Head turn with switch layers

[fiziwig]

Here's a little experiment I just did playing with switch layer interpolation to do a head turn. (I'm sure this is not original, but hey, I discovered for myself! )

http://fiziwig.com/switch_turn.swf to view the animation
http://fiziwig.com/switch_turn.anme to download the file.

Of course the two switch layers must have the same number of points, but I discovered that with switch layers it is absolutely critical that the points be drawn in the same order, from the same starting point.

I copy/pasted a head into a switch layer, tested the turn, which worked fine, but then accidentally deleted a point. No problem, right? just insert a new point in the same spot to fix the shape. No good. The points were all out of order and the interpolation looked like something that would make Picasso sit up and take notice. I found a way to fix it when that happens, but it a little to involved for a short post. I'll put it in tomorrow's tutorial.

On the other hand, deliberately deleting and then re-inserting a point can lead to fun fun effects where a shapes blows up!

--gary

[mkelley]

Gary,

This is how I do head turns, but I wish it were this simple.

For me (since I do lip sync using multiple mouth switch layer shapes -- one for smiling, one for frowning, etc. etc., and since I do eye expressions the same way on a completely different layer) I can't simply redraw the face. Instead what I do is use this technique for the basic head/hair, and then use a rotate layer mode on the eye and mouth layers to match.

So in order for all this to work I have to create actions for each of the key rotate positions, which keep track of both the switch positions of the head outline as well as the rotate elements of the eyes and mouth. That way a character can continue to talk as they rotate their head, as well as change their facial expressions (because I can switch to smiling/frowning/etc as they turn).

You may want to try that process to see if you can invent a better way -- if you do you will gain some real fans here <bg>.

[fiziwig]

Yikes! Sounds awfully complicated. I only have basic, not Pro, so layer rotation is not an option.

I'm going to dig into all the material on head rotation and see what's been done before. I seriously doubt that I will be able to improve on anything. I've got my hands full just learning all this stuff!

--gary

[luisba]

I have all the different heads in a switch layer. Its is easy and quickly but maybe a little "robotic".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYI_fQeLq9c