Visual Development
In this lesson we will focus on the aesthetic aspect of the project.
We will create our first styleframe, where we will explore color
and look for the final style for our animation.
To make our first styleframe we will choose a layout
and, where possible, the most representative,
which, for me, in our case, is this.
It is the full body character, the object is seen and quite deep.
I would have liked to choose one of these, which the character looks more closely,
but it's right in some poses
which are not very revealing for character design,
Then let's go with this one.
We will select the document and we will copy it
to take it to Illustrator.
Once Illustrator is open we make a new document
1920 x 1080,
we make sure they are pixels and that should be everything.
We give Ok and we can paste our image that we copy.
This could also be a JPEG that we have exported.
We take it to the ends of our document
to occupy the entire screen.
Here we can now go to the layer
and name it to make sure it's the reference.
If we double click open the properties of the layer.
We can mark it as a Template to not export it when exporting the image
and we say 10% transparency,
So it looks very soft in the background.
On this we will work and build the character in vectors.
We are going to create a new layer and start working on this.
When we create the parts of our character,
for now we will not worry much about separating the body parts
to encourage or anything like that,
but we can go thinking
that, still, the parts that are not going to see
let's try to draw them as neat as possible.
For example this part, which in theory would not look
because it would be covered by the bag,
let's make it as neat as possible so that when the bag moves
Let's have the information behind.
In principle we can work directly
With a black Stroke on transparent.
When drawing, let's try to have the best possible number of nodes,
since these are the ones that we will be encouraging in After Effects,
Then, the simpler the vector, the better it will be to animate.
Many times, when we are going
a line that is so thick from sketch to vector
we will have to decide a little which part of the line to respect,
since the line is so thick and the new line is thinner,
we have to decide what form our design will take
based on that sketch.
Generally it is easy for me to draw with the pen,
but sometimes I use the pencil tool,
since in Illustrator it works very well and smooths the curves quite a bit.
Where possible I am eliminating nodes that I know are not necessary,
but we don't have to worry too much now
for keeping it with few nodes.
When we are defining details, for example, in the boot,
we can go deciding some things
like the boot is going to stand out a little outside the pants
to give it more volume.
Details than before, because of the thickness of the line in the sketch,
They could not be taken into account.
That was precisely the objective.
When we can duplicate things let's do it
to keep the design as neat as possible
and the most consistent.
We don't get too obsessed about it either.
since, after all,
What we are looking for is a more expressive animation.
So if there are small deformations, they are also welcome.
Hands are always difficult,
so if we can look for references better,
either with our own hand
or looking for images on the internet
or have someone place their hand to draw it,
because sometimes we need to draw the right hand
and we have to draw with the same hand.
What I recommend in this case
is that if we can simplify it as much as possible better.
If we can stylize it in some way, maybe doing something like that,
being able to stylize the design of the hand allows us not to be perfect,
because the more realistic we try to shake hands
The harder it will be to do it well.
I think something like that looks pretty good,
It looks much better than this, at least, in my opinion.
And having very simple forms
It will be easy, or at least a little easier to animate them.
When we have to design the diamond or whatever the object,
better do it in a way that is as neat as possible
and that is seen from the front or in the most orthogonal way
to then have to rotate it or whatever and that is easy.
Sometimes what I do is draw only one half
and duplicate it to make sure that the object is well symmetrical.
Sometimes there are some that are not needed, then I delete them.
This will be our base diamond shape.
So what we can do is group this
and leave it aside to use later.
We can go back to the diamond later and design it a little better.
But, for now, let's focus on the character.
We can add fill color to some objects,
if possible white, so we don't get distracted in color for now,
and this helps us to make sure
that the objects that should be ahead
Don't overlap the lines with the ones behind.
And so it helps us understand to see if the design is working
to see if the hand seems to hold the object,
I think it's going pretty well.
Since we have the basic forms of our design
We can continue to see how the lines are going to be.
We can do it very quickly for now,
and later, when we put color,
let's really see if these lines are going to be in the design
or if they are going to be shadows or how to represent them.
The way to work in Illustrator and to vectorize
It depends on each one.
Do as you see fit, use many layers or few
or if dividing everything into different objects or doing everything in one,
for now that doesn't matter.
I already think that with this we have the base forms of our character.
We have already traced everything and we can hide the bottom layer
and worry about adding detail when necessary
and color to better define the shapes.
What I do when I have to do this is duplicate everything
because I like to leave it as a reference or as a backup, as a "backup"
and then start modifying the way I have here.
To put color you can look for references
or assemble your own palette.
There are applications like what was previously called Adobe Kuler,
which I now think is Adobe Color,
which is good because from certain colors
you can go defining adjacent colors, analogs,
complementary and thus assemble a trowel.
I liked this blue
we will see if we paint the main clothes of that color,
since it’s a kind of spy,
I think such a color can look good to not make it all black.
Maybe these two elements can be the same color,
It is good, in general, to keep the palette very small,
so we give more character to our drawing
and we are defining a style through color.
Maybe the highlighted color can be in the hair.
As I am thinking of leaving some lines
and others eliminate them,
I will select all our drawing
and I'll go to Trazo and make sure I have rounded tips
because I like how it looks more.
I always try to be careful in maintaining good contrasts
between the colors of the character when necessary.
For me, there I think it's going pretty well,
It has a space spy air or something,
But it doesn't worry me much.
I'm going to keep the colors in this palette
Just to have as a reference.
As I like this a lot, what I usually do is copy it
and I am creating a new layer where I stick only what I like.
Something to keep in mind now is the bottom line.
In our design I wanted to keep the background quite simple,
but anyway it will be important
define what color we will use in the background
to make sure the character stands out the way we want.