BASIC SCANNING & EDITING

  Decide what you are going to need as an end product. If the final destination of your movie is videotape or DVD then you will need to use a frame rate that suits your local tv standards. The frame rate in frames per second (fps) is set using the Play Speed menu.....

In the USA the normal standard tv system works at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. Therefore it`s best to use 30 frames per second as the frame rate for your animation work. (You could use 15 frames per second while you build the project then duplicate all the frames when completed and then alter the project frame rate to 30. However, if you plan to use moving backgrounds they will look better if the frame rate is 30 frames per second.)

In Europe and many other parts of the world the normal standard tv system works at 25 frames per second. In this case you would be advised to set the project frame rate to 25 but you could also use 12 frames per second then duplicate all the frames which would give you an effective 24 frames per second running speed which you could alter to 25 without any real problem although you may need to do some editing to re-synch any sound effects and lip synch. Again, if you plan to use moving backgrounds they will look better if the frame rate is 25 frames per second.

 

If the animation project is not destined for tv display then you can use any of the frame rate settings you like.

 

When you start up the Tapptoons Animation Studio you will first be asked to create a Project Directory in which all the important files for your project will be kept. Then you will be prompted for a Scene Name for your first scene. After that it`s time to start scanning, capturing or drawing the animation frames you`ll be using. We`ll start with the Scanning option.

By default, the scanning operation will begin with the bottom level but you can choose which level will be used by clicking on the button above the dope sheet level you want to use before clicking on the Create Images button.

All through the helpfiles and the programme this will be referred to as the Selected Level. In the boxes above the level choice buttons there are prefix letters to use with the images. You can either use the defaults or substitute your own. It`s best to keep the prefix to ONE letter because the columns of the Dope Sheet are of a fixed width and suit a prefix plus four digits.

You can also preset the number of scans you want to make in the box provided. If you`re not sure how many scans you`ll need you will be able to choose an option that asks you if you want to cancel the scan before each cycle of the scanning operation. If you don`t set a number it will default to 1 scan.

 

You can choose how many dope sheet entries are made for each scan. If you`re using 12 drawings to the second but want the movie to run at 24 frames per second then you need to select `Scan on Doubles` using the Scan Rate menu choice.

You can now press the Create Images button

This will bring up the Choose Image Source form as below

Choose the Flatbed Scanner option, if it isn`t already checked, then click the Continue button.....

The Scanning Details Form will appear showing the details set for the scanning operation. Note that on this example the High Resolution checkbox is greyed out. If your scene is a new scene this box will be available so that you can scan an image twice the width and height of the finish movie size. This is to enable you to track in on an image without losing image quality. You need to decide before you begin a scene whether or not you will need to use track-in shots. High Resolution scans do use up a lot of hard drive space. In fact, four times as much as a normal resolution scan.

This form also gives you the option of using the Cancel Scan message box which will come up after each scan to ask if you want to cancel the scanning cycle. Check this box if you`re not sure exactly how many scans you need to do. It`s only one more mouse click per scan if you do use it. If you find yourself needing to end the scan cycle but have not chosen to use the Cancel Scan message box you can press the Escape key between scans instead. when you`ve made your choices, click on the Continue button.

The programme should connect with your scanner`s TWAIN driver and bring up the interface associated with your scanner software. Always set the scanner to use the Line Art setting (it may called Black and White with some software) because you`ll need a pure white background in order to add colour and mix animation levels at a later stage. Select a scanning resolution of at least 144 pixels per inch for normal resolution work. You may need to experiment with different settings in order to get the best results.

 

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It`s a good idea, when drawing your animation on paper for later scanning into the system, to use a sheet of punched animation paper to create a Field Guide. This is a frame within which your can draw your animation and can be used to set up the area that the scanner will use. If you then need to re-scan any of your drawings for a particular scene at a later date, you can use the Field Guide to set up the scanning area exactly as you had it originally. This makes it unnecessary to re-scan an entire scene just to change a few drawings.

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THE DRAWING OPTION

If you choose the Drawing option you will again go through the Scanning Details stage in which you will be asked if you wish to use Onion Skins whilst drawing your animation. The Onion Skin process enables you to see the previous frame in pale colours whilst drawing the current frame. This enables you to judge the direction an object is taking or the space between the various stages of movement much more easily. As of version 1.9.0.38 of the Tapptoons Animation Studio you can also choose to see another level of the animation project as well as either the previous frame or next frame of the current animation level you are working on. These options are accessed through the Onion Skins menu item at the top of the Draw Frames Form shown below. You can change the option you are using at any time. The default chosen at the Scanning Details stage is to show both previous and next animation frames but you don`t have to keep to that choice.

When creating a new sequence of animation frames it is best to use the Next Frame button on the toolbar to move forward in the sequence. The Scroll Bar at the bottom of the screen on the Draw Frames Form will only move the sequence forward on Dope Sheet cell per click which is okay if you are animating on singles but not if you are animating on doubles, trebles or quads.

There is a choice of the usual type of basic shapes you can use for drawing such as Ellipses or Rectangles with square or rounded corners, filled or as a frame. You can also draw straight lines or freehand lines using the mouse or a drawing tablet. For freehand drawing select the Free Draw item on the draw tools bar

The Draw Options menu button gives you a choice for line behaviour. To avoid gaps in any drawn shapes using the freehand method you can select the Join Line option in the Draw Options menu

The MultiImage and Psychadelik options are of little practical use. Combined with the various shapes and colour fills you might get some weird and wonderful effects and that`s really all they are there for.

The Line Colour toolbar option allows you to change the colour of the line you get whilst drawing! Sounds like a statement of the obvious and so it is.

The Fill Colour toolbar option brings up a colour dialog box that enables you to choose the colour you can use to fill shapes. You can also choose a colour from the colour palette at the bottom of the screen which has a basic palette plus any colours you have already used. Simply left-click the colour you require. If the colour palette is obscuring part of the image you want to work on it can be hidden by using the Palette menu item to hid or restore it. Colour can also be selected from part of the current image by using the Pick Colour menu item. Use the left mouse button to get the colour you want from the image.

*** If you want to fill an area with a colour remember to left-click the Colour Fill toolbar option first if you`ve been using another tool beforehand or if it`s your first task after opening the Draw Frames Form.

 

Gradient Fills can be applied using the Grad Fills toolbar option. The effect of gradient fills can be very pleasing but a bit tricky to apply with animation frames unless it`s a static image. A degree of experimentation may be necessary.

 

The Blur toolbar option will add a blurring effect to the whole of the current image. Pressing more than once increases the blurring effect. If you decide you don`t like it after you`ve applied the blur just click on Undo to go back to the original image.

 

 

REDUCING THE SIZE OF INDIVIDUAL IMAGES

If you want an object or character to recede into the distance from close-up to the 'camera' then it`s best to draw the object to almost fill the frame and then reduce that image down. If only one drawing is required you can scan it into the programme and make multiple copies of it using the Duplicate Frame(s) with New Numbers facility on the Dope Sheet Editing Form. Click the image on the Dope Sheet, select the Duplicate Frame(s) with New Numbers button and enter the number of frames required into the How Many Frames? box, then click on the Do It! button.

The duplicates will be made and numbered in sequence following on from the last number and prefix used in the selected Dope Sheet column.

Select the second of the sequence of drawings on the Dope Sheet then select Modify Current Frame on the Dope Sheet Edit Form, the click on the Do It! button. This will take you to the Draw Frames Form and your first choice of frame will be displayed there. Go to the Reduce menu item and select the 95% option on the menu list.

 

The programme will then reduce the image to 95% of its former size. Click on the Next Frame button on the tool bar to bring up the next image, return to the Reduce menu and choose the 90% option. Repeat this sequence of events until you`ve done the 5% copy then playback the sequence. Your object or character should recede smoothly into the distance and almost disappear. You can set any percentage between 1% and 99% using the Custom menu option to get the precise speed that you want.

 

ROTATING INDIVIDUAL IMAGES

If you simply need to flip an image upside down or make a back-to-front mirror image this can be achieved from the Main Scanning and Editing Form through the Image menu which has both these choices. You can also select the image you want on the Dope Sheet and click on Flip Image on the Dope Sheet Editing Form which will bring up a new form offering you the options of changing a single image or a whole series of images from the current Dope Sheet level.

Rotating images is probably best left until after the images have been coloured but BEFORE other processes such as Level Moves or adding Weather Effects (unless you want to make the snow and rain swirl around, of course!) Characters or objects on the images also need to be kept well within the frame.

If you want to rotate images at angle other than 180 degrees then finer control is offered from the Draw Frames Form which is accessed via the Dope Sheet Edit Form and selecting the Modify Current Frame option then clicking the Do It! button.

From the Draw Frames Form menu bar select Rotate and one of the options in the sub-menu as shown below....

The submenu is arranged to rotate images in 30 degree steps with a 10 degree and 350 degree `cushioning` option at the bottom of the list. Using the scroll bar below the current image displayed you can move through the current Dope Sheet level making your way down or up the rotate menu list to achieve a smooth rotation within a sequence. The rotation is always counter-clockwise. If you change your mind about rotating a image just click the Undo button on the Toolbar.

To choose a specific angle of rotation choose the Custom option on the Rotate menu list and this will bring up the small form below.

The Spin Edit box can be used to choose any angle between 1 and 359 degrees of counter-clockwise rotation. Then click on the Continue button and the image will be rotated. 

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If you decide the last Dope Sheet editing action was a mistake, click on the Undo menu button :

This gives you the option of undoing the last action or reverting to the original Dope Sheet since the last save. From version 3.3.0.3 the Tapptoons Animation Studio saves up to 50 steps of undo after which it reverts to zero and starts saving again. Previous versions of the programme could only undo back by one step.

 

USING A VIDEOCAMERA

If you have selected the Firewire, USB or WDM Digital Camera option there will be extra details on the Scanning Details Form including a choice of Digital Video formats:

The DV Format is usually 720 pixels wide but NTSC format (USA, Canada, Japan and much of South America) is 480 lines high and the PAL version (used in Europe, Australia and many other parts of the World) is 576 lines high. Choose whichever suits your local TV standards.

If you chose `Analogue Video Capture` as your image source then this version of the Scanning Details Form will show:

You will need to select which capture driver you want to use from the list it displays. There may only be one on offer as shown above in which case your choice is made for you and all you need to do is click on the `Continue` button.......

You should then see this message box asking you if you want to capture colour images or black and white images.

If you click `yes` then the grabs from the camera will be converted to black and white LINE ART images as they would appear if scanned using the LINE ART settings. If you are making a puppet film or other type of animation using a colour camera just click on the `No` option and all the images will be saved as 24bit colour bitmaps.

 

Provided you have a video camera that can connect to your computer by using either Firewire, USB or a Video Capture Card installed on your computer and, if it`s an Analogue video capture card system, that the card is compatible with the Microsoft Windows MCI interface used by the Tapptoons Animation Studio you should be presented with Camera Frame Grab Form as shown below.

It`s necessary to left-click the `Camera On` menu item first followed by the submenu item 'Connect Camera To Driver'

When using an analogue Video for Windows capture card you also have the option of capturing directly to an AVI file. If you choose this option you will be asked to enter a filename for the AVI and also given the option of using video compression. The images will NOT be entered onto the linetester Dope Sheet. This option is only for use if you don`t want to edit your animation within the Tapptoons Linetester. Capture direct to an AVI is not available when using the Firewire or USB Digital Camera option.

 

If you have selected the Firewire, USB or WDM Digital Camera option you will need to choose which device you want from the list that will appear on the right hand side. If the VFW (Video for Windows) drivers are also displayed it`s not advisable to use these in this case. Choose only the non-VFW items.

Although capture cards like the Pinnacle PCTV Rave are analogue based devices, they use WDM (Windows Driver Model) software for capture purposes. To use these devices you need to use this Firewire, USB or WDM Digital Camera option and select the appropriate device driver.

You will next be prompted to click on the Continue button....

The image from the camera (remember to switch the camera on before using the programme!) will be displayed on the form as shown below.

The image should update automatically every few seconds with the Analogue Capture option but the Firewire, USB or WDM Digital Camera option uses a continuously updating Overlay image.

 

 

The MCI system used by the Tapptoons Animation Linetester depends on the drivers that are supplied with the analogue capture card. For this reason it may be necessary to change the format used if you find the images are not captured correctlly. Using the Format menu on the Camera Frame Grab Form you can choose between 32bit or 24bit capture.

When capturing black and white images you can adjust the relative brightness of the light and dark parts of the image by changing the Threshold setting, available using the Threshold menu.

To grab a frame you just click the Grab Frame button! If you don`t like the result click on Redo. If, at a later time, you want to change a sequence, individual frames or whole lists of frames can be replaced with new captures using the Replace Scan option on the Dope Sheet Edit Form.

 

From version 3.1.0.3 of the Tapptoons Animation Studio there is an audible signal every time you capture a frame (if your soundcard is switched on, of course). This can be turned off if you find it annoying but it is a good indication that the process has worked. The Beep menu is as below

Also introduced at the same time is an Automatic Grab system that can be set using the Auto Timer Menu shown below

This will grab a frame at the specified interval until you click on Auto Timer Stop or click on the Close Capture Window menu item.

Captured images can be flipped Horizontally or Vertically using the Flip Image menu as shown above. Remember to click on the Flip Image Cancel option if you want to go back to normal capture.

When you`ve finished grabbing the frames you need close the Video Capture window and disconnect the Video Camera drivers by clicking on the Close Capture Window menu option which will take you back to the Main Scanning and Editing Form.

 

THE DOPE SHEET EDIT FORM

The Dope Sheet Edit Form will appear when you click on a Dope Sheet entry on the Main Scanning and Editing Form.

COPY CELL

When editing a new project the form will appear with the Copy Cell option set. This option can be used to copy one or more Dope Sheet entries to anywhere else on the Dope Sheet. You can select one entry or left-click and drag the mouse down the Dope Sheet to select multiple entries. Then click on the Do It! button and the details will be copied. Click again on the Dope Sheet on the cell where you want the copied information to be pasted. On the Dope Sheet Edit Form select either Insert Paste Cell (which will insert the info between any existing entries, moving the lower cells down the Dope Sheet) or Paste Replace which will replace any existing entries from the chosen point.

MODIFY CURRENT FRAME

This option will bring up the Draw Frames form as shown below. This form contains many menus and buttons which alter the chosen image as you wish. Most of the controls are the same as described in the previous section on Drawing.

 

FLIP IMAGE

The Flip Image option brings up a form, when you click Do it!, that gives you the choice of flipping an image horizontally or vertically and the choice of flipping the one chosen image or a whole list of images that have been scanned or grabbed for the scene. To flip a list of images you need to select the options and then select the images you require from the list box that automatically lists all images in the scene. Then click on the Continue button.

 

DELETING FRAMES

If you want to delete one frame select the cell on the Dope Sheet with a single click. To select multiple frames either left-click and hold the mouse on the first frame then drag the mouse down the Dope Sheet to the last of your chosen frames or you can select the start frame then enter a number in the How many frames? box to the right of the form. Select the Delete Frame(s) option button on the Dope Sheet Edit Form then click the Do it! button at the top right of the Dope Sheet Edit Form.

DUPLICATING FRAMES

To duplicate a frame, select the Duplicate Frame(s) option and enter a number in the How many frames? box to set how many duplicates are required of EACH of the selected frames. Use the mouse to select either one or multiple frames on the Dope Sheet then click the Do it! button.

If you want to make duplicate copies of one particular image but wish to give the duplicates different numbers so you can process them individually (to rotate or reduce, for instance) this can be done with the Duplicate Frame(s) with New Numbers option. Select the single cell on the Dope Sheet then click the Do It! button. The duplicates will be given the current prefix for that Dope Sheet level and the numbers will follow on from the last number used on that level. (It`s a good idea to stick with the same prefix previously used on any particular level)

 

START SCANNING FROM THIS POINT

If you need to start scanning or drawing from a specific point on the Dope Sheet click on the cell you want to start on (this can be an exisitng image if you like, this chosen image and all the Dope Sheet entries below it will be automatically moved down the Dope Sheet and the new images slotted in between) then select the Start Scanning From This Point button on the Dope Sheet Edit Form, then left-click the Do It! button. You will then see a form that gives you option to change the prefix to be used and the number to be used. The defaults in the boxes are the current prefix for that level and the next number in the sequence for that level. When you click the Continue button you will go to the Choose Image Source option form to select whether you want to use a scanner, video camera or to draw the new frames.

 

ADD CEL FROM SCAN FILE 

Images that have already been scanned, captured, drawn or imported into your project will appear in the list box of the Add Cels From File Form. Select the point on the Dope Sheet where you want to insert existing images. The Add Cel From Scan File option on the Dope Sheet Edit Form will lead you to this form when you left-click the Do It! button:

As with other similar processes from the Dope Sheet Edit Form there are options to flip images vertically or horizontally and to put them in the Dope Sheet in reverse order. Images can be selected one at a time or as a group from the list which will contain all the images created so far for the scene. Click on the Continue button when you`ve made your choices and the images will be processed and entered onto the Dope Sheet. If the project is set to scan on Doubles two copies of each chosen image will be inserted into the Dope Sheet. Likewise, if set for Threes then three copies will be inserted and four if the project is set for Fours.

 

SCAN A REPLACEMENT

Individual images or a series of images can be replaced using the scanner or the video camera grab facility using the Scan A Replacement option on the Dope Sheet Edit Form. Clicking Do it! brings up this form :

The images already created for the scene are listed automatically in the list box on the right of the form. To replace a range of images select the appropriate button then use the left mouse button to select the image numbers by clicking and dragging down the list. Clicking Continue starts the scanning process or the Video Camera Grab process if the Use Video Camera check box is checked. This option does not apply when drawing animation frames.

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If you decide the last Dope Sheet editing action was a mistake, click on the Undo menu button :

This gives you the option of undoing the last action or reverting to the original Dope Sheet since the last save. From version 3.3.0.3 the Tapptoons Animation Studio saves up to 50 steps of undo after which it reverts to zero and starts saving again. Previous versions of the programme could only undo back by one step.

 

REPLACE SELECTED COLOURS

The Replace Selected Colours option can enable you to choose a colour from an image on the Dope Sheet and replace that particular colour on all images in the selected Dope Sheet level or throughout a entire scene with another that you can choose using a colour dialogue box from within the form shown below:

This Colour Model Control Form is also used to establish the colour scheme for objects or characters used in a scene or a Project.

To select the colour you want to replace first go to the Colour menu item and left-click the Pick Colour From Image option. Then, within the image on the screen, left-click on the colour you want to replace and the label above the image will indicate the code number of the colour selected. Then go to the Replace Colours menu item

The Replace Colours menu option allows you to replace a particular colour on a selected level or throughout all the scene`s Dope Sheet levels. This process can take a lot of time if there are many images to process.

Then left-click the Replace Colours button at the lower right of the form. When the process has finished, left-click on the Return To Colour Fill button.

 

IMPORT BITMAP IMAGES and IMPORT AVI FILES

The Import Bitmap Images option brings up a form that enables you to choose images from any drive or directory on your computer and import them into the scene you are creating. This form is also used to import frames from an AVI file using the Import AVI Frames option on the Dope Sheet Edit Form. Images can be imported in reverse order to the selection from the list box, flipped horizontally or vertically or both and, with AVI files, you can select the frames imported using the Start Frame and Finish Frame boxes. When you`ve made your selections just click on Done to fill the Dope Sheet with the chosen images. The entries in the dope sheet will follow on from the numbers that are already there. If there are already images numbered up to A0006 then the imported images will be numbered starting at A0007 onwards. If there are no entries in a chosen column the numbers will start at A0001 if the prefix box shows an `A`.

Remember that AVI files are often compressed and that the frames created by importing these files are unlikely to have a pure white background and therefore will not be suitable for merging with other levels because the Tapptoons Animation Studio uses pure white as a transparent colour for merging levels. It`s a good idea to restrict AVI imports to the bottom level of the animation project.

Uncompressed AVIs with pure white backgrounds should be no problem.

Imported AVI frames can have their original frame number or their new Dope Sheet cel number printed in the top left corner of the imported image if you find it useful. This can be done by choosing the desired option from the Options menu tab. the size of the printed text can be chosen using the Text Size menu option.

If you want to build a particularly complicated scene that requires more than the basic ten levels of animation you can create your first ten levels in one scene, merge the levels together then re-import the merged bitmaps on to ONE level of a New Scene and then add a further NINE levels to the animation. If that is still not enough levels you can repeat the process by merging the new set of levels together a importing the merged bitmaps produced into yet another New Scene.

 

 

REPLACE WITH BLANK and INSERT BLANK FRAMES(S)

Images can be replaced with Blanks using the Replace With Blank option on the Dope Sheet Edit Form.

With Insert Blank Frame(s) you can enter either one blank (the default option) or multiple blank frames by entering the number of frames you want in the How many frames? box. The insert will start on the chosen Dope Sheet position and all the entries that may be below that point will be moved down and the Dope Sheet length extended to accomodate them all.

 

 

MODIFY MERGED LEVELS

This option will only be available if you have merged the Dope Sheet levels. It will allow you to change the images as you wish using the Draw Frames Form as you would do using the Modify Current Frame option.

 

RENAME AN IMAGE AS

The Rename An Image As option does just that. Type the new prefix and number into the box next to the option then click the Do it! button.

 

 

AFTER CREATING YOUR ANIMATION FRAMES

If you have created one level of animation and don`t need any further levels in your project you can make any chosen level into a Finished Scene by using the Level Action menu to select Create A Finished Scene. This will convert the images used in the chosen level to individual frames (any re-used drawings are given their own individual number) for use when assembling several scenes from your project into a sequence of scenes. The original bitmaps are deleted to save hard drive space but can be restored if required by clicking on the Dope Sheet level concerned and the programme will ask you if you want to restore the original bitmaps. If you click "Yes" they will be restored and you can re-edit the scene if you wish.

 

 

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