Assuming there are keyframes, we will explain a pose-to-pose inbetweening process which uses shift and slide.

 

Refer to the following article to learn more about inbetweening.

 

1. Creating cels for inbetweening

1. We will add drawings to the following keyframes to make them move smoothly.

 

2. After drawing keyframes in an animation folder, we create another animation folder for the animation. Click the animation folder　(“Keyframe”) and select the [Layer] menu → [Duplicate Layer].

Here, we have separated the original drawings from the animation cels. While this step is not necessary, this may make it easier for animators with analogue animation experience to manage cels. It also acts as a backup for the keyframes.

 

3. The “Keyframe Copy” animation folder will be added to the [Layer] palette.

 

4. Double click the animation folder’s name and change it to “Animation”. While doing this, click the “Keyframe” animation folder’s eye icon and hide it.

 

5. There will be copies of the keyframes in the newly made “Animation” folder. Create a new layer between them by selecting the [Layer] menu → [New Raster Layer]. This layer “1a” will be the inbetween cel.

 

6. Place layer 1a on the timeline. Select the second frame on the [Timeline] palette and select 1a from the menu that pops up when you right-click.

Note: New cels cannot be edited until they are placed on the timeline.

When the timeline palette is not displayed, select the [Window] menu → [Timeline].

 

7. As layer 1a was set as the second frame, the previous second frame (layer 2) was removed from the timeline. To fix this, set layer 2 as the third frame.

 

2. Changing cel numbers

1. We will adjust the cel numbers to something easier to understand. First, click while holding [Ctrl] to select all of the layers in the “animation” folder.

 

2. Run [Animation] menu → [Specify cel] → [Standardize in order of layers].

 

3. The layer names will be changed to “1”, “2”, and “3”. The timeline palette display will update as well.

 

[3] Assigning keyframes to the light table.

1. Select the inbetween cel (layer 2) from the [Layer] palette.

 

2. Drag and drop cels 1 and 3 to the [Animation cels] palette’s [Light table specific to cel] to register. This makes it possible to refer to the cels while inbetweening.

 

HINT:

Images registered to the [Light table specific to cel] can undergo Scale up/Scale down/Rotate using the displayed handles.

Editing the images will not effect the original cels.

 

You can also edit the light table image using the icons on the [Animation cels] palette.

① Reset position of layers on the light table.

Reset the light table layer position.

 

② Horizontally flip layers on the light table.

Flip the light table layer horizontally.

 

③ Vertically flip layers on the light table.

Flip the light table layer vertically.

 

④ Switch opacity target between all / individual.

When on ([All]), the opacity slider will target all light table layers. When off ([individual]), the opacity of each layer can be adjusted individually.

 

⑤ Opacity control slider

Adjust the light table opacity.

 

⑥How to show

Click [How to show] to select the display mode of light table layers from [Color], [Half color], and [Monochrome]. [Half color] will overlay the color selected in [Layer color] on the cel or layer’s original colors.

[Monochrome] will convert the cel or layer to grayscale, and convert black to the [Layer color], and white to the [Sub color].

 

[4] Shift and trace (Japanese: Tap wari, タップ割り)

1. Create a new layer outside of the animation folder and name it “motion arc”. We will draw a motion arc based on the keyframes on this layer.

 

2. We have drawn an arc using the character’s nose as reference. When drawing an arc, think of the motion between the keyframes.

 

3. Mark the center (or any arbitrary position) of the arc.

 

4.　From the [Animation cels] palette, we will move the two keyframes on the light table to the mark set in 3. First, select “1” from the [Light table specific to cel].

 

5. In the [Tool] palette, the [Operation] tool’s [Light table] subtool will be automatically selected. Dragging across the canvas will move the image on the light table.

Note: For explanatory purposes, the line density of light table cel “1” and “3” are darker and lighter in the image above.

 

6. Similarly, drag “3” in the [Light table specific to cel] to the mark set in step 3.

 

7. To make drawing inbetweens easier, we will adjust the opacity of the light table images using the [Animation cels] palette. Adjust the opacity from the slider at the top, or click and enter a value in the upper right.

 

8. Overlapping the two keyframes makes it easier to draw inbetweens. When doing so, think of the character’s acting.

 

9. Parts with large movements(ex. hands) will be difficult to grasp with the current shift. For these parts, repeat step 1-8 for the individual part.

 

10. The inbetween is done.