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Illustrating Characters for Animation in Adobe Photoshop

Unlock creativity with Skillshare! Learn acrylic painting, AI writing, graphic design, and photography.

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Free

This Course Includes

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  • icon3 hours 23 minutes
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  • iconOnline - Self Paced
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About Illustrating Characters for Animation in Adobe Photoshop

Class Trailer

Class Project + Materials

Introduction to Characters in Motion

Tips from an Animator, Part 1

Break Down the Brief

Quick Concepting

Theory: Character Proportions

Sketching Gestures

Take Your Own Reference Photo

Sketching Your Reference

Theory: Abstraction + Exaggeration

Abstract Your Sketch

Faces + Emotion

Tips from an Animator, Part 2

Color Blocking

Adding Texture + Details

Bonus: Draw an Animal

Theory: The 3 Tiers of Prep

Prep Your Design for Animation

Theory: Communicating with Animators

Celebrate + Pass Off Your File!

Thank You!

Bloopers :)

What You Will Learn?

  • Well-designed characters can truly make an animation or motion design project shine! This class is stuffed to the brim with actionable, conceptual and technical tips for illustrating your own character in Adobe Photoshop. We’ll specifically dive into the *pre-motion* process of designing your character for frame-by-frame or After Effects animation.As illustrators, we have the unique ability to invent quirky backstories, push body proportions - or even concoct a character out of, say, a rotten apple or a disembodied tooth! We’ll discuss how characters can be used to support animated storytelling. I’ll also begin to walk you through the multiple stages of building your own 2-dimensional character in Photoshop—from backstory, to sketch, to full on design. I’ll walk you through proportion, posing and more! And the best part is we’ll hear from a talented animator—my husband Tyler— who will provide some tips and tricks along the way.I’ll demonstrate my own personal character design process using Adobe Photoshop. You are also welcome to follow along in Adobe Illustrator or Procreate. A lot of the techniques are concept-based and can be used in multiple programs. This class is for you if you’re an illustrator who has never worked with animators before, a professional motion designer who wants to improve their skills, or even a fresh-faced beginner to the character design world.Lessons Include:.
  • Special thanks to Tyler Morgan (animator extraordinaire) and Mac Nelsen (amazing editor)..