Backgrounds

Acochran_89 · Post by **Acochran_89** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:22 pm

Hello, I've been working on a cartoon series for a while now, taking my time with it, scripting, storyboarding, character designs, all of that. However, i'm having a very hard time finding a style of background that really suits the characters and style of the show. It's a very cartoon network/nickalodean style of show. The characters turned out exactly like i wanted them to..perfectly imperfect and cartoony. So does anyone have any advice for making backgrounds? I'm not a great artist, but I really don't want TOO much detail in the background, really simple. I just can't seem to find the right style. I don't know if anyone can help, but it would be great

mkelley · Post by **mkelley** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:44 pm

The best advice I can give you is to find something you like and then emulate it.

Chances are that in your own efforts to try and duplicate what you like you will give it your own spin, even if unintentionally, and that will make it your own (unlike me, who's great at perfectly imitating a style but has real trouble coming up with my own :>).

This technique is pretty standard -- even the Disney people studied paintings they liked and tried to emulate that look in certain stories for their own backgrounds. Chances are you can find what you want by videotaping the Toon channel one evening.

Acochran_89 · Post by **Acochran_89** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:52 pm

thanks, and i watched your show with the old folks home and thought it was really funny!
But yeah, that is part of my snag is i can copy things, but i'm having a problem getting it to look like my own

question:
Do most of you make your backgrounds in AS or do you do them in another program like photoshop or gimp?

themonster · Post by **themonster** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:29 am

practice and more practice,

you can try to do the background in gimp, inkscape, photoshop, illustrator, or anime studio, is your choice, some people draw in illustrator, some in AS,

you can go to AS help/tutorials and there are a background how to, so enjoy!!

and let us to see your animations!

mkelley · Post by **mkelley** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:51 am

Acochran_89 wrote:thanks, and i watched your show with the old folks home and thought it was really funny!
But yeah, that is part of my snag is i can copy things, but i'm having a problem getting it to look like my own

question:
Do most of you make your backgrounds in AS or do you do them in another program like photoshop or gimp?

I do everything in AS.

I used to be an Illustrator type guy -- loved that program -- and used to HATE the AS drawing tools. But Vern (mostly) convinced me to stay with it and after a week or two I became a convert.

Now I actually like drawing in AS more than I like any other program (then again, remember I can't really draw). One thing I *really* like I've talked about in another thread -- sculpting with AS. There was a tutorial that mentioned this technique in passing, and it really struck close to home.

Basically you create a shape, either a simple rectangle or oval, and then by adding and moving points you sculpt it into the shape you want. I find I can actually draw this way where I can't draw any other way. Perhaps it's my 3D background, I dunno, it just makes sense to me and easy to get the results I want.

Acochran_89 · Post by **Acochran_89** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:19 am

Yeah "sculpting" in AS is a GREAT tool. It's how I do everything at the moment. Like you said, it allows me to draw decently where as in other programs I can't draw very well. I'm just curious to see what other people do because I know a lot of people use photoshop for their backgrounds. I've experimented with brushes and stuff in GIMP, which is a lot like photoshop, but I'm not experienced enough with it to do much.

mkelley: When you do your backgrounds in AS do you set things up on a 2D plane or do you use the 3D plane functions of AS? I've experiemented with both, and naturally lean towards the 3D plane first, but seem to be happier with the results when I use the 2D plane. I have difficulties drawing perception on the 2D plane (more practice needed I guess!)

realsnake · Post by **realsnake** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:05 am

It's better to setup your scene in 3D plane for more accurate result and better camera pan'n zoom, create raster textures in other softwares and align them with X, Y rotate tool in Anime Studio is another good option

mkelley · Post by **mkelley** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:50 pm

I've never even tried any of the 3D stuff in AS (well, I think by accident I sometimes have rotated layers in the "wrong" direction).

I suppose some day I should look at that -- just not enough hours to do all I want (don't let anyone tell you that being retired gives you *more* time :>)

Clarence Norty · Post by **Clarence Norty** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:51 am

Acochran_89 wrote:Hello, I've been working on a cartoon series for a while now, taking my time with it, scripting, storyboarding, character designs, all of that. However, i'm having a very hard time finding a style of background that really suits the characters and style of the show. It's a very cartoon network/nickalodean style of show. The characters turned out exactly like i wanted them to..perfectly imperfect and cartoony. So does anyone have any advice for making backgrounds? I'm not a great artist, but I really don't want TOO much detail in the background, really simple. I just can't seem to find the right style. I don't know if anyone can help, but it would be great

Mkelly has the right idea, Im working on a star wars animation with my nephews and intend to capture the certain scenes as jpgs and import to trace - puts the moho/style on it staight away put you can see its starwars and acurate.

Just take a animation style and start copying the screen as backgrounds and trace over them... it womt take long when you have the perspective you need your own creativity should take over.

Its very hard with a blank screen to be inspired and it does help to have a start - before you know it youll be creating your own from scratch

ive traced images ive founf of the web for star wars and want to start on a set or 2...

http://www.4shared.com/file/91480931/10 ... AT_AT.html

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