Parallax previewer is a stand alone application that can have image layers added to it and can be exported as an LCR file, which is Apple's proprietary parallax file format. They also provide a Photoshop plugin that can export a PSD file as an LCR file.
Creating Layered Images
Layered images are required for app icons and optional for other focusable UI elements. If your interface uses UIKit views and the focus API, UI elements that specify the appropriate layers automatically get the parallax effect treatment when they’re in focus. Focusable UI elements should contain a layered image.
Important
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You must supply a layered image with a minimum of two layers for your app icon.
At runtime, UIKit understands two different formats that include layered effects. It can read layered images either from asset catalogs or a new layered image file format (.lsr). These formats are supported throughout the system in places where other image formats are supported. For example, achievement images in Game Center are parallax images. Create and export .lsr files using Xcode or the Parallax Previewer app.
Creating LSR Images with the Parallax Previewer App
Download the previewer app to create and preview .lsr images. Figure 7-1 shows the Parallax Previewer app. It has the following sections:
Layered image area. Contains each layer that makes up the image.
Viewing area. Combines and displays the layers.
View size. Changes the size of the image for viewing purposes only.
Position area. Adjusts the position of the selected image layer.
Plus and minus icons. Adds or deletes an image layer.
Size area. Adjusts the size of the selected image layer.
Play button. Animates the image to show the parallax effect.
Apple TV icon checkbox. Check to add the Apple TV icon shadow effect.
Background. Click to change the background for the viewing area.
To create an .lsr image:
Import a separate
.pngor.jpegfile for each layer in the image.Adjust the size and positioning of the layers as appropriate.
Click File -> Export -> LSR to create a new LSR file.
Creating LSR Images Within Xcode
In Xcode, drag existing .png files into your app’s asset catalog to create an image stack. Each .png file represents a different layer for a layered image. To export a layered image in .lsr format, click the Export button in the upper right corner of the Xcode window. Figure 7-2 shows an app icon image.
You can also drag existing .lsr files directly into your asset catalog and they will be included in your app bundle. When the project is compiled, the image stacks and .lsr images in your asset catalogs are transformed into the .car file format and bundled with your app.
Creating an LCR Image
Xcode uses .lsr files or asset catalogs to specify layered image files. These files are processed and included in the app bundle. If you want to load an arbitrary file that is not stored in the app bundle (or on-demand resources), then you need to process it manually into an .lcr file. Use the layerutil command-line tool included with Xcode to create .lcr images. The layerutil tool converts .lsr files into .lcr files.
Open the Terminal and use the following command to create a new .lcr image.
xcrun —-sdk appletvos layerutil —-c <filename.lsr>
The resulting .lcr image will have the same name as the LSR file. You can use the —-o <new_filename.lcr> option to create an .lcr file with a different basename.
Incorporating Layered Images
To incorporate layered images in your app:
Create a
UIImageobject.You load the image differently depending on whether the image is included in your app bundle or whether you have downloaded the image.
Bundle—Load images using
imageNamed:.Downloaded file—Load images using
imageWithContentsOfFile:.
Create a new UIImageView object using the loaded images.
If the
UIImageViewis part of another view, setadjustsImageWhenAncestorFocusedtoYEStrueon theUIImageView.
When the view comes into focus, the layered images will display correctly.
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Parallax Previewer App Free
According to a documentation page on the tvOS Developer Library, Apple TV developers will be able to add the iOS parallax effect to all artwork that requires layered images.
As first noted by Timothy Hatcher on Twitter and as described by Apple on the 'Creating Parallax Artwork' documentation page, the parallax artwork can be easily created using the Parallax Previewer application.
Apple Parallax Previewer
This app helps developers effortlessly assemble all the layers required for tvOS app icons and various other focusable UI elements within their app's interface.
Parallax artwork for Apple TV is required to have between two and five layers to create a proper sense of depth when the user brings it into focus.
The resulting parallax artwork is saved to an LSR image, an Apple proprietary file format, and once the layered image is exported using the Parallax Previewer app, it can be incorporated into the app's bundle using the procedure described on the 'Creating Parallax Artwork' documentation page.
Parallax artwork created for the Apple TV can be tested using the Parallax Previewer app
The Parallax Previewer utility can also be used to preview layered images or app icons created for Apple TV apps. The images can be animated using a mouse or a trackpad to preview them on your development machine before adding them to the final product.
As described by Apple in the Human Interface Guidelines for tvOS, 'Layered images are at the essence of the Apple TV user experience. In conjunction with the parallax effect, they produce a sense of realism and vigor that evokes a personal connection as people interact with content onscreen.'
Parallax effect for an icon on the Apple TV: