Why does the stencil tool keep activating itself?

[swiftsketcher]

This is strange behavior, it didn't use to happen, and happens with seemingly random tools.

For example, I'll select the transform tool, and suddenly the stencil button is enabled. I have to turn it off for it to properly select my drawing. Before the same thing was happening with the clone brush tool, and freehand selection. What is causing this?

[Elodie]

Hello,

Please, could you also give us :
• your software version (9.x.x or 10.x.x)
• the edition (Professional or Standard)
• your computer (Mac, Windows, Linux...)
• its architecture (32 or 64 bit)

Thank you.

[Svengali]

On a related note, I noticed confusing results (or inadequate George commands which need updating or expanding) back when TVP 10 first came out.

How do masks work now?

Sven

[swiftsketcher]

This is TVP 10.0.7
Professional Edition
iMac
64-bit

Thank you. So is this a bug?

[ematecki]

I tried for 10 minutes changing tools in all imaginable ways and can't reproduce it.

How do you change tool ? With the mouse/tablet, with keyboard shortcuts, with custom panels ?

When it happens again, try to remember what you did just before.

[Svengali]

This is TVP 10.0.7
Professional Edition
iMac
64-bit

Thank you. So is this a bug?

I spent an hour playing with masks and reading the masks section in the manual and here is what I came up with.

It's not a bug. How stencils & masks work has changed in TVP 10 especially concerning layers (and the Menu Panel Mask Icon).

You should start by carefully reading the "USE MASKS" section starting on Page 3-12 of the Manual.PDF file. Then read it again and experiment with TVP 10 while you are reading.

On page 3-13 you will see a comment that says: If you see this icon (mask in dashed box) active in the menu panel, it means a mask (or a selection) is active. Don't forget to disable tht button or disable the mask if you want [to] continue to draw, without using a mask.

...as to your problem with the spontaneous activation of the icon, I think the key phrase here is (or a selection) is active.

In TVP 10, each layer now contains toggle-mask icons which apply only to that layer. The possibilities for sophisticated masking are huge, (alpha-masks on two or more layers can be combined, individually disabled, or even inverted) once you figure out how all the layer's toggle-masks work.)

I still am confused about how some of it works and I've already tried a few new mask-button scripts to add other functionality.

Appeal to TVPaint Guys: Please add a Stencil / Mask tutorial to the wish list for future tutorials...

Sven

[Fabrice]

Appeal to TVPaint Guys: Please add a Stencil / Mask tutorial to the wish list for future tutorials...

ok, but we will do some other tutorials before this one.

[Soom]

I have the same problem - sometimes the Stencil toggle is ON for no reason, and so far I couldn't find a relation between my actions and this behavior.
I understand how the stencil works, but in my work as an animator, I only use the Transform tool, that turns it on, and turns off when I click Clear. so I don't understand the reason, why on some occasions it stays on without noticing...

[Elodie]

I only use the Transform tool, that turns it on, and turns off when I click Clear.

What ? O_o

Can you send us a video ?

[Soom]

I only use the Transform tool, that turns it on, and turns off when I click Clear.

What ? O_o

Can you send us a video ?

Elody - sorry, I have missed something - I mean I use Select tool, and then use Transfrom on it to rotate, or move parts of drawing, and then I Clear the selection, which toggle the stencil back to off. Sounds Ok now?

[djsolomon]

this issue is related to to my selection issue...
a mask tutorial would be very helpful...
>>>>>>Really what I should have added here is that
I think the comment that requesting separating
The stencil and the selection tool by Cintiiq 12
Was a good idea ...
Debra

[Soom]

Ok, I have realized, that if one of the layers is marked as a Stencil, then the Stencil toggle will keep to be On all the time, as soon as it's activated. I.e. if I open a TVP project, and have the Stencil toggle off (on the main menu), and then use a selection tool, which automatically toggles the stencil on, it will stay on, even if I clear the selection.
So in order to avoid it, I need to check every document that I open, to not have layers marked as stencils.
In my opnion these two - the stencil and the selection must be separated - their connection is not very intuitive and using one must not affect the other...

[Elodie]

In fact if you use a selection tool = the stencil button on the top is on and becomes yellow.
If you turn a layer as a mask = it becomes yellow too.

That's why the stencil button is a mask with a rectangle selection around.

It indicates that a selection or a mask (or both) are active and so, they have an influence on all layers.

But ok, I'll keep now mind your needs about a stencil tutorial

[Soom]

In fact if you use a selection tool = the stencil button on the top is on and becomes yellow.
If you turn a layer as a mask = it becomes yellow too.

That's why the stencil button is a mask with a rectangle selection around.

It indicates that a selection or a mask (or both) are active and so, they have an influence on all layers.

But ok, I'll keep now mind your needs about a stencil tutorial

I understand that now, but it is very misleading when you work with a team on big projects. Imagine this: some posing artist in another studio has marked some layer as a stencil and didn't turn it off. Then it goes to an animator in our studio. When you open a TVP file, the stencil toggle in the main menu will be Off by default. So you don't even notice anything. You work some time and all is fine and then you use a Select tool and the stencil turns on automatically. Which means that the "stenciled" layer becomes active too, and that the Stencil toggle will not turn off after you clear the selection. Then you continue drawing but it doesn't work, And it takes several moments to understand what's wrong. Most people in the studio never work with stencils, and can't figure out what is happening, until I come and help. Also often many layers are hidden (by hiding specific color labels), so it takes some effort to unhide them all, find the guilty layer, then hide them all again.
I think that the stencil function is so specific, that it shouldn't interfere with normal animation workflow. That's why I think that this function should be separated from everything else...

[Svengali]

Ok, I have realized, that if one of the layers is marked as a Stencil, then the Stencil toggle will keep to be On all the time, as soon as it's activated. I.e. if I open a TVP project, and have the Stencil toggle off (on the main menu), and then use a selection tool, which automatically toggles the stencil on, it will stay on, even if I clear the selection.
So in order to avoid it, I need to check every document that I open, to not have layers marked as stencils.
In my opnion these two - the stencil and the selection must be separated - their connection is not very intuitive and using one must not affect the other...

A useful insight, thanks. I've been trying to see the logic behind the mysterious stencil button states for a while now and I think you may have provided the missing link.

Sven

edit: I think the process of clearing stencils on all layers is perfectly suited for a simple script/button combo. Stay tuned.