Return-Path: Received: from dub0-omc4-s2.dub0.hotmail.com ([157.55.2.77] verified) by media-motion.tv (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2.10) with ESMTP id 5343955 for AE-List@media-motion.tv; Sat, 11 Jan 2014 14:16:24 +0100 Received: from DUB128-DS7 ([157.55.2.72]) by dub0-omc4-s2.dub0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.4675); Sat, 11 Jan 2014 05:20:07 -0800 X-TMN: [RKEwuFcevXcgxS0qER7yYclvYSXo+xP7] X-Originating-Email: [sundstedt@hotmail.com] Message-ID: Return-Path: sundstedt@hotmail.com From: Anders Sundstedt To: "After Effects Mail List" References: In-Reply-To: Subject: Re: [AE] Methods of creating illustrative assets and artwork for animations Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:20:07 +0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_007F_01CF0ECF.D900C840" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal Importance: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Windows Live Mail 16.4.3508.205 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V16.4.3508.205 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 11 Jan 2014 13:20:07.0123 (UTC) FILETIME=[D88DE230:01CF0ECF] ------=_NextPart_000_007F_01CF0ECF.D900C840 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Richard, Thanks. I had not heard of Dynamic Sketch plugin - sounds like what I = need, pretty much. I am watching some videos now. Great. What would be the main difference between drawing smooth lines in Manga = Studio and using this Dynamic Sketch Plugin for Ai? So I don=92t have to buy both! Do they both support pressure of pen and = smoothing out brush strokes and making it vector (dynamic)? (With my goal to draw clean lines that I can color easily, rather than = doing more rough quick draft sketches.) Peder: It=92s an Intuos3 6x8, and I am using Pen mode not Mouse Mode, but = thanks for the tip!. I had not been using/painting in Ai (only really use it for Image trace = of my scanned drawings), only really drawn i PS. So now when I tested = using a brush in Ai I notice that lines are not jaggy because they are = smoothed out after releasing pen. I also tried this Live Paint Bucket = tool to fill areas I have drawn with the Paintbrush. Nice. I am not sure how to find some brushes that respond to Wacom pressure = with the pen though to vary brush stroke width? Stroke with also keeps reset back to 1pt all the time though. I guess it=92s just getting used to Ai. I assume there is no tool in Ps = that allows to draw with a brush that smooth out what is drawn like in = Ai and that creates a shape that can be filled like in Ai? So I guess the jaggy line was a problem in Ps only. Ai could be a great option then. Just wish it worked like Adobe Ideas = without this Live Paint Bucket selection requirements in Ai. A dynamic paint brush tool with fill capabilities like in Adobe Ideas or = Ai as a feature directly in Ae would be optimal for me really. Well, = perhaps not always when needing lots of layers. Thanks all of you. I=92ll try and experiment with these options today. -Anders From: Peder Norrby=20 Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 11:01 AM To: After Effects Mail List=20 Subject: Re: [AE] Methods of creating illustrative assets and artwork = for animations Anders, I used a wacom long ago and remember there was something like = mouse emulation mode that didn't get full resolution, is it installed = properly and recognised by the apps? I can't help much because I don't = remember but perhaps someone else here knows this. If you're just = getting screen resolution then that could explain why lines get jaggy.=20 Peder Norrby / Trapcode On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 8:57 PM, Anders Sundstedt = wrote: Thanks everyone Evan, Blazej, Greg and Teddy. I forgot to mention I do = have a wacom 2 or 3, not sure as I am not at my desk right now. The = reason I don't draw with it is that I have not figured out a way to get = smooth, natural lines, without being jaggy? When I draw with pencil on = paper or with finger on an ipad, I get perfect smooth lines. What is the = secret?=20 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=20 LinkedIn: Anders Sundstedt Web: www.sundstedt.co.uk On 10 Jan 2014, at 14:10, "Greg Balint" = wrote: I would reccomend trying out a drawing tablet if you haven't yet. = Its the closest analog to digital for this type of work.=20 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.=20 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.=20 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. =20 http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=3D108&cp_id=3D10841 And here's the one I got.=20 = 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.=20 It has compatibility with OS X, but not sure about the super latest = versions. I use it on Windows 7 just fine here.=20 ///Greg Balint //Art Director / Motion Graphics Designer /321.514.4839 delRAZOR.com/ =20 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 = thought 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 = style videos (2D or 2.5D).=20 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 path 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 option 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 project. I can do a video from start to finish, or only = artwork or animation if you 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=20 LinkedIn: Anders Sundstedt Web: www.sundstedt.co.uk ------=_NextPart_000_007F_01CF0ECF.D900C840 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi Richard,
 
Thanks. I had not heard of Dynamic Sketch plugin - sounds like what = I need,=20 pretty much. I am watching some videos now. Great.
 
What would be the main difference between drawing smooth lines in = Manga=20 Studio and using this Dynamic Sketch Plugin for Ai?
 
So I don=92t have to buy both! Do they both support pressure of pen = and=20 smoothing out brush strokes and making it vector (dynamic)?
(With my goal to draw clean lines that I can color easily, rather = than=20 doing more rough quick draft sketches.)
 
Peder:
 
It=92s an Intuos3 6x8, and I am using Pen mode not Mouse Mode, but = thanks for=20 the tip!.
 
I had not been using/painting in Ai (only really use it for Image = trace of=20 my scanned drawings), only really drawn i PS. So now when I tested using = a brush=20 in Ai I notice that lines are not jaggy because they are smoothed out = after=20 releasing pen. I also tried this Live Paint Bucket tool to fill areas I = have=20 drawn with the Paintbrush. Nice.
 
I am not sure how to find some brushes that respond to Wacom = pressure with=20 the pen though to vary brush stroke width?
 
Stroke with also keeps reset back to 1pt all the time though.
 
I guess it=92s just getting used to Ai. I assume there is no tool = in Ps that=20 allows to draw with a brush that smooth out what is drawn like in Ai and = that=20 creates a shape that can be filled like in Ai?
 
So I guess the jaggy line was a problem in Ps only.
 
Ai could be a great option then. Just wish it worked like Adobe = Ideas=20 without this Live Paint Bucket selection requirements in Ai.
 
A dynamic paint brush tool with fill capabilities like in Adobe = Ideas or Ai=20 as a feature directly in Ae would be optimal for me really. Well, = perhaps not=20 always when needing lots of layers.
 
Thanks all of you.
 
I=92ll try and experiment with these options today.
 
-Anders
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [AE] Methods of creating illustrative assets = and=20 artwork for animations
 
Anders, I used a wacom long ago and remember there was = something=20 like mouse emulation mode that didn't get full resolution, is it = installed=20 properly and recognised by the apps? I can't help much because I don't = remember=20 but perhaps someone else here knows this. If you're just getting screen=20 resolution then that could explain why lines get jaggy.=20
 
Peder Norrby / Trapcode


On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 8:57 PM, Anders = Sundstedt <sundstedt@hotmail.com> wrote:
Thanks everyone Evan, Blazej, Greg and Teddy. I forgot to mention = I do=20 have a wacom 2 or 3, not sure as I am not at my desk right now. The = reason I=20 don't draw with it is that I have not figured out a way to get smooth, = natural=20 lines, without being jaggy? When I draw with pencil on paper or with = finger on=20 an ipad, I get perfect smooth lines. What is the secret?=20


Kind Regards,

Anders

Anders=20 Sundstedt | Director | Animator | Illustrator
After Effects = Artist |=20 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=20 8 Whimbrel Wynd | Glasgow | PA4 8TJ | UK
Twitter: @sundstedt=20 & @AfterEffectsArt
Vimeo=20 Channel: sundstedt 
LinkedIn:=20 Anders=20 Sundstedt
Web: www.sundstedt.co.uk

On 10 Jan 2014, at 14:10, "Greg Balint" <delrazoraelist@gmail.com> wrote:

I would reccomend trying out a drawing tablet if you = haven't yet.=20 Its the closest analog to digital for this type of work.

I bought a Monoproce tablet a little whole back and it = has been=20 great for these situations. Background painting is a breeze and more = intuitive while character creation can come faster with the addition = of=20 multiple undo states, etc.

Some will say they aren't as good as Wacom tablets, = which may be=20 true, but I've used both this monoprice one and an intuos and can't = really=20 find much difference in daily usage.

For reference, the monoprice tablets are much cheaper, = but they=20 do have some oddities compared to wacom, like batteries in the pen, = but it=20 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=3D= 10841

And here's the one I got.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=3D108&cp_id=3D1= 0841&cs_id=3D1084102&p_id=3D6814&seq=3D1&format=3D2

The hotkey buttons on that one help out a lot with = things like=20 holding down alt/control or space bar to pan around. It's all = customizable=20 through their drivers.

It has compatibility with OS X, but not sure about the = super=20 latest versions. I use it on Windows 7 just fine here.

///Greg Balint
//Art Director / Motion Graphics=20 Designer
/321.514.4839
delRAZOR.com/
   

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

Anders

Anders = Sundstedt |=20 Director | Animator | Illustrator
After Effects Artist | Motion = Designer
M.Sc. Media Technology & = Visualization
e: anders@sundstedt.co.uk
t:=20 +44 141 886 2037 | m:=20 +44 7531 800 711
a: 3/2 8 Whimbrel Wynd | Glasgow | PA4 8TJ = |=20 UK
Twitter: @sundstedt & @AfterEffectsArt
Vimeo Channel: sundstedt
LinkedIn: Anders Sundstedt
Web: www.sundstedt.co.uk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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