Tag Archives: Spring 2014

Spring 2013 – 48 – You Toon – Preparing for the Big Move

Monday, May 5th, 2014
Objective:

  • Students will be able to prepare Illustrator artwork for export to Flash for use in an IK Animation.
Student-Friendly Objective:

  • I can prepare my Illustrator artwork to make a Bone Tween animation in Flash.

Video Link:

  • None. See video links attached to Lessons 35 – 45 for review.
Topics Discussed:
  • For a complete list of Topics Discussed, please see the previous lessons (35 – 45).

Assignment:

  • Now that you’ve finalized the visual design of the character and drawn your character in Illustrator, you will need to prepare the character for export to Flash.
  • Open your character model sheet and delete the descriptive paragraph.
  • Create two new Illustrator documents, one for the front view of your character and one for the side view.
  • Use the Arrange Documents button at the top of the Illustrator interface to view both your character model sheet and the front view document and move the front view of your character to the new document.
  • Repeat this process for the side view, and save both documents with the appropriate file names (front view and side view).
  • In the Front View document, use the black selection arrow to select the different parts of your character, and use the fn+F8 shortcut to convert each part to a Symbol. Every part of your character that is going to move should be made a separate symbol! Name each of the symbols appropriately as you create them. When you are finished, at a minimum you should have symbols for your character’s Head, Body, Right Arm, Left Arm, Right Leg and Left Leg. (Note: If your character has legs that bend or other body parts like a tail or wings, you may have many more symbols.)
  • Repeat this process for the side view of your character. Don’t forget that you will need to have an arm and a leg “behind” your character that can be moved to make your character “walk” onto the stage when we begin animating in Flash.
  • Both files, one with the front view of the character converted to symbols, and the other with the side view converted to symbols, is due Wednesday (05/07/14). Please ensure you have this accomplished by then, as you cannot continue to the animation phase without these Illustrator files prepared, and you will fall behind as the class progresses towards the final project.
Assigned: May 5th, 2014
Due Date: May 7th, 2014

Spring 2013 – 47 – You Toon Character Model Sheet

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014
Objective:

  • Using knowledge of design and color, and skills acquired in Illustrator, finalize the design of the cartoon character created in the previous lesson, and create a character “model sheet” representing how the character looks from multiple angles.
Student-Friendly Objective:

  • I can produce a character “model sheet” representing how my character looks from the front and the side.

Video Link:

  • None. See video links attached to Lessons 35 – 45 for review.
Topics Discussed:
  • For a complete list of Topics Discussed, please see the previous lessons (35 – 45).

Assignment:

  • Now that you’ve brainstormed your character and determined his/her/its key character traits, you will finalize the visual design of the character.
  • Using your character analysis paragraph and your rough sketches as a guide, begin drawing your character in Illustrator.
  • Begin by drawing a front view of your character. Use simple shapes to draw the character’s arms, legs, body, head and any other elements of the character’s design (ears, tail, clothing, etc.).
  • Draw the character with arms and legs spread out (this will aid you when we begin applying animations to this character at a later date.
  • Once the character’s front view is complete, draw a side view of the character. (Hint: copy body parts from your front view and modify them to produce side and back views.)
  • Place both views of your character into a single landscape Illustrator artboard, and then place the full text of your character’s descriptive paragraph on the same page. Remember your principles of C.R.A.P. as you do this, and make it look neat and professional.
  • Your finished model sheet with the three character views and descriptive paragraph are due at the end of class on Friday. (05/02/14)
Assigned: April 29th, 2014
Due Date: May 2nd, 2014