Trying to convert OpenToonz vector drawings to SVG to import to Blender but only able to convert ALL the drawings in the pli file, which includes drawings no longer in use.

[Cathy Berman]

I want to import a sequence of a couple of thousand vector drawings made in OpenToonz into Blender in a way that allows me to keep them as editable vector drawings in Blender. I am trying to avoid importing as reference because I have nice vector drawings made in OT. I do not want to redraw or trace thousands of drawings in Blender. It sounds so reasonable to me.

I was able to convert the pli file to SVG (in the Browser) but that process converted every drawing I ever made for that level (including hundreds that I later rejected and deleted from the timeline). Also when I look at the SVG, the converted drawings are not in the same sequence as when I view the level in the OT timeline. The sequence appears random. I can't tell "keeper" drawings from previously deleted drawings in the SVG file. I could write a frame number on every "keeper" drawing in the OT level to identify the "keepers", and run the conversion to SVG again, then delete SVG drawings without the written frame number on the drawing and manually reorder the "keeper" drawings, but there must be an easier way.

I asked AI for help. It told me I could export a selection of frames to create a new pli file of just the drawings I want and then convert that to SVG. I did shift-click to select frames in the timeline. I used the menu dropdown of Level > Export. But I could not export a pli file format, so I did png to see if at least the selection aspect worked. It did not. The export process ignored the selection and exported all the drawings in the pli file.

Any help is appreciated.

[Jorge del Campo Andrade]

Hi Cathy

You can try exporting the scene as OCA file: File / Export / Export Open Cell Animation (OCA)*

(*) Don't check Rasterize Vector checbox to keep vector as SVG files.

This option will create a folder with all used cells in your scene. Open the folder and find your file.

For eaxmple:

If the original level was my_level.pli and you need the first cell, go to the exported folder and look for my_level.0001.svg.

Kind regards.

[Jorge del Campo Andrade]

Note that, this option won't export all cells in your levels, but only cells have been used in your scene. So be sure to add the expected cell in your Timeline / X-sheet.

Regards.

[Cathy Berman]

Thank you. I am hopeful this will work. I was able to export an OCA file. I see the right number of drawings now, only ones that I want. However, the drawings that were exported from the OT Timeline are not in Timeline order. I think this is because I needed to Autonumber the frames/cells before doing the export. I am trying that now. OT runs very slowly for me, I think there is some conflict with Windows because it is a new powerful machine but just exporting 2000 frames to OCA took hours and now renumbering 2000 frames has already taken hours, (also saving those 2000 frames takes overnight), but I will respond with what happens. 

[Cathy Berman]

It worked. I did need to Autonumber the frames in the level before exporting. Now I have an OCA file of SVG images. It contains only the images that were on that OpenToonz level and in the order of the Timeline. Thank you. I spent many hours over many days struggling with this before posting for help. Bless you.