How to use XDTS with OpenToonz and Clip Studio Paint

[Wolf In A Bowl]

What is XDTS?:

To put it simply, XDTS is a file specification for saving timing information.

It allows you to save your animation timing in one application and load it in another.

Currently, the only applications I am aware of that are capable of exporting .xdts files are Clip Studio Paint and Toei Animation Digital Exposure Sheet.

Hopefully support will be added for other applications such as Krita.

How to export from Clip Studio Paint:

Step 1:

Firstly, you will need to export your drawings, this is done via the 'File->Export animation->Export animation cels' command.

Your Export folder can be anywhere but I would recommend choosing the drawings folder of your current project in your OpenToonz stuff, in my case that would be C:\OpenToonz stuff\sandbox\drawings

Choose the 'Serial number' option in the 'File name' dropdown.

For the 'File prefix' option, enter something that ends with an underscore e.g. 'A_'.

This will result in your images being automatically exported in the naming format that OpenToonz can recognize an as image sequence.

A prefix of 'A_' will result in images named 'A_0001.png', 'A_0002.png' etc.

After exporting, you can navigate to the exported image sequences in OT's browser and rename them if you would like.

For the 'File format' option, I would recommend using PNG as it is a lossless format that supports transparency.

Step 2:

Next, you will need to export the timing information, this is done via the 'File->Export animation->Exposure sheet' command.

You can save this anywhere you like.

How to import into OT:

Step 1:

Using the 'File->Load Scene' command, navigate to and open the xdts file as you would any normal scene.

You will see a window appear with the text "Please specify the level locations."

Step 2:

For each of the animation folders in your Clip Studio Paint animation, you will see a path entry box.

For each of the boxes, navigate to and select the exported image sequence.

When exporting from Clip Studio Paint, each Animation Folder's exported images are placed inside their own folder named the same as the Animation Folder.

With all of the paths set to the correct image sequences, you can the click the 'Load' button.

OpenToonz will then import the image sequences along with the correct timing.

Each of the imported levels will have the name of the Animation Folder they correspond to.

Now you can save your scene as a regular .tnz scene file which will allow you to load it as a Sub-Xsheet in another scene.

[gab3d]

Very good explanation, thanks!

One minor precision: '+extras' is the standard folder for Raster image content in OT, whereas '+drawings' is reserved for Toonz Vector and Toonz Raster levels.