How do I convert images to vectors.

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:17 pm

Anime Studio Debut 8 keeps telling me that I can turn scanned images into usable vector files, but the manual doesn't tell me HOW to do that. And because of that, I try to trace over scanned images with the vector drawing tool, but filling in the drawn shapes, a no-brainer in any other program, is a major hassle here. Could someone please help me?

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:52 pm

You've looked at pg.s 308 and 309 of the help menu?

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:17 pm

Okay, that explains one thing, but shading in the objects is STILL a hassle. The character I'm trying to convert is my online mascot, Benny Jack Bunnycorn, and need I provide pictures of the character, I will do so. Just be warned that I'm not the best drawer.

But so far, I'm only trying to work on his head. I can get his horn shaded as well as his eyelids, but the head itself I am constantly having a hard time filling in, as the program seems to refuse doing so.

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:54 pm

Yeah, filling shapes can be tricky at first. There are several rules that you need to follow when using the paint bucket, most times I use the create shape button instead. With that tool, you select the points for the shape you want then hit create. Even this sometimes fails, sometimes you accidently choose too many points or the wrong ones. If you post the image you're trying to do, we'll take a look at it.

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:52 pm

jonbo wrote:Yeah, filling shapes can be tricky at first. There are several rules that you need to follow when using the paint bucket, most times I use the create shape button instead. With that tool, you select the points for the shape you want then hit create. Even this sometimes fails, sometimes you accidently choose too many points or the wrong ones. If you post the image you're trying to do, we'll take a look at it.

I'm starting to get a better hang of it though. It usually works better if I click on the outlining.

Actually, what I'm using is a series of separate body parts as opposed to one image. I don't want to show all the separate images, as they're mostly drawn up for practice in use of this program. But I do have a picture of him. This is the most recent picture of Benny.

http://mugourth.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4n986b

I know he's a generic bunny character, but I still like him. The main thing I tried to do to differentiate him from other characters are the slanted eyes, which I feel gives him a cute, innocent face, and the tattered vest, as the character is very poor and lives in a dumpster. Also, he is named after a famous comedian, Jack Benny. ...Yeah, I know he's not going to appeal to much more than myself, but oh well.

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:29 pm

I like the character. I tried him with the image trace and found there were a lot of gaps that were hard to see but kept the fill tool from working. This is a problem I've found with that feature before. IMHO, you'd be better off learning the drawing tools in AS and building him with separate shapes i.e. face, ears, etc. This also will make it easier to rig and animate down the road.

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:45 pm

Thanks.

I'm sorry I didn't make this clear, but that's not what I used. I used bits and pieces of separate body parts. I could upload all the images I used somewhere, but I'm not sure the best place.

Also, I noticed there's limits to how much the bones can move, I noticed this when fiddling with the Lightning Dude character. I'll try figuring out how to set limit points myself.

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:21 pm

Yeah I know that wasn't the actual model, it was just a test. The image trace feature just isn't up to snuff IMHO. If you select a bone with the select bone tool, you'll see at the top in the tool options, a menu called bone constraints. Thats where you set the limits for bones and you can turn them off so bones have unlimited movement.

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:42 pm

I do notice that the tracing tool is a little wonky. That's why I usually add pixels to some of the outlining to make it easier traced.

Also, I said I would try to figure that out myself. But thanks anyway.

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:36 pm

jonbo wrote:Yeah I know that wasn't the actual model, it was just a test. The image trace feature just isn't up to snuff IMHO. If you select a bone with the select bone tool, you'll see at the top in the tool options, a menu called bone constraints. Thats where you set the limits for bones and you can turn them off so bones have unlimited movement.

Another question. I recently made a simple waving animation for my character, but there's one thing I'm unsure about. ...is it possible to replace one image with another at certain parts of the animation? The manual didn't make it clear for some reason.

neeters_guy · Post by **neeters_guy** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:59 am

Read up on switch layers. You can use a switch layer for a part of the character, like the hands, or for the whole character, as in a body turn.

wizaerd · Post by **wizaerd** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:48 pm

I don't know if this helps or not, but there's a site called VectorMagic (http://vectormagic.com/home) that takes images and creates vectors out of it. I've used Adobe Illustrator as well as ACD Systems Canvas which both have an autotrace or tracing feature, and the vectorMagic website beats them both out hands down. I've used it for logos and stuff, and don't know how well it'd work on a hand drawn character, but it might be worth a try.

MugoUrth · Post by **MugoUrth** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:40 pm

neeters_guy wrote:Read up on switch layers. You can use a switch layer for a part of the character, like the hands, or for the whole character, as in a body turn.

The Switch Layers section is small, and doesn't make it clear if I can do it or not.

jonbo · Post by **jonbo** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:05 pm

Yes you can. A switch layer is a special group type layer that can contain any of the other layer types i.e. image, vector, bone, switch, groups. The switch layer allows only one of its child to layers be displayed at a time. This makes it easy to "switch" between layers like mouths, hands or even whole scenes if you put all your scene elements into a group and then put your groups into a switch layer.

neeters_guy · Post by **neeters_guy** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:27 pm

What jonbo said.

Once you understand how it works, you'll see how it can used to solve a lot of problems.

In the users manual (ver. 8 ), read and, if applicable, do these pages:

p. 126 - 131 -- Tutorial 5.1-2 (switch layer used for lip-sync)
p. 149 - 154 -- Tutorial 5.7 (switch layer used for frame-by-frame)
p. 268 -- General info
p. 274-277 -- Switch Layer description
p. 389 - 392 -- Switch layer for turnarounds (using Character Wizard example)

There are also a number of forum posts and tutorials on switch layers. The search function isn't that great...you'll need to read a lot to get specific info. But that's as it should be.

Hope that helps.