Refining the Toon Shading Parametres

[hilary]

Hi TVP Community!
I am trying to create a tone stencil for my line animation using the toon shading tool (set on shadow only). So far I have been doing this by hand but want to speed up the process where I can. I want a clean edge though. I am sure its a simple button press to get it but so far I am trying using the profile curves - to varied results. Any ideas?
Cheers,
Hilary

[Peter Wassink]

the best method is to make a clear duplicate of your animation (the white button in animator panel, layer section)
on that layer animate a line indication the inner side of the shadow, you can let this line overshoot the lines of your animation it doesn't have to be neat as this is a help line.

now again create a clear duplicate layer and color the shadow area using the Filling Shape Tool set with source:display. when your finished set the display mode of this layer to multiply maybe turn down the opacity somewhat
and switch of the layer with the help line.

although this method is oldfashioned handwork ,it might even be faster then endless fiddling with that toonshader but in anycase it will look much much better

[hilary]

Thanks Peter - There is alot of fiddling not quite sure which way is faster. I tried your method but couldn't seem to make it work - the paint bucket just filled everything. I have been doing something similar but using the stencil mode on my object layer then drawing the inner line and going from there. Anyway seems like there is no magic bullet

[slowtiger]

My method of shading: first I fill everything with solid colours (extra layer), then use this as stencil for painting shadows (another layer).

[Peter Wassink]

Thanks Peter - There is alot of fiddling not quite sure which way is faster. I tried your method but couldn't seem to make it work - the paint bucket just filled everything. I have been doing something similar but using the stencil mode on my object layer then drawing the inner line and going from there. Anyway seems like there is no magic bullet

it should work as long as the lines defining the shadowarea are not broken (and if they are, to some extend it can be fixed by setting the gapclose value)
when filling the shadow color, did you try it with the layer on which you fill all the way under, and setting the fillingshapetool with source: "above"?
because in that case any enclosed area formed by your lines, no matter on which layer each of them are, should work as a colorfill area.

if it still doesn't work, maybe send a screenshot.

[D.T. Nethery]

the best method is to make a clear duplicate of your animation (the white button in animator panel, layer section)
on that layer animate a line indication the inner side of the shadow, you can let this line overshoot the lines of your animation it doesn't have to be neat as this is a help line.

now again create a clear duplicate layer and color the shadow area using the Filling Shape Tool set with source:display. when your finished set the display mode of this layer to multiply maybe turn down the opacity somewhat
and switch off the layer with the help line.

although this method is old-fashioned handwork ,it might even be faster then endless fiddling with that toonshader , but in any case it will look much much better

My method of shading: first I fill everything with solid colours (extra layer), then use this as stencil for painting shadows (another layer).

These sort of techniques for adding tones/shadows to characters would be useful to see illustrated with screen captures in the new User Manual. (or just a quick tutorial posted here on the User Forum) . It's a little hard to visualize without images.

[hilary]

Hi Peter,
So I have two screen grabs here. The first follows the initial set of steps you suggested. I think I am drawing the help line improperly as it would need to be closed no? The second screen grab I merged the two layers from the first which allow me to isolate my shape and fill it (see the tone layer I created) This isn't a bad way to go as it is fairly 'drawing light' but I think I have too many steps because painting the inside line with the object layer on stencil mode for the edges would still be faster.
SAMPLE 1

SAMPLE 2

[Peter Wassink]

ah ok.
this is slightly different from your first example because you are not adding a shadow area to a linedrawing but to an already colored image.
no worries
it can be solved easily and in a number of ways

one is to make sure that the line indicating the edge of the shadow is closed, so connect the two loose ends, this can be the any bold curve as long as you don't cross over the shape (obviously)
now you have a closed shape that can be easily colored and to match it neatly with the colored image (The theepot) make sure that that the stencil is on for that layer.
note that in the attachement below, on the image layer the stencil should actually be activated (last switch ) to get this result

note:
nr2 in my attached image, is to make you aware of the different fill options, it has to do with what tvp looks at when deciding where to "draw the line" on the shape
but since you already choose "density only" which should work, i assume you already tried these options. funnily enough "color only", which you see in my example, doesn't actually work!
Maybe Elodie can enlighten us with the excact meaning of the five different fill options.

[Elodie]

Maybe Elodie can enlighten us with the excact meaning of the five different fill options.

Hmm ? Why me ?

I've peeked an eye to the manual and here are the explanations :

The options indicated above allow you to choose the type of pixels to be used as a «barrier» for the Floodfill function (i.e. pixels which will not be modified after choosing this option).
Depending on your choice made in the Fill popup menu, the pixels considered to be «barrier» pixels will be those with:
* a different color from the original pixel color :
* a different density
* a different color and density
* a different luminosity
* a color identical to the B color.

But I must admit that even by testing many possibilities, I don't really get how they work =/
I always used "Color & Density" in fact.

[Peter Wassink]

thank you!

Maybe Elodie can enlighten us with the excact meaning of the five different fill options.

Hmm ? Why me ?

because i knew you would

[Fabrice]

I will try to explain them. but please wait a little bit, I can't do it today.

[hilary]

Success! Thanks for taking the time Peter - this is the fastest solution for sure. Quick loose line and a bucket click - yeah! Now just 150 shots to go