Digitizing & Inking Line Art Drawings

Series Summary

An animated cartoon usually refers to a series of drawings that correspond to each other in some way such that, if put together in sequence and run at high speed, they create the effect of live action…what we now know as moving pictures or “movies.” While in some ways we are far removed from the days of William Horner and the zoetrope, the fundamental principles of motion, optics, and human vision still govern the modern world of animation. Computers have taken the field a giant step forward, allowing for a more streamlined 3D animation process, adapting the techniques of stop motion animation. Above all though, the driving force behind the art and craft of animation is mankind’s desire to create, to imitate the breath and living soul of a thing, to bring an idea to life. In this free video series on how to draw animated cartoons, a professor of animation and interactive media will demonstrate how to work with hand drawings on the computer by scanning them and then inking and coloring them on the computer using the Adobe Photoshop and Flash programs. He discusses the basics of scanning, such as file size and resolution. Viewer will also learn about how Wacom tablets can be used in the digitizing process.

Video Transcript

"Hi. This is Cable, for Expert Village. Today, I'm going to be talking about digitally inking and painting your drawn animation for an independent animation project. Now traditionally, this would be done with specialty inks and paints and brushes and celluloid or acetate, photographed on film. But as this can take money and space and lots of resources that most of us don't have, we can use the digital equipment we have already invested in to get a similar look. Now, the techniques and principles I want to talk about in this series are no way exhaustive and they are, in no way, supposed to be the only way that you can do this. These are just techniques and tricks that I have tried that have worked for me. I would totally encourage you to find the way that works best for you and find the tools that work best for you and the equipment that you have, and make it work for you. A lot of experimentation is encouraged. Apple computer, Adobe software, Canon scanners, Wacom tablets are all the trademarks. And I have no affiliation with those products."