tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44814447285447181932024-02-22T03:32:05.027-05:00Graphic BitsTips, Tricks, & Mini-Tutorials for Free Design Software.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182720865764530629noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481444728544718193.post-28216831334599754582012-05-06T22:41:00.002-04:002012-05-06T22:43:24.850-04:00Scripts and Plugins for Art Of Illusion<span style="color: #38761d;">Graphic Bit #3</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.artofillusion.org/">Art of Illusion</a> is a 3D modeling and animation program. <br />
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When you first start it up and navigate around, it can look very basic compared to other 3D programs like <a href="http://www.blender.org/">Blender</a>. But one great thing about AOI is that it has a built in manager where you can download additional tools and scripts to extend the functions of the program.<br />
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To access the Scripts and Plugin manager, go to <i>Tools -> Scripts and Plugin manager.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BfpLKw8lx31MoGZnxT3T9tY-dqpWq5yhtayoDI-bQK_v7ZPRSGtomcsQdsbPHNnEA_K-w-FH2_ReRfVbR_sW9zHQbUss_FcHU2a3jBW4mnrwcP2kn-yP22MsPEI6rLhBZgkEt2t7FYFq/s1600/pluginmanager.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BfpLKw8lx31MoGZnxT3T9tY-dqpWq5yhtayoDI-bQK_v7ZPRSGtomcsQdsbPHNnEA_K-w-FH2_ReRfVbR_sW9zHQbUss_FcHU2a3jBW4mnrwcP2kn-yP22MsPEI6rLhBZgkEt2t7FYFq/s400/pluginmanager.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the left you see a document tree with numerous plugins and scripts. Double-click to select a tool to install. (You'll see a check.) When done browsing, you can click <i>Install all selected files</i> and tool(s) will be installed.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182720865764530629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481444728544718193.post-71595708761397804452012-04-28T20:54:00.000-04:002012-04-28T20:54:16.919-04:00Inkscape to Synfig - Layer Setup<span style="color: #38761d;">Graphic Bit #1</span><br />
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Note: This tip assumes you have a basic understanding of how Layers work in both Inkscape and Synfig.<br />
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When you are planning to export a project from <a href="http://www.inkscape.org/">Inkscape</a> to <a href="http://www.synfig.org/">Synfig</a>, it's a good idea to first organize your Inkscape drawings in Layers. (Better yet, you should always take advantage of Layers in any project.) This will help you keep everything organized when you open the project in Synfig and start to animate.<br />
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Here is an Inkscape drawing of a character called Arthur Kill, the Mad Cupid. The animation will consist of Arthur Kill firing the gun. Only the arm, hand, and gun will move as part of the kick-back.<br />
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<a href="http://chrisblount.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/shooting-man-color.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://chrisblount.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/shooting-man-color.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are the screenshots of the Layers Panel in both Inkscape and Synfig, respectively:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd8ObmA3kDWt9yYAet_z2Irfp04rdAJDCj74lJNKpuH728duicOoLjBGl2WoSWaKhjl8fJQyektYmj-5UH9S0dnRSrky6IL-RtC5rNUFO89Uek7SghammwnnFEAdkKtYJEi2w1ZnKNmrr/s1600/inkscape-layers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd8ObmA3kDWt9yYAet_z2Irfp04rdAJDCj74lJNKpuH728duicOoLjBGl2WoSWaKhjl8fJQyektYmj-5UH9S0dnRSrky6IL-RtC5rNUFO89Uek7SghammwnnFEAdkKtYJEi2w1ZnKNmrr/s1600/inkscape-layers.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7zqQDg19YptnULiB5HH0qfOFTu-aFyQG9JBGb8h0Txqly26xKquE2VBTkyCyl3OObTHBwSbx9bl9VASV3MxhQJITNlRXndvrbEshTGSqi9KgL_olpE5fXUM8yJ84S0uTMKZO2bqnynHD/s1600/synfig-layers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7zqQDg19YptnULiB5HH0qfOFTu-aFyQG9JBGb8h0Txqly26xKquE2VBTkyCyl3OObTHBwSbx9bl9VASV3MxhQJITNlRXndvrbEshTGSqi9KgL_olpE5fXUM8yJ84S0uTMKZO2bqnynHD/s1600/synfig-layers.png" /></a></div>
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Synfig, right screenshot, imported the image perfectly, and kept intact the layer's name. One of the unique things about Synig is that e<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">very object, element, and effect gets its own layer. So when you open up the Encapsulated Layer in Synfig you notice that Synfig has created a layer for every separate path that I made in Inkscape:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLg0yHp92noEOJHOa67MeECG58P383YEZLgvPLmYQGbvyfkgg5OQugPcYmPG7SXyk3JPbM7EQHMe5eFf56jbsp0EGAV6OLPYO9DExTrdXUf0pI1XjMRVKVBnqtnbLw2hCJY6ymV2wGz83/s1600/synfig-layers2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLg0yHp92noEOJHOa67MeECG58P383YEZLgvPLmYQGbvyfkgg5OQugPcYmPG7SXyk3JPbM7EQHMe5eFf56jbsp0EGAV6OLPYO9DExTrdXUf0pI1XjMRVKVBnqtnbLw2hCJY6ymV2wGz83/s320/synfig-layers2.png" width="201" /></a></div>
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So setting up layers properly in Inkscape will make animating my project that much easier.</div>
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Links:</div>
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<a href="https://github.com/nikitakit/svg2sif">Inkscape to Synfig</a> export plugin</div>
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<a href="http://wiki.synfig.org/wiki/Encapsulate">Encapsulated Layers</a> in Synfig</div>
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You can follow the progress of this animation at <a href="http://wipup.org/projects/view/24/89/">WIPUP.org</a> or on <a href="http://www.chrisblount.com/">my personal website.</a></div>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182720865764530629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4481444728544718193.post-48108886395002008212012-04-28T20:52:00.000-04:002012-04-28T20:53:45.730-04:00Macros In Krita<span style="color: #38761d;">Graphic Bit #2</span><br />
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This tip teaches you how to use macros in <a href="http://www.krita.org/">Krita</a> 2.4.<br />
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Macros are a way to automate repetitive tasks. You initially record the steps to complete a task, but then you only have to play back the macro to repeat those same steps.<br />
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I use Krita almost exclusively to sketches and layouts. When I have a drawing that I really like and want to develop further, I usually ink directly over top the sketches. I set my sketch on the bottom layer and ink above it. I prefer to have my sketches set to a different color to distinguish it from the inks. So I normally use the HSV Adjustment filter to change my sketched lines to a bluish color. Since I do this repeatedly I decided to create a macro to automate this process.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Creating A Macro</span><br />
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Here is the original sketch of a character I created called Doc Halo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXdFz3K9N-AkWbIAylLrtfAqxOh-p843DpmqEpWeknqzox6hPGvEVYunHXW-etEKRYnvnNRfI7iP9IpbmYNpN7E86pXRlvxW5WuCajIhRYD-rqA_qgttKyfjQNqRlnVeHtneLqkYGTaEM/s1600/doc_halo-tip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXdFz3K9N-AkWbIAylLrtfAqxOh-p843DpmqEpWeknqzox6hPGvEVYunHXW-etEKRYnvnNRfI7iP9IpbmYNpN7E86pXRlvxW5WuCajIhRYD-rqA_qgttKyfjQNqRlnVeHtneLqkYGTaEM/s320/doc_halo-tip.png" width="187" /></a></div>
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Now I want to create a macro to record the steps of changing this guy from black lines to blue lines. Go to <b>Tools > Recording > Start Recording Macro</b>. Although you won't see any indicators, Krita is now recording every mouse click.</div>
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Next I go into <b>Filter > Adjust > HSV Adjustment</b> and fool around with the settings to get a blue tint. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZAzjg7jLnsow9zJmPTvRNuE2oP48AVl1GbEjLbZBMrgaloXSkGoC4fZfJW_yeLuK3QqmkGzHZeYKYlM14GL_PO8cRWm4Nd0QXvJhybTlczj-iLi-fWgHFXkQiFMawV1Z9xHsAz8kJXlE/s1600/doc_halo-tip2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZAzjg7jLnsow9zJmPTvRNuE2oP48AVl1GbEjLbZBMrgaloXSkGoC4fZfJW_yeLuK3QqmkGzHZeYKYlM14GL_PO8cRWm4Nd0QXvJhybTlczj-iLi-fWgHFXkQiFMawV1Z9xHsAz8kJXlE/s320/doc_halo-tip2.png" width="187" /></a></div>
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I am now done with the task steps so I must stop the recording by going to Tools > Recording > Stop Recording Actions. Krita immediately opens a Save Dialog to save the macro as a .krarec file. And my macro is complete.</div>
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To use a macro go to Tools > Macro > Open and play. Navigate to your .krarec file, and you're done.</div>
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Macros in any program are a great way to automate repetitive tasks and in a lot of cases save you a lot of time you should be devoting to creating. You should always be in the mindset to make your computing experience as easy as possible.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Links</span></div>
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Doc Halo completed <a href="http://chrisblount.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/doc_halo-sketches.png">inks</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://krita.org/">Krita</a></div>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182720865764530629noreply@blogger.com0