Digitally Trace Existing Drawings?

[JJ Parks]

I've always wanted to do my animation entirely digital while working in a traditional workflow. Here's ideally what I'd like to do:

1) Draw my rough animation in rough pencil drawings using a digital program like Animation Desk for the iPad (I love how the pencil looks and feels like pencil)

2) Once I figure out all of my keyframes and inbetweens, I would draw them into Animation Desk and export as a series of images.

3) I'd take these pencil drawings and bring them into software to ink them and make clean color-line art without the messiness of the pencil drawings.

And here's where I'm not sure if it's possible...

4) Digitally scan / trace the drawings into OpenToonz for inking and final touchups.

The thing is, I do have a regular scanner and could do them on paper and scan using the OpenToonz method if I had to, but I'd prefer to stick to all digital as it's less expensive and my work tends to be cleaner on the iPad. I know that software like Animate and Harmony can do this sort of scanning, as could RETAS TraceMan, but I'm not sure about OpenToonz. From what I can tell it's only from a paper source and there's no way to "vectorize" existing drawings that are digital in nature. Please let me know if you guys know how to do this, or if you think the process itself isn't realistic. I realize I could just import the drawings and trace over them with vector lines in OpenToonz directly, but I don't currently have a Wacom tablet and it'd be nearly impossible for me to do with a mouse alone.

Thanks guys!

[Herbert123]

?
OpenToonz supports conversion to vector from any bitmap - whether they are scanned in or drawn digitally. The one thing to keep in mind is that it is clear inked lines you want. They can be created in just about any drawing applications with reasonable inking tools. Then bring in the sequence into OpenToonz (reminder: use the

name_of_file.0001.ext   file name format [ext=file format extension, and numbering starting at 0001, 0002, 0003, etc)

Place those files in your projects scans or drawings folder. Then place the sequence in a column in the x-sheet with the file browser in OT. And convert to vector automatically in OT.

By the way, in case you have not already, you should really change the default configuration. Replace the room files with the ones provided by Blurymind:
https://github.com/opentoonz/opentoonz/issues/80
Download the second version towards the bottom of the page. The GUI becomes much more approachable.

[JJ Parks]

Thanks so much. I was able to rename the file properly (already cleaned up very nicely in external software) and imported successfully using the browser.

The one thing I'm having trouble with though is that it still appears to be a raster graphic. When you say "Convert to vector automatically in OT" is it really automatic? Did I miss an option somewhere?

PS: Those custom room files are incredibly cool, thanks for those!

[JJ Parks]

I managed to find the "CONVERT" option from the browser view, but every time I attempt to convert it a TLV file (I believe that's the vector format for OpenToonz) it crashes on me instantly. Here's what it looks like on my end:

These are the TLV settings I was trying to use (default):

Does that look right to you? If not please let me know where I went wrong. Thanks a million for your help! This is the last piece of info I need before I can work fully on my animation project ^_^.

[BlenderBeetle]

it may just be a bug. the first thing i would try is picking a new save path. Right now it's saving to the sandbox and in my experience opentoonz doesn't like this feature (it's more of an overflow precaution than something thats supposed to be used all the time) 

another thing you might try is messing with the anti-aliasing settings... 

come to think of it, I may have tried to convert before because the situation sounds familiar. I'll mess with it when i get home and see what i come up with. let me know if you solve it in the mean time

[JJ Parks]

Thanks a bunch BlenderBeetle. I initially tried other directories and it crashed every time (Windows and Mac installations both). I'll play with the settings and see if I can do it. Thanks!

[JJ Parks]

OK I tried new paths, new formats and new settings and nothing worked. Awww man =P. If anyone else has a suggestion on free software to convert raster to vector then that'd be fine as long as I can import it into OpenToonz ^_^.

[Willson Baer]

Inkscape can, but I don't know if you can import svg files into OT. Free and open source download: https://inkscape.org/en/

[JJ Parks]

I was able to get the lineart converted to vector (.SVG file) in Inkscape and to my surprise I was able to import it into OpenToonz. The only problem seems to be that it has a weird issue where the whole image is black with the selection area just a "path" of sorts. If there was a "Stroke Path" option then it may work, but in the meantime I have to figure out if it's an issue with how I converted the lineart, or if its a problem with my import into OpenToonz. LOL I feel like the closer I get the further away I end up. Wish me luck :)

[Willson Baer]

It's great that it worked as well as it did; when I tried to import an svg file OT crashed. Wish you luck. :)

[Willson Baer]

Just found out this other forum user put his numbered SVG's into the drawings folder and was able to import them from there, but I wonder if it wasn't the numbering that did the trick. I can't try because svg's crash OT but it might work for you.

[Herbert123]

That is not how you do it.

Drag your image into a frame in the x-sheet. Select that frame.

Then choose LEVEL--->CONVERT TO VECTORS in the menu. Maximize that window, and check the preview while adjusting the settings. Then convert, and done!

[JJ Parks]

I'm sorry Herbert, either I'm blind or just an idiot but I don't see the menu option that you are talking about. Dragging into X-Sheet worked but I'm not seeing any LEVEL menu. Sorry!

[BlenderBeetle]

you need to be looking in the 'level' section of the menu (it's not in the right click menu) check all of your rooms and you should find at least one with the level section. 

[JJ Parks]

Ooooh okay. Thanks guys! The changing menu options confused me there. I give you millions of Internet hugs to both of you :).

[JJ Parks]

I got it guys! Many, many, many thanks =). It's now working beautifully! For some reason my Mac installation had the "LEVELS" menu option and my Windows one didn't. Strange, but true. I'm just happy it works now ^_^.