Color & Line Quality Changes on Export?

[Hybrid]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying Anime Studio Pro. For cartoon work I usually use Toon Boom (which is really great for traditional animation especially) but the whole 'Bones' thing is just such a great concept for saving time and work.

I've been playing with an old demo of Moho (which is now Anime Studio) just to see if I can remember the workflow and if I really like it as much as I think I do (if that makes sense).

The verdict is: I do really like it... but there are a few 'minor' issues that are holding me back from buying it.

Perhaps someone could clear them up?

I do a lot of live-action/animation compositing, mainly in After Effects so I need the capability to export animations - as Image Sequences or Quicktimes with the Alpha Channel intact.

I did a simple test using Export Animation - first as an image sequence (PNG's) and then as a Quicktime (using the Animation codec). Both appeared to export with the Alpha Channel intact and with great linework... until I put them in After Effects where there where some really goofy color changes (skin colors are all grey) and the linework was very jagged.

The original settings are PAL 768 x 576 @ 25fps - which is also how I set up the Composition in AE. Can't understand why there's such a big quality and color difference.

Anyone know why these changes are happening?

Thanks in advance,

ALEX

[slowtiger]

I just finished a project with scenes with alpha, and both PNG and QT worked on the client's side, with no complaints about colour. I import and export stuff a lot between programs and never had an issue with colour.

So I'm just guessing: make sure that your export settings and your input settings are in the same colour space: export in PAL and millions+ of colours, and check your project settings in AfterFX so that they match this - and not say NTSC or some other strange stuff.

(I could test it here, but not earlier than tonight.)

[Hybrid]

Thanks slowtiger,

I did a fair amount of tests, including what you suggested, but still the mystery remains.

It's really weird because the problem seems only to be with Anime Studio-generated Quicktimes and Image Sequences. I did a test with some other programs (animation and illustration ones) and they all come into After Effects perfectly clean.

I'm if you can or how to post pictures on this forum, so here is a link to the RuntimeDNA forum where I've put up some examples (hope that's ok).

Thanks to anyone that can help.

Appreciated,

ALEX

http://www.runtimedna.com/mod/forum/mes ... age=304735

[rylleman]

From your images it looks like you're having some strange blending mode on your AEX layer. Not sure how this could have happened without you setting it yourself though.

[myles]

Hello Alex,

by any chance do you run a Mac? There have been a few reports of alpha channel problems on Macs (they usually seem to be using Tiger version Mac OSX and Quicktime 7).

Three (independent) things to try for a workaround:

1. Try ticking the option "do not pre-multiply alpha" when rendering
2. Try using Animation codec set to full quality, which should be lossless.
3. Try using the batch export feature rather than direct export.

One of the Mac users might be able to advise you better in this area.

Regards, Myles - not yet a Mac user.

[Touched]

Could it be an output restriction since you said you're using a demo?

[slowtiger]

Adding to myles' post:

Did you do the fills and strokes "on the fly", or did you create styles first and applied them to the shapes?

Try this, it seems to make a difference.

[Hybrid]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your answers.

I just spent a couple of hours just 'trying everything' to get a good export/import from Anime Studio to After Effects.

myles, you had it right! Unfortunately, I didn't check back onto this forum until I'd already figured it out the hard way. Oh well.

I'll post my results anyway as I discovered a few other things along the way that someone may find useful.

Cheers,

ALEX

.PNG FILES
• You can export .PNG Image Sequences with no problem.
.TGA FILES
• You can export .TGA Image Sequences...BUT...you have to check the Do Not Premultiply Alpha Channel box or your pictures will look crap in AE (see-through line-work and altered colours).
• In After Effects, make sure you Interpret Footage as Straight Unmatted.

.PSD FILES
• You can export .PSD files but when you import them into After Effects as Footage check Choose Layer in the Layer Options box. It doesn’t like Merged Layers for some reason – you just get a blank frame.
• If your animation is made up of multiple layers (as it most probably is) and you export as .PSD files all those layers will export separately. Which is great. If you want to bring all these layers into AE though you have to import them as a Composition.
• Alternatively, if you just want one layer import as Footage and Choose Layer in the Layer Options box.

QUICKTIME MOVIES
• Like .TGA files you have to check the Do Not Premultiply Alpha Channel box on export and, later in After Effects, make sure you Interpret Footage as Straight Unmatted.
• When making the Quicktime use the .PNG, .TIFF or Animation codecs with Millions of Colors + (this saves the Alpha Channel).

[Hybrid]

Oh, just to clarify:

"Yes, I am working on a Mac".

"Will definitely be buying Anime Studio. It's awesome".

"Thanks for you help. Appreciated."

[slowtiger]

Thank you for the extended testing. Without this stubbornly performed tests the level of knowledge in this forum wouldn't be that high. Your post is a keeper.