A little newbie question about creating characters

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INRI
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:41 pm

A little newbie question about creating characters

Post by INRI »

Hello. I've just found this awesome app called Anime Studio, and I have a little question about it :)

Let's say I can get a painter to create a character for me, in which way do I need to ask him to draw it?
(so it will be practical to add bones to it.)
From what I've concluded, I need to ask the painter to draw the character with all limbs seperated from body (or is it just for side-look chars?), kinda like the left figure here:
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1953/lize.png
Please correct me if I'm wrong (I need to know this before I ask her to paint).

Also a second question, I've tried to look up a random character (with a white or transparent b/g) in Google Images, but when I've imported it to AS, it came with a white background, which made it impossible to add bones to (it altered the b/g when I have manipulated the bones).
Is there a better way to import random characters to the application? I'm pretty sure that my way is dumbly wrong XD
I'm asking this because the painter won't paint in the app itself, instead she'll paint at her home and send the results to us.

A huge thanks in advance!
I'm sorry to bother you with this, it's just that I have very little idea of how to use the program efficiently, yet I must learn (for a project I'm working on).
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Nolan Scott
Posts: 396
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Post by Nolan Scott »

Well, if your “painter” is using a “vector” application like Illustrator...
then create your characters like in your provided example...
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1953/lize.png

If he/she is using a “bitmap” application like Painter, Photoshop, SketchBook etc.
then create your character like explained here:
http://my.smithmicro.com/tutorials/2306.html
(Rig A, cut-up the image in paper cutout style for best results)

Importing “bitmap” images, make sure to use a format that supports “alpha channels”
(transparent backgrounds) like PNG, PSD, TGA etc.
You might have to use Photoshop / Gimp or else to delete the background
before importing it into Anime Studio...

Regards
Nolan
INRI
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:41 pm

Post by INRI »

Thank you Nolan!

I wasn't sure which method is the best, and because I'm not familiar with vectors, I chose the 1st bitmap method from that tutorial.

I've tried to save a random image with the "alpha channels" but somewhy it is blocked in the 'save as' screen:
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2180/22306648.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/642/39301444.jpg
(the images have the white b/g visible but I did make it transparent and tried to save it that way, look at the layers menu).
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Nolan Scott
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Post by Nolan Scott »

In Photoshop, either delete the Background layer,
or make the Background layer invisible...
(to unlock the Background, either double-click that layer and create a New Layer,
or go to Layer / New / Layer from Background)
Then save the file again.

Regards
Nolan
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funksmaname
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Location: New Zealand

Post by funksmaname »

delete the background layer (white) or just hide it
then 'save for web' and export as PNG24 which will have the full alpha information.
INRI
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:41 pm

Post by INRI »

Hmm I tried to save it now with the alpha channels option still blocked and it worked, thanks :)

btw which way do u recommend, vectors ot bitmap? (which one would probably be easier for the painter?)
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Nolan Scott
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Post by Nolan Scott »

Well, it all depends on personal preferences, and what look you would like to achieve.

Vector drawings are resolution independent, so no problem for closeups...
Bitmap drawings used for closeups have to have a reasonable resolution,
otherwise they can become quite blurry...
Lots of them in high resolution can be demanding on your system...

Regards
Nolan
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