How do I blend body parts together?

pozlang · Post by **pozlang** » Fri May 09, 2008 5:23 pm

I've got a character rigged with different parts on different layers and have applied a bunch of layer effects to create a sort of mock 3D look. I love the look so far, but I'm wondering if there's a way to blend the seams together better? Ideally, I'd like to change part of the opacity of the layer with a gradient as I can in Motion, et al.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:39 pm

I am only guessing at the problem. It would help to see a sample.

What I think you mean is blending the "shading" of each layer so there isn't a hard edge correct?

If so what I do is add shapes... carefully and strategically... to the seam areas. these shapes have a soft edge to overlap the seams. It can be tricky because if a limb or layer rotates this soft edge might show where you don't want it.

In that case maybe some masking will help... or you can add some more bones to "pull" those shapes back into the body area.

-vern

pozlang · Post by **pozlang** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:45 pm

heyvern wrote:I am only guessing at the problem. It would help to see a sample.

What I think you mean is blending the "shading" of each layer so there isn't a hard edge correct?

If so what I do is add shapes... carefully and strategically... to the seam areas. these shapes have a soft edge to overlap the seams. It can be tricky because if a limb or layer rotates this soft edge might show where you don't want it.

In that case maybe some masking will help... or you can add some more bones to "pull" those shapes back into the body area.

-vern

Thanks! I ordered the anime studio book yesterday. I hope it has some good coverage of the masking tools (and the perspective shadow tool.) I can't seem to understand these fully with the tutorials.

I'll try adding additional shapes and giving them soft edges.