In Harmony, palettes are individual *.plt files that can be copied, transferred and stored. When a palette is created from Harmony, it needs to be stored somewhere. By default, the palette file is stored in the scene directory in a palette-library folder unless you specify a different location. There are four locations where you can find palette-library folders:




The Palette Library folder is stored directly in the Scene folder.






This existing structure is compatible with Toon Boom Harmony Server. Toon Boom Harmony’s database has a leveled structure starting from the Environment down to the Element. Its client-server configuration allows all data, such as palettes and scenes, to be shared between a series of client machines.

Element Level


Scene Level




Where to Save the Palette File

The palette storage location depends on the type of production and the backup plan being used. Some studios like to store their palettes at the Element level and others at the Environment level as this will not create a problem so long as the scene is in the Harmony structure. In fact, as long as the Harmony structure is maintained it can be stored at any level. However, difficulties may occur when the scene is backed up or transferred to another studio or database and removed from the structure.

What happens when you export a palette file?

It is important to understand what is happening to a palette file when the scene is exported.

Because of the Harmony client-server configuration, all of the data can be shared through all of the scenes in the database. This also includes the palette files, even if they are stored at the Element, Scene, Job, Drawing or Environment level. The palette files can be accessed from any scene of any project.

When you export scenes from Harmony to either archive or send them to other users or studios, the palettes stored in external scenes, jobs or environment will NOT be exported.

An exported scene will carry palettes stored in its own Element’s Palette Library, scene’s palette library, the Job and the Environment where it is stored. Any other palette from other Environments, Jobs, Elements or Scenes (even from the same job) will NOT follow. Instead a recovery palette will be created when the scene is reopened in another Harmony system. A recovery palette is a local palette created by the system when palettes and colours are missing. This palette is no longer shared with the rest of the project.

For example, in the following chart, if you export Scene 2 from Job 1, the package will carry the palettes from Scene 2, Job 1 and Environment. It WILL NOT carry the palettes from Element 3 in Scene 1, Scene 1 and Job 2. If Scene 2 was linked to any of these, the system will create a recovery palette the next time Scene 2 is opened in another Harmony system.

Toon Boom Harmony Palette Explort Structure within the Database

The best place to store your palette is:

Environment level for a movie or series
Job level for a publicity or small project
Scene level for a student exercise

To store your palette with their colour models, you can use the Element level, however, it will require more structure when exporting the scenes. The scene will have to be exported along with its colour model scene. The other studio you are working with must recreate an identical structure to yours, then import the received scenes into the same location as you have them in order to maintain the links.

Palette Backup

