Design with Harmony (character & background )

Design with Harmony (character & background)

Character Design

Character Design Basic Steps

• Research

• Sketching

• Construction

• Tracing

Research

• Find out what you want your character to look like

• think about where you want them to come from and the features and characteristics they should have

Sketching

• a rough version of your design

• building a solid shape

• doesn't have many details

• sketch different designs and variations

Construction

The very basis of your character. It will ensure that the proportions and shape are strong!

Tracing

Once you have sketched a rough version of your design, the next step is to trace it. Tracing lets you determine the final look and line style of your drawing, as well as refine its features.

***THIS IS NOT TRACING AN IMPORTED IMAGE

Multiple Select

Does tracing mean importing (OR copying and pasting) an image from Google and drawing over it? *Select all that apply

• no

• definitely not, that's plagiarism because it's not my work or idea...

• no, I'm not trying to get a ZERO & a referral!

• no, but I can trace over MY rough sketch of MY character.

Character Proportions

• A character's size is usually recorded in units of "heads"

• Human: 6 heads high

• Cartoony: 3 heads high

Multiple Choice

How many heads high should a human character be?

• 7

• 6

• 8

• 1

Multiple Choice

How many heads high should a cartoony character be?

• 7

• 6

• 3

• 1

Character Model Sheets

The character construction sheet will serve as your guide and your team's guide, in the event you are working with other animators.

They are the reference for a character. They show the character from all angles, in a variety of poses, and with a bunch of different expressions.

Multiple Choice

What is the character model sheet used for?

• a reference guide

• tracing final characters

• copy- pasting the puppet into scenes

Relative Size of Characters

a "Line up" is created so everyone on the team is aware of the difference in size between the various characters and objects. This ensures that the characters and props stay in proportion from scene to scene and there is an interesting variety in the size and shape of the various elements in your animation.

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the sheet containing all characters, showcasing their relative size?

• prop sheet

• character sheet

• line up

Background Design

Introduction to Background Design

Background Design

• Designing for a Purpose: know the reason for your background

• Research

• Just Start: don't be scared! Just start drawing!

Multiple Choice

When designing backgrounds, what is the overriding consideration you should keep in mind?

• that you make it complex to impress people

• that it serves a purpose

• that you use a lot of colors

Multiple Choice

What do you need to do to make sure the background environment you are creating is believable?

• research the location

• use your imagination

• trace over a photo (NEVER DO THIS!!! IT'S PLAGARISM!!!!!)

Composition Principles

• To make your image interesting and have a sense of depth, you can divide it into three different planes: foreground, midground, and background.

•  rule of thirds

• Mind manipulation

Rule of Thirds

These guidelines propose dividing an image into horizontal and vertical thirds to find the focal points, which are located where the lines intersect. The lines themselves are used as reference points to place elements within the image.

top-left to the bottom-right unless elements in the image direct the audience’s eye differently. 

Multiple Choice

How many focal points are there in a composition that is divided according to the rule of thirds?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

https://learn.toonboom.com/modules/background-design/topic/composition-principles?c=10

Multiple Choice

What is a good way to guide the viewer's eye to where you want them to look?

• put 2 very saturated colors together

• draw an arrow into your background pointing to that area

• contrast colors, shapes, sizes, etc..

Multiple Choice

If you want to create a background design that communicates calmness and stability, what kind of lines would you use?

• verticals and diagonals

• horizontals and diagonals

• horizontals and verticals

Multiple Choice

If you want to create a background element that communicates happiness and friendliness, what shape and color combination would you use?

• round and orange

• round and purple

• angular and black

https://learn.toonboom.com/modules/background-design/topic/unity-and-balance?c=10