Hi Robert,

 

I tried this now, I don’t notice much difference but thanks for the tip.

 

I think I know exactly what I want now.

 

I want Photoshop to smooth a line drawn with the brush, to a smooth, vector curve, with sharp edges.

 

Just like if you draw a line in for example Adobe Ideas on an iPad. It makes the brush stroke very smooth and looking more like line art, than something drawn with a mouse or digital pen.

 

So basically, just like the Dynamic Sketch plugin for Illustrator, but for Photoshop. I don’t like the Pen Tool drawing curves using anchor points for this sketch work, so I just want PS to smooth out the lines, while allowing for pressure for line thickness. If it can be done in an app like Adobe Ideas, there must be a way in PS?

 

I will look into it now more but any tips on that appreciated.

 

Thanks

Anders

 

 

 

From: Robert Kjettrup

Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 3:46 PM

To: After Effects Mail List

Subject: Re: [AE] Methods of creating illustrative assets and artwork for animations

 

about smooth brush strokes in PS.

 

You have turned on the "smoothing" checkbox in the "brush" panel?

i get smooth strokes with my wacom using that on, and jagged if off and drawing quick strokes.

 

Robert

 

 

2014/1/11 Anders Sundstedt <sundstedt@hotmail.com>

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’t 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’s 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’s 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’ll try and experiment with these options today.

 

-Anders

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Peder Norrby

Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 11:01 AM

To: After Effects Mail List

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.

 

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 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?

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

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. 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=108&cp_id=10841

And here's the one I got.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=108&cp_id=10841&cs_id=1084102&p_id=6814&seq=1&format=2

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" <sundstedt@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi all AE Mail list followers,

 

It’s 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).

 

Currently, I have 3 alternative ways (for creating 2D assets):

 

1. Draw required artwork (separated if to use as layers) on paper using pen –> Scan –> Touch up in IL –> Export .PSD to PS –> Color in PS, polish add any textures etc. –> Save .PSD for AE –> Import to AE –> Use as a comp or separate layers –> Animate.

 

2. Draw layers using Path/Shape in PS using Pen Tool and Direct Select Tool –> 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 –> Import into Illustrator –> Export to PS –> Animate in AE.

 

Now, I don’t know which is the fastest, but I don’t think it’s option 3, as it’s 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’t 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
LinkedIn: Anders Sundstedt
Web: www.sundstedt.co.uk