vector distortion

vonkoba · Post by **vonkoba** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:37 pm

Hi everybody,
I am a complete noob when it comes to Animation and Anime Studio

, so I am sorry if am asking for something that is obvious or has been asked before (I did search but couldn't find it):

I made a cartoon of a guy on Illustrator, and then import those vectors unto Anime Studio. The vectors look OK (though there's a lot more than the original picture but nevermind), so I add on a new layer the bones to the legs, arms, etc. My problem is that when I move say the left leg using the bones, the vectors on the right leg get pulled as if attracted by a magnet (the same happens when I move the other leg), distorting the lines that shape the OTHER leg. I have played with the bone strength, making it as weak as possible, but that behavior remains. Is there a way with vectors to move one leg and not have some of the vectors from the other leg "follow" that other, independent leg? Even if I place one leg in one layer and the other on another different layer this "attraction" persists.

Thanks a lot!!
Charly

sbtamu · Post by **sbtamu** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:50 pm

Look in the help section on your AS at binding points.

lwaxana · Post by **lwaxana** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:54 pm

I like to use point binding for this. It gives you a lot of control over your vectors. The manual also covers other bone methods. http://www.lostmarble.com/moho/manual/ I think that offsetting the bones is another solution, but I never use bone offset, so I can't confirm from experience.

muffysb · Post by **muffysb** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:03 pm

The first thing you'll want to do is edit your bone layer to switch from "flexible binding" to "region binding." (double-click on the bone layer, switch to the Bone tab, and use the radio buttons) This gives bone regions more control and has less influence on areas outside the regions.

But I find that bones still influence other regions regardless...you need to split your character apart. I don't think the users manual sufficiently describes the importance of splitting apart character elements to prevent bone influence from spreading...the manual implies that splitting characters is just "easier," but it's actually "essential" to prevent the problem you're having (unless somebody has a better way?)*

So if you look in the users manual, you'll find the "Character Setup" tutorial (in the 6.1 pro guide it's tutorial 3.4). It describes how to use the Bone Offset tool to reassemble a character that's been split. In my experience, this is the ONLY way to make it work.

Give it a try...hopefully it will help!

Incidentally, the method in the tutorial only works for vector layers (or maybe image layers...I haven't tried). If you have a bone applied to a switch group or any other kind of group, you need to also bind the group to the bone with the Bind Layer tool.

Cheers,
Muffy.

EDIT: * Aha, I see that point binding is another way.

vonkoba · Post by **vonkoba** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:09 pm

wow, this forum is amazing. I just posted that and already have 3 replies! I will try your suggestions first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks a lot for your speedy responses! Sweet!

Charly

AmigaMan · Post by **AmigaMan** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:43 am

I've created a pdf tutorial on creating a character in Anime Studio from start to finish. Hopefully it should help with questions like this. It's being checked over by Smith Micro at the moment so may be available fairly soon.

Post by **Víctor Paredes** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:54 am

AmigaMan wrote:I've created a pdf tutorial on creating a character in Anime Studio from start to finish. Hopefully it should help with questions like this. It's being checked over by Smith Micro at the moment so may be available fairly soon.

Great! maybe, when it be ready, I could translate it to spanish, if you want...

gleeful · Post by **gleeful** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:09 am

Amigaman wrote:
I've created a pdf tutorial on creating a character in Anime Studio from start to finish. Hopefully it should help with questions like this. It's being checked over by Smith Micro at the moment so may be available fairly soon.

Great news! This will be very helpful. Seems like an essential part of character construction that is not made very clear in the manual. Eager to see the pdf.

AmigaMan · Post by **AmigaMan** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:18 pm

Selgin - I did email you but it's probably gone straight in your junk mail

It'd be great if you could translate the tutorial into Spanish I'm sure. I don't know exactly what Smith Micro have planned for the tutorial. I expect it will be available on the Anime Studio section of their site....assuming the tutorial meets their standards of course.

Vonkoba - I hope you got your character working? Iwaxana gave a great reply which should have sorted you out.

Uolter · Post by **Uolter** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:26 pm

WOW GREAT! Can't wait to see it!

vonkoba · Post by **vonkoba** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:15 pm

AmigaMan wrote:
Vonkoba - I hope you got your character working? Iwaxana gave a great reply which should have sorted you out.

Yep I got it!

Sorry for taking this long to reply, I got very busy rather unexpectedly and with too many random things. The region binding did the trick just fine, it also helped to have new layers for increased control.
AmigaMan, that pdf tutorial sounds pretty cool, let me know when you have that out!
Thanks a lot for the help guys, the solution was easier than I thought too

AmigaMan · Post by **AmigaMan** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 4:25 am

Hi Vonkoba - Great to hear the problem is solved

I know all about getting extremely busy so no need to apologise. The tutorial is now with Smith Micro so should be out next week sometime I'd have thought. They've been extremely helpful and spotted a few errors I'd missed. Hopefully there aren't any more