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Scale: A slider that controls the percentage representing the layer’s scale, relative to its
original size. By default, the horizontal and vertical scale of a layer is locked to the layer’s
original aspect ratio—represented by a single percentage. Click the disclosure triangle
to display independent percentages for the X, Y, and Z scales of the layer.
Note: Setting a layer’s scale to a negative value flips the layer.
Shear: Value sliders that defines the X and Y shear of the layer. A layer with no shear has
X and Y shear values of 0. Positive values shear in one direction, while negative values
shear in the other.
Anchor Point: Value sliders that define the X and Y position of the anchor point relative
to the center of the layer. Coordinates of 0, 0 center the anchor point in the bounding
box defining the outer edge of the layer. Click the disclosure triangle to expose an
additional value slider defining the Z position.
Blending Parameters
Opacity: A slider that sets the transparency of the layer. For more information, see Editing
Opacity and Blending Parameters.
Blend Mode: A pop-up menu that sets the Blend Mode of the layer. For more information,
see Editing Opacity and Blending Parameters.
Preserve Opacity: When this checkbox is selected, the layer appears only where another
layer is visible behind it in the composite. The front layer uses the opacity value of the
layer behind it. For more information, see Preserve Opacity Option.
Preserve Opacity enabled
Preserve Opacity disabled
Casts Reflections: A pop-up menu that determines whether a layer casts a reflection.
Choose from three options:
Note: Reflections are only visible when layers are in a 3D group. For more information
on 3D groups, see 3D Group Properties.
• Yes: The layer is seen reflected in nearby reflective layers.
• No: The layer is ignored by reflective surfaces.
• Reflection Only: The layer becomes invisible, but will appear in reflective surfaces around
it.
284 Chapter 7 Basic Compositing