Unifying and matching layer rollovers and animations

By default, changes you make to layers using Layers palette commands and options--including layer visibility, position, and style--apply only to the frame or state (unless you are working with the Normal state or Frame 1). However, you can use the unify buttons in the Layers palette and the Match command to apply changes to all states in a rollover and all frames in an animation:

• The unify buttons determine how the changes you make to a layer in the active state or frame apply to the other states in a rollover or frames in an animation. When a unify button is selected, changes apply to all states and frames; when a button is deselected, changes apply to only the active state or frame.
• The Layer > Match command lets you apply the layer attributes for an existing state or frame to other states in a rollover and frames in an animation.

To unify layers in rollover states and animation frames:

Select one or more unify buttons in the Layers palette:

• Unify Layer Position button  to apply changes you make to a layer's position to all states in a rollover and all frames in an animation.

Note: The Unify Layer Position button places the contents of the selected layer in the same place on every frame in your animation. If you're trying to show the layer contents moving in the animation, do not use this button.

• Unify Layer Visibility button to apply changes you make to a layer's visibility to all states in a rollover and all frames in an animation.
• Unify Layer Style button  to apply changes you make to a layer's style to all states in a rollover and all frames in an animation.

To match an existing layer across rollover states and animation frames:

1. In the Web Content palette, select the state or frame with the layer attributes you want to use.
2. Select the layer you want to match in the Layers palette.
3. Choose Layer > Match, or choose Match from the Layers palette menu.
4. Select one of the following from the Match Layer dialog:
• Current Animation to apply layer attributes for the selected frame to all frames in the animation.
• Current Slice/Image Map's States to apply layer attributes for the selected state to all states in the rollover.
• All Rollovers to apply layer attributes for the selected state to all states in all rollovers (in the image) that include the layer.
5. Select the layer attributes you want to match, and click OK.

Note: The default setting Propagate Frame 1 Changes dynamically updates all rollover states and animation frames, based on a change in the first frame's position, visibility, or layer style. If you want the changes in Frame 1 to remain only in Frame 1, turn off this option by toggling it in the Layers palette pop-up menu.