Return-Path: Received: from mail-qa0-f43.google.com ([209.85.216.43] verified) by media-motion.tv (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2.10) with ESMTP-TLS id 5343222 for AE-List@media-motion.tv; Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:06:24 +0100 Received: by mail-qa0-f43.google.com with SMTP id k15so4175510qaq.30 for ; Fri, 10 Jan 2014 06:10:04 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; bh=BR0RM1u9/BNhyQ8+jG10JcqoGM145e8wOkMiHJf2egk=; b=sNUuf0Nhu0gBdl/p0GkUfNhDx6cgd0C9iNhXdREeeBALpVjg6sKvvyFcdXGMmrGAj0 3d+4Zu18mOOBQ04dO1Xj4S0eyrSUNZtLh6G3lDXezllAR1DsAUWHq67sI3EEf0cqwGRu w3C6/zUU/fG5lWI1iAcge4A6yiLweYxTJuPL4igwK+27gYoQ+ig8YvPZbrWsEOLc0CRt ljr7hB3SSIWziH1aZb72yFtr7wOrLQGrPZVf88g/luVShy8B6cwabkNWnoRF8ahzPizJ H9BkNC6UjiC3IfrcJhXIM2eFnTUT4Czv6+Dc5AT8t2pXBwim2DWg8ofi63rZGLS7whml 6IOA== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.224.51.196 with SMTP id e4mr7733654qag.16.1389363004085; Fri, 10 Jan 2014 06:10:04 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.229.147.139 with HTTP; Fri, 10 Jan 2014 06:10:04 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.229.147.139 with HTTP; Fri, 10 Jan 2014 06:10:04 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: References: Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 09:10:04 -0500 Message-ID: Subject: Re: [AE] Methods of creating illustrative assets and artwork for animations From: Greg Balint To: After Effects Mail List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a11c29e50529d7204ef9e4816 --001a11c29e50529d7204ef9e4816 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I would reccomend trying out a drawing tablet if you haven't yet. Its the closest analog to digital for this type of work. I bought a Monoproce tablet a little whole back and it has been great for these situations. Background painting is a breeze and more intuitive while character creation can come faster with the addition of multiple undo states, etc. Some will say they aren't as good as Wacom tablets, which may be true, but I've used both this monoprice one and an intuos and can't really find much difference in daily usage. For reference, the monoprice tablets are much cheaper, but they do have some oddities compared to wacom, like batteries in the pen, but it would be a good starting point tonseenif you like the tool. Here's their list of tablets. http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=3D108&cp_id=3D10841 And here's the one I got. http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=3D108&cp_id=3D10841&cs_id=3D1084102&p= _id=3D6814&seq=3D1&format=3D2 The hotkey buttons on that one help out a lot with things like holding down alt/control or space bar to pan around. It's all customizable through their drivers. It has compatibility with OS X, but not sure about the super latest versions. I use it on Windows 7 just fine here. ///Greg Balint //Art Director / Motion Graphics Designer /321.514.4839 delRAZOR.com/ On Jan 10, 2014 8:41 AM, "Anders Sundstedt" wrote: > Hi all AE Mail list followers, > > It=92s been very silent on this mail list yesterday and today so I thoug= ht > I would contribute with a new discussion. > > I am looking to find alternative, perhaps more efficient was of > producing original from scratch made artwork for my animated cartoon styl= e > videos (2D or 2.5D). > > Currently, I have 3 alternative ways (for creating 2D assets): > > 1. Draw required artwork (separated if to use as layers) on paper using > pen =96> Scan =96> Touch up in IL =96> Export .PSD to PS =96> Color in PS= , polish > add any textures etc. =96> Save .PSD for AE =96> Import to AE =96> Use as= a comp > or separate layers =96> Animate. > > 2. Draw layers using Path/Shape in PS using Pen Tool and Direct Select > Tool =96> Import PS into AE. (Question: When I draw it fills the drawn pa= th > automatically, how do I draw it all first and then fill after drawn > instead?) > > 3. Draw on SketchUp on iPad =96> Import into Illustrator =96> Export to = PS > =96> Animate in AE. > > Now, I don=92t know which is the fastest, but I don=92t think it=92s opt= ion 3, > as it=92s a bit limited. > > I have now shared some of my techniques for creating artwork for my > animations, including background artwork, characters and props/objects. > > Please would you suggest better/easier/more efficient or more fun ways > that used in your production (or ways I could improve any of the 3 ways > listed above, that you have experience of (I don=92t use stock artwork so= I > am not interested in that option). > > I would also love to know what you use for storyboarding (even if just > sketchy line drawings / stick figure). I have been using pen and paper > mainly. What do you or your clients use? > > P.S. I am looking for more freelance work in 2014 so if you are looking > for an animated web video / explainer / demo video of a more illustrative= / > cartoon style, please do feel free to get in touch to discuss your projec= t. > I can do a video from start to finish, or only artwork or animation if yo= u > prefer). > > > Kind Regards, > > Anders > > Anders Sundstedt | Director | Animator | Illustrator > After Effects Artist | Motion Designer > M.Sc. Media Technology & Visualization > e: anders@sundstedt.co.uk > t: +44 141 886 2037 | m: +44 7531 800 711 > a: 3/2 8 Whimbrel Wynd | Glasgow | PA4 8TJ | UK > Twitter: @sundstedt & @AfterEffectsArt > Vimeo Channel: sundstedt > LinkedIn: Anders Sundstedt > Web: www.sundstedt.co.uk > > > > > > > > --001a11c29e50529d7204ef9e4816 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I would reccomend trying out a drawing tablet if you haven&#= 39;t yet. Its the closest analog to digital for this type of work.

I bought a Monoproce tablet a little whole back and it has b= een great for these situations. Background painting is a breeze and more in= tuitive while character creation can come faster with the addition of multi= ple undo states, etc.

Some will say they aren't as good as Wacom tablets, whic= h may be true, but I've used both this monoprice one and an intuos and = can't really find much difference in daily usage.

For reference, the monoprice tablets are much cheaper, but t= hey do have some oddities compared to wacom, like batteries in the pen, but= it would be a good starting point tonseenif you like the tool.

Here's their list of tablets.=A0

http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=3D108&cp_id=3D108= 41

And here's the one I got.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=3D108&cp_id=3D10841&cs_id= =3D1084102&p_id=3D6814&seq=3D1&format=3D2

The hotkey buttons on that one help out a lot with things li= ke holding down alt/control or space bar to pan around. It's all custom= izable through their drivers.

It has compatibility with OS X, but not sure about the super= latest versions. I use it on Windows 7 just fine here.

///Greg Balint
//Art Director / Motion Graphics Designer
/321.514.4839
delRAZOR.com/
=A0=A0=A0

On Jan 10, 2014 8:41 AM, "Anders Sundstedt&= quot; <sundstedt@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi=20 all AE Mail list followers,
=A0
It=92s=20 been very silent on this mail list yesterday and today so I thought I would= =20 contribute with a new discussion.
=A0
I=20 am looking to find alternative, perhaps more efficient was of producing ori= ginal=20 from scratch made artwork for my animated cartoon style videos (2D or 2.5D)= .=20
=A0
Currently,=20 I have 3 alternative ways (for creating 2D assets):
=A0
1.=20 Draw required artwork (separated if to use as layers) on paper using pen = =96>=20 Scan =96> Touch up in IL =96> Export .PSD to PS =96> Color in PS, = polish add=20 any textures etc. =96> Save .PSD for AE =96> Import to AE =96> Use= as a comp=20 or separate layers =96> Animate.
=A0
2.=20 Draw layers using Path/Shape in PS using Pen Tool and Direct Select Tool = =96>=20 Import PS into AE. (Question: When I draw it fills the drawn path automatic= ally,=20 how do I draw it all first and then fill after drawn instead?)
=A0
3.=20 Draw on SketchUp on iPad =96> Import into Illustrator =96> Export to = PS =96>=20 Animate in AE.
=A0
Now,=20 I don=92t know which is the fastest, but I don=92t think it=92s option 3, a= s it=92s a=20 bit limited.
=A0
I=20 have now shared some of my techniques for creating artwork for my animation= s,=20 including background artwork, characters and props/objects.
=A0
Please=20 would you suggest better/easier/more efficient or more fun ways that used i= n=20 your production (or ways I could improve any of the 3 ways listed above, th= at=20 you have experience of (I don=92t use stock artwork so I am not interested = in that=20 option).
=A0
I=20 would also love to know what you use for storyboarding (even if just sketch= y=20 line drawings / stick figure). I have been using pen and paper mainly. What= do=20 you or your clients use?
=A0
P.S.=20 I am looking for more freelance work in 2014 so if you are looking for an= =20 animated web video / explainer / demo video of a more illustrative / cartoo= n=20 style, please do feel free to get in touch to discuss your project. I can d= o a=20 video from start to finish, or only artwork or animation if you=20 prefer).
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
<= /div>
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