How to Take Control of the Size of Imported Images in OpenTOonz - a Primer
Herbert123
OpenToonz takes the PPI into consideration when placing an image. In the newest version (1.0.3) a HD 1920x1080 resolution at 64PPI is the default setting.
You have a couple of options to gain control over the relative size of the placed images:
(1) change the PPI/DPI setting of your images before importing those into OT. This can be easily done in Irfanview, Photoline, Photoshop, or most other image editors and viewers. When you change the base image PPI to the same value as your camera you will get a one-on-one pixel relationship.
Or (simpler and more effective): (2) place the image, and right-mouse click on the frame that holds the image in the Xsheet. Select "Level Settings". Change the DPI (PPI) by either manually changing the value, or click the "Use Camera DPI" button. If you click the button, the imported image and the canvas will again match one-on-one pixel.
Or: (3) place your image, and open the Output Settings (via the File menu, or by double-clicking the camera in the schematic view). Adjust the DPI (PPI) settings accordingly.
OpenTOonz works with relative units since it is oriented at scanned paper drawings. Pixels may be implemented soon (developers have been working.discussing this).
Or: (4) select the frame in which you imported the image, and switch to the edit tool (F). Then choose "Scale" in the second dropdown menu in the tool properties bar. Drag up and down to scale the image. Mind, this does create a keyframe.
Or:
(5) select the camera (either in the dropdown menu on the far left in
the tool properties when in edit tool mode, or by clicking the OUTPUT
node in the schematic view), and use the scale tool to scale the camera
up or down.
This will scale the entire view - including all content. This method also creates a keyframe for the camera's scale property - keep that in mind.
Many options. The simplest one that works best with images of varying PPI values is option (2), although the other options are quite useful as well depending on the circumstances.
When preparing images (backgrounds, foreground elements, character
assets, and so on) for use in OpenTOonz, decide on an output resolution
AND PPI before you begin work. For example, suppose you mean to animate
at 1920x1080@64ppi. In that case,
create a new file with those settings in your image editor, and import
and create your assets in that environment. Save your elements at 64PPI.
I work in Photoline, ClipStudio, and Krita, and I export the layers as precisely cut out elements at the required PPI resolution for import into OpenTOonz. This way I am certain everything imports at the correct relative size.
PS - if you must zoom into a background, or scale elements up, makes
sure to work at the resolution which is required to display those zoomed
elements at the native resolution of your output settings. For example,
if you require a background to be zoomed in at 200%, you MUST prepare
that background at twice the camera's final output resolution, of
course.
For example: let's assume you will be zooming 200% into a background meant for a production output at 1920x1080@64PPI. You must create that background at a base resolution of twice that: 3840x2160. To place this background in your scene, make certain you set the PPI to 128 (twice the camera output ppi). It will then fit exactly in your camera frame, and you will be able to zoom into this scene at up to 200% without losing sharpness.
