Timeline with ‘0’ can help).

Question:

I want only part of my clone’s animation to follow the original. What should I do?

Answers:

1. In this case you can follow the same process, but instead of cloning the character, right click on it and choose Duplicate Selected Layers instead. This will make a copy that is not linked to the original but still has the animation that you’ve created up till that point. See What is the difference between a copy, a clone and a duplicate?
2. Use Action Templates. See What is an Action Template? for more information.