Are vector points mandatory

[joho1701]

Hi folks. If you import a character into AI Pro 10 is it mandatory to trace it and create a vector version of it to make use of point binding, etc?

[hayasidist]

if you import a vector-based drawing you'll get control points (but beware the quality of conversion between things in "other" vector standards such as SVG); if you import raster / bitmap you won't.

You don't _need_ points to animate BUT that depends on how you want to animate what you've imported... for example you import a .png and all you want to do is move it around... no worries - just shift the layer about; if you import a layered photoshop with each significant body part on a separate layer just bind each layer to a bone and move the bones around - no need for points. However, if you import a single layer image of a character and you want to animate specific actions, the chances are that you'll need to do more than just add bones and hope!

two fundamental ways to address this: trace to create animatable vectors; break the image up into components using such as photoshop.

[joho1701]

Thanks four replying? For the most part the kind of 2D animated effect I am going for is very similar to the retro style of the cheapest looking cell animation of Saturday morning cartoons from the '60s and 70's. Detailed movement is not a big concern, but it some cases it might be. So what I get from your response is that I can actually create new layers of, say, mouths, eyes, hands in AI with vector points, add them to the layer palette and use them in conjunction with the .psd layers that don't need detailed movement. Does that sound right?

[hayasidist]

IMO, if you're drawing from scratch it's way better to draw in AS. If you have assets already that are in a format that you can use, then use them! But I'll say it again, AS's ability to import and convert vectors is not great...

[dueyftw]

I think you should read this topic:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=27035

Dale

[Greenlaw]

In our current production, we're using ASP vectors for basic shapes but filling the shapes and edges with bitmap textures. This hybrid method gives us advantages of both worlds: a handcrafted organic look that can be deformed using ASP's rigging tools. There are a few gotchas to be aware of though, mostly having to do with texture sliding that may occur when animating points directly (as opposed to using bones.) This hasn't been an issue for us but some artists might find that effect objectionable. IMO, it's a pretty cool look though.

One of our characters is entirely painted using Procreate with a Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus on an iPad but rigged and deformed with bones in ASP. It's another approach and another neat look but we found this method a little more limiting than the one described above. The main issues are that it's a bit slower to work with 100% bitmapped art (especially when using dynamics) and additional drawn elements that might come up during animation need to be created outside of ASP, which can slow down the workflow once you're in production.

So the short answer is: no, it's not mandatory to use vectors in ASP. You can use vectors, bitmaps or, as in our case, both.

G.