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SWiSH Max: BASIC DRAWING |
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In this tutorial using the character in this example, you will learn how to
create a drawing using basic shapes. You will learn how to apply transparency
and gradient fills to shapes, transform gradients, and reshape your drawn
shapes.
The Rectangle/Square and Ellipse/Circle Tools can be used to create every shape
used to create the character in this animation.
If you are not familiar with the SWiSH interface, you may find it helpful to
read the Shape Panel, and Color Selector topics in the User Interface section
of the Help Manual before beginning this tutorial.
Drawing the Face / Using Gradient Fills
1. Select the Ellipse/Circle Tool from the Toolbox, Position the pointer over
the left top corner where you want to begin your shape, click and drag
diagonally until you have the desired shape.
2. With the shape selected, from the Shape Panel, select Line | None, and Fill
| Radial gradient; a gradient bar will appear.
Note:
By default there are two triangles above this bar; the left triangle defines
the starting color of the gradient (in this case the center color) and the
right triangle defines the ending color (or the outside color).
3. Click the left triangle and select the white swatch from the color palette.
Click the right triangle and from the color selector, click the small palette
icon in the top right corner to access the custom palette menu; choose a flesh
tone, and adjust the color as desired.
Drawing the Eyes / Adjusting Gradient Fills
4. Begin by creating the white area of the eye. Select the Ellipse/Circle Tool
and create a smaller horizontal ellipse, this time select Line | Solid, enter 1
in the width box and select black from the palette. Select the Radial gradient
fill, choose white as the starting color and a pink for the ending color.
The pink area should only appear around the rim, so we need to enlarge the
white area.
5. Click on the gradient bar just left of the right triangle, a third triangle
will appear. Select the white swatch from the color selector; this will
constrain the pink area along the outer edge, you can adjust the position of
this triangle by dragging it left and right along the gradient bar.
Note:
you can remove a color from the gradient bar by dragging the triangle past the
end of the gradient bar.
6. When you are satisfied with the gradient, select the shape, copy and paste
the shape. Place in desired position on the face.
Adding the Iris and Pupil / Changing the Alpha Transparency
7. Select the Ellipse/Circle Tool. Create a circle by holding down the Shift
key while dragging (this will constrain the scale so that it is uniform,
Shift-drag will create a square when the Rectangle tool is selected). Select
the Radial gradient fill. Choose black as the starting color and blue for the
ending color. Left click above the gradient bar somewhere near the center to
add another color to the gradient. Select black and drag to the desired
position. Click the blue triangle and change the Alpha value in the dialog box
from 100% to 60%. Select Line | Solid, change the Line width to 2, then click
on the color button and select a blue color from the palette selector. Finally,
click the color button again to adjust the line’s Alpha value from 100% to 33%.
8. When you are satisfied with this shape, copy and paste a second eye, then
center both within the white area of the eye.
Let’s add a little life to the eyes by adding some reflective light.
9. Select the Ellipse/Circle Tool and Shift-drag to create a small circle,
Select Line | None and Fill | Solid. Select white from the color palette.
Place over one of the eyes, resize if needed then copy and paste a second for
the other eye, and place over the other eye.
Drawing the Neck / Transforming Gradient Fills
10. For this task, the neck is a simple object to start with. Select the
Rectangle/Square Tool and create your shape. Select Line | None.
Note:
The gradient fill will default to the same colors, alpha value, and number of
points, as the last radial gradient or linear gradient fill selected while the
Shape Panel was active, so you may want to select the face with the Shape Panel
active, before you change the fill on this shape.
Select the Linear gradient fill. Instead of swapping the white and flesh tone
positions, Click on Transform tool from the drawing tool bar to select, and
then click on the Rotate/Skew tool. Drag one of the corner points and rotate
180°. With the Transform tool selected, drag right and/or left until the
gradient is positioned where you want it.
May need to change order of shape.
May need to set background to black
One last shape and you will be ready to finish this drawing on your own.
Note:
It is often easier to create a more complex shape by reshaping a shape that
you create with the Ellipse and Rectangle tools than it is to draw the shape
using the Pencil and Bezier Tools.
Reshaping / Adding the Crown and Bangs
11. Select the Ellipse tool and create a shape wider than the forehead. Select
Line | Solid and choose a line color that will contrast well with the
background and the face. Select Fill | None, and then resize such that the top
of the ellipse is at an appropriate position for the top of her head. Next,
drag the bottom of this shape until the shape’s center points line up where you
want the bottom of her bangs to be.
12. Select the Reshape tool, and right click on the bottom node, select Remove
Anchor from the menu. Remove the other two points remaining on the bottom half
of the shape.
After you have removed these points you will note that there are two control
points (circular anchors) that hang below If you drag each of these up to the
bottom anchors and towards the center of the shape, you can overlap and end up
with a fairly straight line at the bottom.
13. To make the part in the bang, you will need to right click along this line
and select Insert Anchor from the menu. Insert two more anchors along this line
and drag upwards on the anchor in the center to create the part. You can resize
and center if needed.
14. Fill the shape with the Radial gradient, choosing black for the starting
color and a reddish brown for the ending color. Transform the gradient to place
the highlight near the top of her head.
You have completed the basic tasks needed to create this character and are
ready to complete this character on your own. View susie.swi for
guidance in selecting the colors and alpha transparency as needed. |
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