Making a cartoon avatar

Flowers · Feb-08-07, 06:22 PM

Make an avatar like the following;

Alright so tons of people asked, and it's here.

PreReq's
Some basic knowledge of Flash and Gifs.

Somewhat computer literacy.

What you'll need:
A video clip. (preferably in the Mpeg format)
Macromedia flash. (You can get a trial here www.Macromedia.com)

K getting Started.

Step 1: Crop the clip you want in any video editing software. Make it short and to the point. Export this.

Step 2: Open Flash.

Click on file import and find the clip. A bunch of menu's will come up, just keep hitting next or the equivalent.

Step 3: Resize the gif

Resize it so it fits the whole screen.

Step 4: Add a layer

Make sure the blank one is on top. Lock the lower layer.

Step 5: Zoom in and grab the pencil tool

Resize the pencil lead in the properties bar. (If it's not there goto window then properties) A good size to use is 2.25.

Change your tool setting to smooth.

Step 6: Tracing the frame

This is the hardest part. You will have to go through and trace in every frame. If the video quality is crappy you will have to guess alot where arms and limbs are. Whenever a limb blurs over, I usually make the whole thing the arm so it creates a blur affect. Notice on the aerial of my avatar. Or the arms on the arabian.

Step 7: Coloring

On the lower frame hit the eye button. Now just color in each frame. I usually do one color for every frame. (Move to the next frame by hitting f6) Sometimes a color wont fill. You will have to adjust your lines till it does.

Step 8: Adjust and export
Hit Ctrl M and adjust the fps to your liking. When your satisfied export it as an animated gif.

Your done!!!

Notes:

A 30 frame animation takes about an hour for me.

Each frame doesnt need to be perfect.

Grenkutzu · Feb-08-07, 06:31 PM

Nice tutorial, doesn't look too tough either.

Cicero · Feb-08-07, 06:41 PM

Drawing every frame must take some time :/

Flowers · Feb-08-07, 06:43 PM

Not gonna lie. My avatar took me 5 hours.

Cicero · Feb-08-07, 06:51 PM

Fuck fuck fuck.

Benji · Feb-08-07, 07:31 PM

Haha, fuck. I only have Windows 98. I REALLY need to upgrade sometime soon. Cool guide though.

snahpuu · Feb-08-07, 11:03 PM

i've tried making cartoons and stuff on photoshop. it seems like the same thing? i'm not sure because i never toyed with flash. just CS2 and imageready.

Frostbite · Feb-09-07, 10:05 AM

thanks again for the tutorial!

Peleke · Feb-09-07, 10:55 AM

Ah! I Pm'ed you about this, ignore it.

Macromedia flash? Hooray for Bittorrents!

shengoikee · Feb-09-07, 10:59 AM

you made steve terada into a white guy haha

Feb-08-07, 06:22 PM	#1
Flowers Drama free since Septem User status: Offline Location: By Markle, IN Posts: 7,214 Age: 26	Making a cartoon avatar Make an avatar like the following; Alright so tons of people asked, and it's here. PreReq's Some basic knowledge of Flash and Gifs. Somewhat computer literacy. What you'll need: A video clip. (preferably in the Mpeg format) Macromedia flash. (You can get a trial here www.Macromedia.com) K getting Started. Step 1: Crop the clip you want in any video editing software. Make it short and to the point. Export this. Step 2: Open Flash. Click on file import and find the clip. A bunch of menu's will come up, just keep hitting next or the equivalent. Step 3: Resize the gif Resize it so it fits the whole screen. Step 4: Add a layer Make sure the blank one is on top. Lock the lower layer. Step 5: Zoom in and grab the pencil tool Resize the pencil lead in the properties bar. (If it's not there goto window then properties) A good size to use is 2.25. Change your tool setting to smooth. Step 6: Tracing the frame This is the hardest part. You will have to go through and trace in every frame. If the video quality is crappy you will have to guess alot where arms and limbs are. Whenever a limb blurs over, I usually make the whole thing the arm so it creates a blur affect. Notice on the aerial of my avatar. Or the arms on the arabian. Step 7: Coloring On the lower frame hit the eye button. Now just color in each frame. I usually do one color for every frame. (Move to the next frame by hitting f6) Sometimes a color wont fill. You will have to adjust your lines till it does. Step 8: Adjust and export Hit Ctrl M and adjust the fps to your liking. When your satisfied export it as an animated gif. Your done!!! Notes: A 30 frame animation takes about an hour for me. Each frame doesnt need to be perfect. Last edited by Flowers; Feb-08-07 at 06:27 PM..

Feb-08-07, 06:31 PM	#2
Grenkutzu Sage User status: Offline Location: Williamsburg,VA Posts: 760 Age: 19	Nice tutorial, doesn't look too tough either.

Feb-08-07, 06:41 PM	#3
Cicero Innocent Bystander User status: Offline Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 2,543 Age: 21	Drawing every frame must take some time :/

Feb-08-07, 06:43 PM	#4
Flowers Drama free since Septem User status: Offline Location: By Markle, IN Posts: 7,214 Age: 26	Not gonna lie. My avatar took me 5 hours.

Feb-08-07, 06:51 PM	#5
Cicero Innocent Bystander User status: Offline Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 2,543 Age: 21	Fuck fuck fuck.

Feb-08-07, 07:31 PM	#6
Benji Long Member User status: Offline Location: Bridgton, Maine and MD Posts: 840 Age: 19	Haha, fuck. I only have Windows 98. I REALLY need to upgrade sometime soon. Cool guide though.

Feb-08-07, 11:03 PM	#7
snahpuu jtkdkid User status: Offline Location: CA Posts: 295 Age: 21	i've tried making cartoons and stuff on photoshop. it seems like the same thing? i'm not sure because i never toyed with flash. just CS2 and imageready.

Feb-09-07, 10:05 AM	#8
Frostbite Member User status: Offline Location: Coimbra, Portugal Posts: 463 Age: 19	thanks again for the tutorial!

Feb-09-07, 10:55 AM	#9
Peleke Rawr. User status: Offline Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 1,227 Age: 17	Ah! I Pm'ed you about this, ignore it. Macromedia flash? Hooray for Bittorrents!

Feb-09-07, 10:59 AM	#10
shengoikee Member User status: Offline Posts: 11,020 Age: 22	you made steve terada into a white guy haha