Complex bone setup using images...how to make it effective?

starchild · Post by **starchild** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:09 pm

Hi guys

I can't say I'm exactly new in AS, cause I've been experimenting with it for some few months now... but right now, I need to make a good-looking animation with it, using bones and imported art from photoshop (and that's actually because I can scan my drawings and easily paint it inside photoshop, but im not good using AS drawing tools)...

anyways, i've been trying to mix my imported art with a good bones setup, but after 2 days trying...I really dunno what to do to actually make it look good!

I mounted the character parts inside photoshop and tried to correctly setup just like the tutorials...but using images.

here's the (bad) result:

If I try flexible binding, it looks SO much better, but results in a rubber-look...(if u know what I mean)...but when i try region binding
(the recommended mode..?) the result is like this:

As u see, BAD. I don't know if i'm trying to achieve impossible results with images...maybe it's impossible to have good, complex bones using imported art? Or maybe it's my lousy knowledge...I thought I had figured the bones out...

really like to hear your opinions about it, since i can't spend so much time with something that should be simple!

thanx for any help!

Genete · Post by **Genete** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:32 pm

Did you separate the parts of the body far a way at frame 0 and assemby them with offset bone tool? I supouse yes. If not try it before.

If you want a "non rubber behavior" just increase the strenght of the bones to cover complely the bitmap shape you want to move with the bone (when splited into separated parts at frame 0, obviously). With this, you'll have a cutout animation style. But is you want smooth deformation (for example it seems that you want that for the hair and the skirt as the bones are placed) then you need flexible binding what is the best to achieve "rubber like" movement for a image shape. Unfortunately you cannot have both at the same time and at the same bone layer with image shapes. Why don't you try to trace your fantastic girl with Anime Studio tools? It is not so difficult and you'll be very satisfied when finish the animation.

Good luck
Genete

starchild · Post by **starchild** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:09 pm

Thanx for the nice reply and compliments!

yeah, maybe I should give one more try to AS drawing tools... i usually run away from it... ^_^

it seems that bone control is more effective for vector layers after all

starchild · Post by **starchild** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:11 pm

hum... just ocurred to me...

is there a solution/trick to keep both flexible/region binding in a character using vectors? using separate bones hierarchy... dunno??

(i mean, we were talking about images...but using vectors...is there a trick?
(i'd looove to make the skirt and hair look smooth and the arms and legs using flexible binding)

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:42 pm

Of couse you can mix different kinds of binding in one character - but only one kind of binding for any given point.

You character looks like it could be translated into AS vector art quite easily. But the question of doing bitmap/cutout or vector is not just a technical one. It also has consequences as to which style of animation it should be, which movements are possible etc.

The bone setup you created is quite complex and should go well with a vector character. However, your character is a cutout right now - I recommend that the animation and the bone rigging reflect this.

Hm, I write a bit confused today. What I mean is this:
The character design looks like full animation, which in AS means vector. But you say you can't do this right now and want to do it as cutout. If this should look satisfying, you need to think more in cutout style.

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:26 pm

Image layers really on work with flexible binding on the bone layer for smooth motion.

Region binding causes sharp corners and "breaking" of the image.

You could control some of that "rubberyness" by using more bones. You need to understand bone offset though.

The trick is to put the body parts away from each other on frame 0 then offset them back into place.

I have to agree that moving to vectors would be more fun.

-vern

starchild · Post by **starchild** » Wed May 23, 2007 7:33 pm

yeah slowtiger, what I'm trying to achieve is full animation... I'll give it a try with vectors... I guess it would be a lot of trouble keeping everything with images anyway... wish me luck!

thanx you guys

I'll probably come here again while doing that and use the tutorials as guides! Let the vectors come!!