Use multiple layers to aid compositing/colouring in afer effects (in this case photoshop). Image sequences can be imported based on layer/file name so I can use the luma/alpha of the black & white layers to cut out ink or backgrounds rather than colour in with texture on each frame.
Start with the video frame, this is a sceenshot from QT - I will obviously export the movie frames as a sequence out of After Effects first as PSDs and organise them into shots.
Using the Cintiq and a simple pencil brush in photoshop trace the facial features and some basic shading.
Using a quick lasso and athe Cintiq make a rough selection to be used as the black areas, fill with black on a new layer. This will mask out any ink texture or footage that will be used to colour the areas.
This adds a lot of texture to the heavy areas with a very quick workflow. Making a selection takes seconds whereas hand shading these dark areas with varying texture/shadows would take a very long time. This also allows for experimentation during compositing and the fleibililty to vary the blacks.
In a similar manner a selection is made (in this case just using the magic wand - roughness is not an issue) to create a luma/alpha mask for the entire character. This won't be seen but can be used in compositing to stop the background showing through the muliplied layers and make the foreground pop. This could be a different texture that's lighter or pure white like here but as before this workflow allows for flexibility in later stages while working quickly in these production stages.
This will allow me to drop backgrounds back in focus just by using contrast - blurs etc. can also be used to create depth of field but the most dynamic element to consider is light and the subject must either be the lightest or the darkest element of a composition referring to photography rules. As the majority of the poem is set in a park at night then the general rule is going to be the narrator and characters will have a lighter layer behind the pencil lines
Start with the video frame, this is a sceenshot from QT - I will obviously export the movie frames as a sequence out of After Effects first as PSDs and organise them into shots.
Using the Cintiq and a simple pencil brush in photoshop trace the facial features and some basic shading.
Using a quick lasso and athe Cintiq make a rough selection to be used as the black areas, fill with black on a new layer. This will mask out any ink texture or footage that will be used to colour the areas.
This adds a lot of texture to the heavy areas with a very quick workflow. Making a selection takes seconds whereas hand shading these dark areas with varying texture/shadows would take a very long time. This also allows for experimentation during compositing and the fleibililty to vary the blacks.
In a similar manner a selection is made (in this case just using the magic wand - roughness is not an issue) to create a luma/alpha mask for the entire character. This won't be seen but can be used in compositing to stop the background showing through the muliplied layers and make the foreground pop. This could be a different texture that's lighter or pure white like here but as before this workflow allows for flexibility in later stages while working quickly in these production stages.
This will allow me to drop backgrounds back in focus just by using contrast - blurs etc. can also be used to create depth of field but the most dynamic element to consider is light and the subject must either be the lightest or the darkest element of a composition referring to photography rules. As the majority of the poem is set in a park at night then the general rule is going to be the narrator and characters will have a lighter layer behind the pencil lines