Animate a character

1 Prepare in Photoshop

Use your custom character created in Photoshop. Note: you may use any other tool that edits PSD file folders. In this example, the character is segmented with different sprites. There are six layered parts: head, left and right thigh, the hip (torso), left arm and the right arm.

2 Apply PSD template

Open the template (see tip above) and grab the character. Realign it, centre the pelvis point, and then start playing with the individual parts. In the template you will see a RL image folder and a subfolder for arms, hands, head and hip. Bring the individual sprite layer into the folder.

3 Face and body pivots

Delete the initial picture. Notice that we have all the pivot points for the face. Align the pivot points we have, with the joints in the top and bottom of the head, then the bottom of the neck. Align the torso and the pelvis followed by the arms, elbows, wrists and the end of the hand.

4 Pelvis pivot points

Now let’s align the Pelvis pivot points. In order to better see it, you can drop the opacity to see the rounded area of the upper leg. Go to Opacity and drop it for the torso; that way you can see the pivot point. Put that joint right at the radius of that semicircle. Adjust the pelvis.

5 Leg pivot points

Align the pivot points for the knees (left and right shank). For the bottom one, you will see the crosshair, so select all of them and bring them up. The red line is the guide for the floor. Put the blue line vertically through the character. When you are ready, save it as a PSD file.

6 Import into Crazytalk

Open CTA3 and open a G3 free Bone character on the left side of the toolbar. Choose the file you saved. As soon as you open it, the bone structure will be set. When previewing you can play with the individual body parts and you can do this with any character you create.