Walk Cycles

[boojiboy]

Ok I wasn't sure where to post this thread but seeing as though this one seems to have a tutorials thread and similar ones here it is.
I've seen alot of post from ags artists (beginners and not) about walk cycles. I myself would like to know how it's done.
I'm sure there are many ways to do it and I'm sure alot of different members use different methods. Is it possible for some more experienced members to post how they do their walk cycles. Not detailed tutorials (although welcome), just an explanation and maybe some images.
I'd love to know specifically the amount of frames you need to make for a walk cycle and the way you import frames into AGS.
I know there are a couple tutorials on them (not many though) but I'm more looking for experienced artists to share their techniques. Could be quite helpful to alot of us.
Thanks

[Tuomas]

It's pretty einfach. And you can't actually be told how many frames to use, some prefer less, some more. It's up to you, shjould you want your character to walk very smoothly or a bit rough. Though too many frames can make it look horrible. THere are some stances I repeat in a walking animation.

First the person starting to take a step, the feet are somewhat together, but the tension is visible, the hands start going.

Then the other leg starts reaching forward and the other is left behind a bit, remember, that all the time the hands sway on the opposite sides, when left leg goes back, the right hand goes too.

The third is where the character is stepping down, so basically this is as far as he/she can reach, at this point the toes might not touch the ground. On the other hand, the other leg is stretched backwards and standing on the toes.

And fourth is where the legs are coming back, so basically the weight is on the leg that reached forward at first, while the other gets off the ground in order to move.

After that they're back together, and you repeat the same stuff the other way around.

I'll post images later if you still want. when I draw, I first get the stances, maybe make a plain 4 colour character move smoothly, and then start really drawing it, making those details. So I usually use 8 frames. There are different schools for this, you can also try only 4. Oh, and the more you put them, the more you should consider how much it changes between each frame, because otherwise it might not look so smooth in certain places, because of too big gaps.

[boojiboy]

Excellent yeah I'd love to see pics.
Q: Do you draw the entire character by hand? Or do you copy and paste the body (except the legs and arms) and animate the rest?

[EagerMind]

Look at this.

[SSH]

And this

[Tuomas]

I draw them by hand, actually I mod the one before to look like the second. Copying the torso and moving only legs and hands would make it lok stupid. While you walk, there's hundreds of muscles in your body that work. You don't just stay stiff.

[Darth Mandarb]

Just for future reference (not sure it was mentioned in your other thread ... too long to read it all) ... but this is the "Critics Lounge".

You now have 2 threads in here that have nothing to "critic".

There was no need, in the first place, for two seperate threads and neither really belong in here.  Damage done, so no big deal.  Just thought I'd offer that for future reference.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Please edit this post when you have a walk cycle for critique.

[boojiboy]

Yeah ok fine I'll edit the post when I have a walk cycle to critic. But I did mention that I wasn't sure where to put this posts. The an entire tutorials thread in the c & c section which doesn't really belong. If you can suggest where else I can put these posts I'll gladly shift them, otherwise just delete it or leave it.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Locked until some work is provided for critique.