Comments on: Create a Basic Walk Cycle with Toon Boom

By: Cherico

Cherico — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:02:10 +0000

umm …
hmm..
i need help i have a walk cycle but im using a peg and i wish not to keep doin it over and over again … i know theres loooping but when i loop
i cant change the animation after like do i have to continue on a new scene ?
i want to make the character walk a certain distance and then stop and maybe start fighting guy or w.e i come up with :D
help would be appreciated

By: Blake

Blake — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:15:05 +0000

Thanks for the tutorial. I’ve used Flash and know how that works. This was a little more difficult. I was caught on creating motion. Once I learned that the transform tool just rotates and distorts the image, it dawned on me that the MOTION tool actually makes the images move. Thanks for the help.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:11:21 +0000

@cresshead, I completely agree with you that video tutorials are the way to go. I’ve been working on a “Getting Started with Toon Boom Studio” video series, and you aren’t kidding when you say there’s a lot more that goes into creating them. I’m doing my best to get that finished before there’s a Toon Boom 5!
I have tried my hand at video tutorials before, which you can see here on this page about creating an animated gif.

By: cresshead

cresshead — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:26:37 +0000

i’ve just bought toon boom studio, interesting that toonboom itself has only 1 video tutorial for sale…gee we’re making ‘animations surely video tutorials are the way to go rather than rext based training..do you think?

i believe the many stumbles posted above would be resolved with a video version, when i taught 3d modeling and animation [3dsmax and lightwave] at people’s college nottingham i created video training as srtudent simply watched and then did their version and it’s always going to show every step of the way..of course ‘time’ needs to be available to create the tutorials so it all depends on how much time it takes to record compared to writing out a tutorial and making screen grabs etc.

just my 2 pennies on this!

By: Will

Will — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:56:04 +0000

@Gabrielle, I think I may have confused you by saying “Camera window”. I wanted to distinguish between the camera view and the drawing view, but I fear I made it worse.

If you use the timeline to select the 3rd frame of the torso layer, you can then use the transform tool to move your drawing on the stage. Doing this will automatically create the correct keyframes.

So if you make the character move up on frames 3 and 8, and down on frames 5 and 10, you’ll see your little guy begin to move up and down like a proper walk cycle.

By: Gabrielle

Gabrielle — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:47:20 +0000

im having some trouble with the part right before it begins to move. i dont understand this part: “Select the torso layer and in the Camera window drag the element up on the 3rd and 8th frame and down on the 5th and 10th frame. You can add a bit of flair by using the rotation handle on the up frames to make your character rock from side to side.” i cant seem to get the camera element up on the 3rd and 8th frame. can someone plz help me?

By: Will

Will — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:47:29 +0000

@Bob, You need to use the Rotation tool to set your pivot points. Likely you’re using the Tranform tool, which is not permanent.

By: Will

Will — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:46:12 +0000

@Bob 2,

Assuming I understand correctly, there are two solutions:

1. In the timeline view, drag the layer you want to appear in the back to the bottom. Layers that are on the same level (meaning they are not a parent or child of each other) and are above other layers will physically appear above them as well. Thus, to make an arm appear behind the torso, move the arm layer below the torso layer.

2. You can also move the arm and torso layers backwards on the Z plane, which will effectively move it in 3D space. Choose the arm layer, then go to the Top view. Select the transform tool and move the selected item farther away from the camera. This will create a keyframe for that element. Note: if you already have a bunch of keyframes for the arm layer, you’ll need to create a parent peg for that item, then create a keyframe for the peg and adjust that in the Top view.

By: Bob 2

Bob 2 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:46:49 +0000

I am having some difficulties getting one arm and leg to be on screen behind the torso. This is the one thing that is stopping me from completing this little walkie of mine. Any suggestions?

By: bob

bob — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:20:38 +0000

Thanks alot Will. I hope you guys don’t mind answering a few more questions. I have used Flash so I’m used to having some object(drawing) on the first frame and inserting a key frame 20 frames later and having that same object appear in all the middle frames, but I can’t seem to do that here (any tips). My other question is on how to permanently change the pivot point on an object? I try to change the pivot point, but when I come back to the object the pivot point is always reset.

I’s appreciate any help.