Backgrounds for cartoon animation

cartooncool · Post by **cartooncool** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:48 am

This may be a silly question coming from a newbie, but I hate making backgrounds for my animations. Is there a software program out there that assists in just making backgrounds?

Ideally it would have some elements like trees, etc. that could be placed around to create cartoon backgrounds. I hope I am making sense. Any direction will be appreciated. Thank you.

chucky · Post by **chucky** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:19 am

funksmaname · Post by **funksmaname** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:33 am

you'll never find backgrounds in 'your style' - but if you 'hate making backgrounds' then why not create yourself a bank of background elements (like trees) and then you can use those whever you need... There's no software that can 'generate' backgrounds - if all you want to do is put a bunch of pre-made assets together, then create the assets, and put them together! you dont have to paint every background... you could also develop a style that works with minimal background elements (if any) - leave them out unless its essential to your story, but you could write stories that avoid you having to make backgrounds.

if the backtrounds are as important to your story as your characters, then bite the bullet and make the effort or your results will always be a mishmash of styles

FCSnow · Post by **FCSnow** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:21 am

If you're just making a short 1 or 2 minute animations, then I'd follow Funksmaname;

then bite the bullet and make the effort or your results will always be a mishmash of styles

But it you're planning a much larger project, 5 minutes or longer, perhaps you should get someone else involved. Somebody who likes drawing or paint landscapes. Talk with them, direct them, to make sure that there drawing style matches your vision. It will save time. That's how the big studio do it.

F.C.Snow

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:39 am

The next question would be "Who's doing the animation for me?", right? ...

Seriously: you don't need to always have a background. A big bunch of the best animation from 1950 to 1970 worked with just some colour cards as background, and only the bare necessity of props (like funiture and stuff). Have a look at http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/ to get the idea. Personally I'd like very much to see some modern adaption of that more abstract style.

PARKER · Post by **PARKER** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:38 am

Just use anime studio.Its good at making backgorunds for me:

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=01h4uC3u5VM

cartooncool · Post by **cartooncool** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:08 pm

Wow. Thank you all for your comments and advice. I am new to this, so I thought I needed to make elaborate backgrounds for every scene, etc.

Maybe I was also being a little lazy as slowtiger pointed out. Ok, I am going to "bite the bullet" and see what I can create. I have been reading a bunch of past posts too and there is a wealth of info on this forum. Thank you all again.

funksmaname · Post by **funksmaname** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:22 am

you only have to make elaborate backgrounds if you want elaborate backgrounds... if you just want a solid colour background, thats what you do... unltimately its your choice - develop in a direction you feel comfortable in - manage your expectations, you'll never produce 'Spirited Away' on your own

Good luck

human · Post by **human** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:21 am

cartooncool wrote:This may be a silly question coming from a newbie, but I hate making backgrounds for my animations. Is there a software program out there that assists in just making backgrounds?

Ideally it would have some elements like trees, etc. that could be placed around to create cartoon backgrounds. I hope I am making sense. Any direction will be appreciated. Thank you.

Yes, as a matter of fact, there is software that assists in making backgrounds just right for cel animation... like the forest scene you mentioned.

The software is called "public domain (free) high quality images and Photoshop."

For instance, look at the picture-in-picture below:

That's a public domain picture that came installed with Vista. The larger picture is the result of running that through several Photoshop filters, primarily the inimitable Cutout filter, which I raved about when I first joined the forum.

I put this together tonight with about half an hour of exploration of various filters and techniques such as posterization, the Dilate filter in Paint Shop, and the Lightness brush in Paint Shop.

There are lots of GREAT, FREE photos on the web.

And if you can't afford Photoshop, look into Photoshop Elements, which offers the same filter set. (I actually used Elements here.)

Some of the other low-cost painting tools favored by the artists on the forum might also provide you with what you need... such as GIMP and Art Rage.

funksmaname · Post by **funksmaname** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:33 am

if you want great free to use photos for source - try --------

-- edited by moderator ---

warspite · Post by **warspite** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:24 am

Er. This seems to be mostly pornography...

Farbklecks · Post by **Farbklecks** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:32 am

One way to get a fast background is using clipart.
Especially vector clipart, you can export them into AI and import to AS.
(You can can also export it as a bitmap and reimport it as a bitmap into AS)

You can arange very fast buildings, interiors, plants, and so on.
And if you don't like the clips, you can easily change it by a vector software.

Well, a little bit creativity you have to spend by your own.
But I'm sure, you'll get the idea and the best results.

human · Post by **human** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:32 am

Hmmm when I clicked on the link, it didn't take me to Stock Exchange.

However, if you search for Stock Xchng photos, you'll get there.

It's one of the best examples of what I was referring to, but a search on free stock photos will turn up others.

The best sites are big enough that you can enter search terms for pictures you want to see.

cartooncool · Post by **cartooncool** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:29 pm

You are all so helpful! Thank you everyone for your suggestions and tips. I can tell I am going to love this forum.

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:48 pm

Funskmaname,

I hate to be a pain but is that link you posted a domain you own? Often people put up a domain with templated links just to get web ad revenue. Most of those links go directly to porn sites and I am editing the post as I don't think it is either useful or appropriate.

-vern

Backgrounds for cartoon animation

Backgrounds for cartoon animation

Thanks everyone.

Re: Backgrounds for cartoon animation

Wow...thanks everyone