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Combining 2 pencil drawings
Hello,
I am working on a pencil animation.
One layer is the pencil animation layer which is a series of PNG files that I scanned from paper and then erased around the edges with a soft brush.
The layer beneath is a pencil drawing that is the background image.The result looks not as good as I like it to, since the animation layer looks pasted on the background. I realize that there’s a limit to how homogeneous these two layers can look together, but still I’d be curious to know if anyone here knows of a method to make these two layers appear to be more like it’s only one pencil sketch.
Thanks,
Y. -
3 Replies
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Here is one suggestion: to clean the Top layer scans.
If you have the original scans…
Open Illustrator (or Corel Draw has a good tracing program as well).
Set the page size to match your animation layout.
Place the 1st scanned image.
Live Trace (use a good setting that captures all of the drawing and deletes the original).
Expand the trace.
Ungroup the trace.
Delete all backgrounds.
Export file as Transparent PNG.(name_1.png)
You can save this Ilustrator file or use it again. (see below)
Create a new layer.
Import next scanned page and place where it is required for the animation.
Live Trace (use a good setting that captures all of the drawing and deletes the original).
Expand the trace.
Ungroup the trace.
Delete all backgrounds.
Hide the previous layer.
Export file as Transparent PNG. (name_#+1.png)
You can save this Ilustrator file or use it again.Once complete… in AE
Import the bottom background layer.
Import the new pngs as an animation. Mode as overlay.
Use curves, saturation, and other color tools to adjust the look.
It should match close.Added benifit to this long process, the images in illustator are editable. Minor adjustments can be made and the image reexported as needed.
Others will chime in… with more experience… I hope.
Rob
Rob Dahl
Transparent Alchemy
Boulder City, NV 89005
http://www.transparentalchemy.com -
Thank you for your answer .
My scans are already clean and ready to use, but placing them over the background in ‘Overlay’ mode causes the background to show through them, which is not good.. I need the drawings to be on top, completely concealing the background.
The problem is mainly in the way the edges and the background meet..
I guess I need a way to cause the edges to maybe blur a bit on the background layer, so they look more like they are all part of one pencil drawing. -
OK. I understand now where you are. Although it is sometime hard with out seeing the files.
Change your top layer (the animation) mode to Normal.
IF the top layer already has an alpha key:
Reinterpret the footage, alpha=premultiplied.
Apply from the effects menu Matte/Simple Choker or Matte Choker.
Adjust the chokers as needed.If it does not have an alpha, you will need to key the footage.
See if that helps.
Otherwise… send me a link with the files and I’ll help out.
Rob Dahl
Transparent Alchemy
Boulder City, NV 89005
http://www.transparentalchemy.com
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