Sunday, February 18, 2018

Useful Resources to get started

Storyboard Templates


This website contains Storyboard templates in both Photoshop and PDF version.  For Photoshop just opened the downloaded .psd files in Photoshop and start drawing under a new layer. Add any notes in the description area as needed and afterwards save the file under a different name.  The download includes multiple templates with varying sizes which should fit most needs. If you want to draw by hand just print out the included PDF template you need and draw on the go.

Krita


Krita is an open source drawing / photo editing application that I have used numerous times when I didn't have Photoshop.  What I like about this program is that it is geared more towards drawing / painting while still providing filter, masking, and editing options like Photoshop.  Best of all it's free and compatible with Photoshop files meaning you could open the above story board templates in Krita, edit them then export them as .psd files.


Aspect Ratio Calculator


Sometimes when i'm getting started I have trouble deciding what dimension to set my stage to look right, or I need to convert a certain aspect ratio to another.  This site can calculate a new dimension based on the ratio you give it.  Rather when doing the math out by hand just plug in the desired aspect ratio and get a result.

Random Street View 


For me backgrounds/setting are the last thing i'm thinking about when i'm working on an animation. Random Street view is a website I play in the background while drawing, or working on a projects.  When ever something catches your eye you can pause that scene and look around.  Locations are saved so you can always go back to something your missed.  Images can be filter by location as well.

Snipping in Window/Mac


Sometimes you want a snippet of something on your screen, but don't want take a whole screen screenshot and deal with editing that.  For the longest time I did not know about snipping and was doing this the long way.

Windows - Press the Windows key then type in Snip and select Snipping Tool. Click on new, select the area to snip then save image or Edit -> copy image to clipboard.

Mac - Command + Shift + 4, this bring up a cross.  Next select the area you which to snip and the image will be saved to clipboard, a dialogue box will also appear displaying the save location.

Use this with the above Random Street View to get quick simple backgrounds, add a few filters to the image for a desired effect and your'e good to go.


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