I just bought a scanner for my PC and trying to figure out how to actually use it to convert my drawn artwork into
a valuable and usable animation or background. Should I just make a shade of it and complete it on the pc or make all the animations on paper? Is there anyone who is using scanner who is willing to share some tips?
You should probably put an image for us to critique to, but this is my technique.
1. Draw an animation using traditional techniques from a tutorial like this one with a light blue pencil.
http://www.karmatoons.com/drawing/drawing.htm
2. Trace in a thin sharpie and scan.
(http://joelphilippage.webs.com/Scan1.jpg)
3. Run a threshold filter in gimp or photoshop on auto.
(http://joelphilippage.webs.com/Scan2.png)
4. Fix lines and color in whatever program you want
(http://joelphilippage.webs.com/9.png)
There you have an easily done and animated sprite.
Joel definetly showed you the way. Cleaning up lines before you scan them, adjusting contrast (in the painting software) also might help with making the line clear, or just use some black markers (with thin pen tip) and go over the lines, that way when you scan it'll be clearer.
Might want to use separate layers (so you don't mix up lines and colour, it'll be easier to modify later on), maybe even use separate shapes (for hands, shirts etc.)
I'd also recommend starting from basics (stick figure or something) to plan the animations and movement out then add in shapes and details. When you have it on your computer in different layers it's much easier to seee and control what you're doing.
Also you try using opacity of the layers (transparency) so on one layer you have the last frame that's not as seeable as the frame you're drawing...
Depends on what software you'll be using (very nice selection in the Critics Lounge topic http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=32234.0 - learn how to use one of those plus check how to actually do sprites and similar stuff for AGS, if )
There is also this: http://kafkaskoffee.com/tutorials/chartut.shtml