User Guide

Academic Courseware: Chapter 3
Joyce Ryan
25
Chapter 3
Digital Ink and Paint Techniques
Once your storyboard is complete, it is time to create the art for the
animation. You want to create the art as efficiently as you can, and that
takes planning. Reusable elements, color palettes, naming conventions,
and file folder structure should all be thought out before creating any of
the final artwork.
The following is a typical production workflow for a 30-second
commercial:
• Create model sheets for all the characters.
• Read the audio track for timing.
• Create an exposure sheet.
• Rough out the animation.
• Complete the inbetweening and backgrounds.
• Pencil-test the animation.
• Clean up and ink the animation.
• Paint the animation.
• Put the finished art together with audio.
Creating model sheets
The purpose of a model sheet is to give as much visual information
about the construction of the character as possible. This is especially
critical if other animators will be working with your characters. They
will use your model sheet as a guide to drawing the characters. It is
essential in any animated production for the animator to stay “on
model.” The characters must be consistent from scene to scene. A good
model sheet will give an indication of the character’s personality and
what the character should look like through a variety of expressions. A
full turn of the character helps to visualize it as a three-dimensional
object.