Animating a Photoshop Illustration: Tips and Techniques

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Illustration Process
   1. Drawing the roughs
   2. Refining the illustration
   3. Adding colors and shadows
   4. Adding graphic elements
   5. Adding details and refining
3. Animation Plan
   1. Movements and actions
   2. Splitting the layers
   3. Redrawing and extending parts
4. Animating the Hair
   1. Using AFP hair rig script
   2. Steps for hair animation
5. Background Animation
   1. Creating movement
   2. Using loopout() expression
6. Sword Unsheathing Animation
   1. Moving the layers apart
   2. Keyframing the position and curves
7. Blade Highlight Animation
   1. Traditional frame-by-frame animation
   2. Importing and adding to the blade
8. Sleeve and Keychain Animation
   1. Using AFP hair script
   2. Linking the mascot and sword
   3. Adjusting amplitude for realism
9. Mouth, Eyes, and Eyelashes Animation
   1. Animating using puppet pins
   2. Flipping and masking for eyelashes
   3. Adding wiggle and rotation to highlights
10. Slicing Animation
    1. Designing the objects to be sliced
    2. Creating the slice effect
    3. Animating the split and fall
    4. Adding toss animation and effects
11. Conclusion
12. Subscribe for More Animation Process Videos

Bringing a Photoshop Illustration to Life Using After Effects

In this video, I will walk You through my step-by-step process of animating a Photoshop illustration using After Effects. From the initial illustration process to the final animated details, I will cover each stage and provide tips and techniques for creating a dynamic and playful animation.

1. Introduction

Before diving into the specifics of the illustration and animation workflow, I want to give you a brief overview of what you can expect from this video. We will start by discussing the inspiration behind the illustration and the desired animation effects. Then, I will guide you through the process of bringing the illustration to life using various techniques and tools available in After Effects.

2. Illustration Process

The first part of the video focuses on the illustration process itself. I will share how I created the base illustration, including the composition, colors, and graphic elements. We will explore the use of Adobe Illustrator to add bold graphic elements and ensure a clean and visually appealing composition.

3. Animation Plan

Once the illustration is complete, we will move on to creating an animation plan. This involves determining the desired movements and actions for different elements within the illustration. We will discuss the importance of layer organization and why splitting the layers can save time in the long run.

4. Animating the Hair

One of the key aspects of the animation is the hair movement. I will introduce you to the AFP hair rig script, a powerful tool for animating hair in After Effects. We will go through the steps required to set up and animate the hair, including Pin placement and adjusting the animation intensity.

5. Background Animation

To add depth and movement to the illustration, we will animate the background using simple techniques in After Effects. I will demonstrate how to Create an endless loop effect and provide tips on achieving smooth and seamless background animation.

6. Sword Unsheathing Animation

Animating the sword unsheathing is a crucial part of the illustration. I will guide you through the process of creating the opening and closing animation using position keyframes and adjusting the speed curves for a fluid and realistic movement.

7. Blade Highlight Animation

For an extra touch of visual interest, we will animate the blade highlight frame by frame in Photoshop. I will demonstrate how to import the animation into After Effects and integrate it seamlessly with the rest of the illustration.

8. Sleeve and Keychain Animation

Using the AFP hair script once again, we will animate the swinging sleeves and keychain in the wind. I will Show you how to link the elements together and adjust the amplitude to mimic the natural Momentum and inertia of a swinging object.

9. Mouth, Eyes, and Eyelashes Animation

Animating facial features can be challenging, but I will break down the process of animating the mouth, eyes, and eyelashes using puppet pins and Scale transformations. I will provide tips on achieving smooth and natural-looking animations for these elements.

10. Slicing Animation

An unexpected idea inspired by a game called Rhythm Heaven, I decided to add a slicing animation to the illustration. I will show you how to design the objects to be sliced, create the slice effect, and animate the split and fall using keyframes. This adds a playful and dynamic element to the overall animation.

11. Conclusion

In the final section of the video, I will summarize the entire process and showcase the finished animation. I will also encourage viewers to subscribe to my Channel for more illustration animation process videos and share their feedback and thoughts.

12. Subscribe for More Animation Process Videos

If you enjoyed this video and want to see more in-depth tutorials on bringing illustrations to life through animation, be sure to subscribe to my channel. Stay tuned for future videos where I will explore different styles, techniques, and tools for creating captivating animations. Thank you for watching!