How to Animate Walking in Illustrator
If you want to create complex animations, such as making a character walk, animation software like Flash is always the best option. But if you only need to create a simple walking motion, and can't afford animation software you can always animate walking with Illustrator.
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Instructions
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Compose your character elements in "Layer 1." Direct or three-quarter profile will probably be the easiest to animate. Build your character from five basic parts (you can separate them with sublayers to keep things easier): body and head, outside leg and arm above the body, inside leg and arm below.
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Position each element to start the walk. A good start would be the inner arm and outer leg rotated slightly forward and the outer arm and inner leg rotated slightly backward.
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3
Rename "Layer 1" as "Step 1" to keep track of the sequence. Duplicate the layer and name it "Step 2." Make sure "Step 2" is on top of "Step 1" in the layers palette. Layer order determines the order of the animation sequence (the bottom layer playing first and the top layer last).
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4
Lock the "Step 1" layer. Reduce the opacity of "Step 2" to 50 percent. This will create a tracing paper, or onion skinning effect. Using your shoulders or hips as anchor points, rotate the forward limbs back 12 to 15 degrees and the backward limbs forward by the same amount (the transparency will allow you compare the different positions). Select all of the objects on the "Step 2" layer and nudge them a few pixels in the direction you want your character to walk.
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5
Duplicate the "Step 2" layer as "Step 3." Lock "Step 2" and reduce the opacity. Position the limbs on "Step 3" and then nudge it a few pixels forward just as you did with "Step 2."
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Repeat until you create and positioned layers "Step 4," "Step 5" and "Step 6." By now the limbs should almost be in the opposite rotation from their original positions. Now duplicate "Step 5" as "Step 7," drag it to the top in the layers palette and nudge it forward the same distance as the previous layers. Repeat with "Step 4," "Step 3" and "Step 2" until you have ten layers each spaced a few pixels apart.
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Select all of the layers and set the opacity to 100 percent. Choose "Export" from the file menu. As you progress through the export dialogues, save your file as a Flash (swf) file exported as "AI Layers to SWF Frames." You can download the Flash player for free to play back your animation.
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Tips & Warnings
Sketch out your character in the various walking stages. This will help you get a sense of arm and leg positions.
You don't have to make your animation complicated. You can move each arm and leg as one object. If you bend the shoulders and hips slightly at the knees and elbows, your walk will look more natural.
