Matters we cowl will embody:
- Methods to export a 2D cartoon character with an alpha channel from Cartoon Animator
- Methods to import the video information and mix the totally different kinds of video in Adobe After Results
- Methods to add easy digicam motion to reinforce the animation
What You may Want
To comply with together with this tutorial you’ll need your personal variations of Adobe After Results and Cartoon Animator. You possibly can download a free trial version of Cartoon Animator from the Reallusion Website.
We launched the fundamentals of character animation utilizing Cartoon Animator in earlier tutorials on this collection, and this tutorial assumes you realized the talents we coated there, however you need to nonetheless be capable to comply with alongside if you have not learn them but.
Additionally, you will want a reside motion video of some background footage in your 2D cartoon character to inhabit. For this tutorial we will probably be utilizing the footage beneath from Envato Elements. Click on on the hyperlink beneath to obtain it from there:
1. Export a Clear Clip From Cartoon Animator
Step 1: Open
Right here we have now an entire Cartoon Animator challenge which has a character fully animated and prepared for export.
Step 2: Render
To export your challenge go to the highest menu bar and choose Render > Render Video.
Step 3: Export
This may open up the Render Settings window the place you possibly can select methods to export your video. Make certain to pick the Clear Video checkbox to maintain the transparency, and choose MOV format.
Additionally look by the opposite choices right here that you simply want to edit, such because the output dimension and output vary.
As soon as you might be glad along with your choice, click on on the Export button to decide on the placement to avoid wasting your video file.
Export A number of Objects at As soon as
Utilizing Object Sequence you possibly can simply export every object within the composition because it’s personal video. Which means that, in After Results, you possibly can manipulate and apply results to every a part of the composition individually. Open Object Sequence and test Export to separate render information and Match to object dimension to make use of this characteristic.
Export as Layers
Alternatively, you possibly can export your composition as layers. You possibly can export components of your composition individually, or you possibly can output teams of components as a video. For instance, the background, foreground, props, and every character can have their very own clear video.
From the Scene Supervisor, choose the article or vary of objects you wish to export collectively, ensuring Clear Video is on. Choose Vary from Output Vary, after which Export. Maintain the output vary and determination the identical for the opposite objects within the composition, and render them out too.
Utilizing the After Results Plug-in
One of many strengths of this transparency-based workflow is that it really works kind of the identical with any post-production software program that helps alpha-channel video, similar to DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, or Ultimate Lower Professional.
That mentioned, there’s a very handy free plugin-in for Cartoon Animator that makes sending your initiatives to After Results simple; we coated this course of in How to Rig and Animate a Character in Cartoon Animator and After Effects — it is value exploring each strategies.
Step 4
As soon as it has completed rendering, you should have a video file that you need to use to import into your Adobe After Results challenge.
2. Import Alpha Video Recordsdata into Adobe After Results
Step 1
Now that we have now all our exported video file prepared, it’s time to take it into Adobe After Results the place we will add our cartoon character right into a background video.
In Adobe After Results, import the character video by going to File > Import > File and deciding on the MOV video file.
Step 2
When importing the file this can immediate a brand new window the place it’s essential to resolve the way you want to interpret the alpha channel to retain it is transparency. Choose Straight – Unmatted and click on OK.
Step 3
Upon getting imported the cartoon character video, you can see it positioned within the Challenge Panel, which is normally positioned on the left facet of the display screen.
Step 4
Import your reside motion video file you downloaded from Envato Parts by going to File > Import > File once more and deciding on the video file. As soon as imported, additionally, you will discover this video file within the Challenge Panel.
Proceed to import your video and audio information this approach to put together for composing your scene.
3. Compose the Scene in After Results
Step 1
Create a brand new composition by going to Composition > New Composition (Management – N).
Step 2
Within the composition settings, use the next:
- Composition Identify: Render Comp
- Width:1920 px
- Peak:1080 px
- Body Fee: 30
For the Period, this may be modified to swimsuit the size of your cartoon animation and reside motion video file.
Step 3
Use the mouse to tug and drop every film file into the composition. Just be sure you layer the movies accurately; With the intention to make the character seem within the video it must be layered on prime of the reside motion video.
Step 4
Choose the cartoon character and use the Rework choices to resize and reposition the character in order that she is scaled appropriately in comparison with the remainder of the scene within the reside motion footage.
Step 5
To floor the character into the scene we have to place a shadow beneath it. Just be sure you haven’t chosen any layers, then choose the Ellipse Software (Q) and use it to create a form layer by clicking and dragging within the scene.
Step 6
Make the colour of the ellipse black and take away any outlines if essential.
Step 7
Open up the Rework choices and scale back the Opacity to 60% after which make certain to position the form layer beneath the character layer. Additionally, you will have to reposition the ellipse in order that it seems below the ft.
Step 8
For a extra lifelike shadow impact, merely duplicate your character layer (character.mov) and use the 3D widget to remodel it into the form of a shadow by rotating it 180 levels on the x axis and decreasing the peak.
You possibly can then use the CC Slant and Hue Saturation results to edit the form and colour earlier than setting the opacity to 60% as proven within the earlier step.
Step 9
Dad or mum the shadow layer to the character layer from the dropdown menu.
Step 10
Make certain to allow movement blur in your character by clicking on the Allow Movement Blur buttons as proven within the picture beneath.
Taking This Step Additional
On this tutorial we’re studying the fundamentals, and you may maintain it easy, as we’re right here, however there are a ton of neat lighting and post-production strategies in After Results so as to add 2D animation to 3D live-action video.
4. Add a Digicam to the Video
Let’s add one positive approach to reinforce the connection between animated and not-animated components in our composition: digicam movement. If the weather within the body transfer in unison with relationship to the digicam, it feels far more like they’re sharing a scene.
Step 1
So as to add a Digicam to the scene go to Layer > New > Digicam.
Step 2
This may open up the Digicam Settings. Choose the 35mm preset after which click on OK.
Step 3
Ensure that the digicam is above all of your layers and open up the Digicam Choices.
Add a keyframe for Zoom by going to the very starting of your timeline and clicking on the stopwatch icon. Set the zoom worth excessive sufficient in order that your character seems near the digicam. For this instance we’re utilizing a price of 3600.
Step 4
Now transfer forwards to about 4 or 5 seconds into your video and create one other keyframe by setting the worth decrease in order that the digicam zooms out. For this instance we’re utilizing a price of 2000.
Step 5
Spotlight each keyframes after which Proper Click on > Simple Ease.
Step 6
Ensure that your layers are transformed to 3D Layers in order that the digicam zoom works accurately.
Take This to The Subsequent Step
Congratulations! And that is how one can merge 2D animation into reside motion video utilizing Adobe After Results and Cartoon Animator. You have realized the fundamentals. There may be much more you are able to do with transparencies in Cartoon Animator and After Results.
To continue to learn about cartoon animation, Cartoon Animator, and After Results simply maintain studying this collection! For instance, how to use your own character designs in Photoshop, Cartoon Animator, and After Effects.
When you loved this tutorial you possibly can go away us a touch upon YouTube, or share your personal model with us on the Envato forums.
I hope you’ve got discovered this tutorial helpful and I am going to see you subsequent time on Envato Tuts+!
