GP frame by frame : workflow tip?

posted to: Frame by Frame

I found it quite challenging to trace the sketch using my tablet. The sketch and previous frame's stroke (when starting a new frame) make it difficult to locate and move the stylus.

I tried a slight variation which seemed to make things easier for me:

  • I drew the sketch using a contrasting (e.g. pink) material.
  • I placed the Sketch layer on the top, with reduced opacity.
  • I temporarily reduced the Lines opacity - this dims the previous frame stroke when it appears.

Then drawing with the stylus is easier to compare to the sketch.

Maybe this is a valid workflow? Thanks. I'm not great at drawing so it is a challenge at best...

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Reply
  • Omar Domenech replied

    I'm of the opinion of, it's not the wrong way if it worked. So I say in Blender if it gets you results, then cool. 

    1 love
  • Samuel Tissot(hels149) replied

    I saw this talk some time ago, and it totally clicked for me in terms of CGI... it just have to work. 

    https://youtu.be/BsBx4HNAjzY?si=TYmB6ggb8CKV1R6c

    ----

    I'm by no mean a pro and I am still very noob, but I'm someone that loves to get everything perfect, even things you don't see.... this talk change my perspective. If it works for you, awesome, and if it's your own workflow, you might actually have more chance to create something unique.

    1 love
  • Dwayne Savage(dillenbata3) replied

    Yes, it's common to do the sketch in a different color. Usually red or blue. So, pink works just as well. I think Paul actually covers this in Panels, but I'm not 100% sure on that. This is totally a valid workflow. 

    Instead of reducing the Lines opacity. You can adjust the onion skins opacity and/or color in the properties editor. In newer versions of Blender you can set separate colors for Keyframes before and keyframes after your current frame. With that said, if reducing the lines layer works best for you then it's the best approach for you.

    I'm terrible at drawing, but I keep practicing. I'm also looking forward to the course focused on drawing. My understanding is it's scheduled for some time this year. 

    1 love
  • techworker1 replied

    When tracing a sketch using Paul's method, I usually just turn off onion skinning since it only adds confusion. Normally it is useful.

    I wish there was a way that:

    • I draw stroke(s) at (for example) frame 10
    • advance timeline to frame 11
    • the previous stroke(s) would go away, just onion skin left (they will if/when you "touch" the canvas)

    I guess the current behavior is helpful for most people/cases. I can't find any setting in any version to offer an option. Probably this is difficult/impossible with the implementation.

    1 love
  • Dwayne Savage(dillenbata3) replied

    If you change the mode from keyframe to selected, It will only show the selected frame or frames. Another thing I like to do is change the keyframe type. This can be done by selecting the keyframe and pressing R with the mouse cursor over the timeline/dopesheet.  Then you can have the onion skin only show keyframes of that type by changing the filter by type from all to the keyframe type you want. This works with the keyframe mode. There is also the fade inactive layers and fade inactive objects option in the overlays or GP overlays depending on your version of Blender, but I haven't really worked with those yet.

    2 loves
  • techworker1 replied

    Thanks dillenbata3 . "<layer> : Display : Show Only on Keyframed" basically does what I want when tracing. (Although the onion skin is also invisible until the keyframe is created, but that is OK in case of tracing.)

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