Import and export animation layers

You can import and export individual animation layers, or hierarchies of animation layers.

To export an animation layer

1. In the Animation Layer Editor, select the layer you want to export.
2. Do one of the following:
   • Right-click the layer and select Export Layer.
   • Select Layers > Export Layer from the Animation Layer Editor menu bar.
3. In the file browser that appears, enter a name for your exported layer file and click Export.

   The layer node, its animation curves, and its blend nodes are exported as a Maya file. Any models with attributes associated with the layer are not exported.

To export a hierarchy of animation layers

1. In the Animation Layer Editor, select a parent layer.
2. Do one of the following:
   • Right-click the parent layer and select Export Branch.
   • Select Layers > Export Branch from the Animation Layer Editor menu bar.
   Note: You can only export one hierarchy at a time.
3. In the file browser that appears, enter a name for your exported layer hierarchy file and click Export.

   All of the layer nodes, animation, and blend nodes are exported, and the structure of your layer hierarchy is saved.

To import an animation layer or animation layer hierarchy

After you have exported a layer or layer hierarchy, you can import it into another scene.

1. Select File > Import from the main menu bar.
2. Navigate to select a file containing an exported animation layer or animation layer hierarchy, then click Import.
   Note:

   In order to play the imported layer’s animation, your scene must contain the same objects and attributes (by name) as those on the imported layer. If the scene does not contain the same objects and attributes, the imported layer animation cannot be properly connected in the dependency graph, so it has no affect on the result animation in your scene.

Related topics

• Dependency graph