Walking Animation: Legs
Created by: Graham

Step 1: Set the Canvas

Click on the "New Image" button to create a new image:
– Width and Height = 100 pixels
– Background color = White
Click on OK.

Turn on the Rulers and Guides: Go to View || Rulers and then to View || Guides.

Step 2: Draw a Leg

On your new canvas you need to draw a leg with two overlapping ovals each on a separate layer.

Make sure that the Tool Options palette is visible; if it's not, turn it on by clicking on the "Toggle Tool Options Palette" button.

Create a new layer and label it "Top Leg".

Click on the Preset-Shapes tool in your Tool palette:
– Shape = Ellipse
– Retain Style = checked
– Create as vector = unchecked
– Line Style = Default line (Solid line)

Highlight the "Top Leg" layer in your layer palette and draw an ellipse starting near the top of the canvas. Make the ellipse 15x50 (watch the third set of coordinates in the Status bar at the bottom of the PSP program window).

Next, use the Magic Wand tool:
– Match mode = RGB Value
– Tolerance = 0
– Feather = 0

Click inside the oval just drawn.

Set your foreground style to Solid Color (click on the arrow in your Foreground-Style box and choose the icon on the left) and your foreground color to white. Your foreground texture should be None and the Lock option checked.

Click on the Floodfill tool in your Tool palette and then inside your selection to floodfill it with white. Deselect with Ctrl+D (Selections || Select None).

Now, duplicate this oval to create a new layer: go to Layers || Duplicate and label it "Bottom Leg".

With the Mover tool, move the Bottom Leg down below the Top Leg. The exact positioning of the legs is not important momentarily.

Now let's set the guides: Start at the top of the canvas within the ruler area and draw down a guide to about 10 (use the Status bar for the coordinates). Then draw down a second guide to about 50.

Using the left-side ruler area, draw a guide to the right to about 50.

Now we will position the ovals. Your Mover tool is still active. Move the Top Leg oval so that the top of it is at the cross hairs of (10,50) and the vertical line is in the middle of the oval.

Then move the Bottom Leg oval so the top of it is at the cross hairs of (50,50) and the vertical line is in the middle of the oval.

Well done, we have a leg!

We no longer need the rulers so turn them off (View || Rulers). However, leave the guides active.

Step 3: AnimWalk First Step

First duplicate the leg image four times (Windows || Duplicate or Shift+D) so that you've got 5 images now. Select one of the duplicated leg canvases.

Highlight the "Top Leg" layer in the Layer palette. Go to Image || Rotate:
– Direction = Right
– Free = checked with a value of 5
– All layers = unchecked
Click on OK.

Highlight the "Bottom Leg" layer and go again to Image || Rotate, just change the value for free rotation to 20.

Your Mover tool is still active; use it on the Top Leg and center its top on the vertical guide at the top horizontal guide (10,50).

Move the Bottom Leg to the left and center it on the top leg and with its top part on the middle horizontal guides (50,50).

Turn off the bottom layer in your Layer palette and highlight one of the top two layers. Then go to Layers || Merge || Merge visible.

Now copy the "Merged Layer" (Ctrl+C or Edit || Copy) and paste it as a new layer (Ctrl+L or Edit || Paste || As New Layer) on the first canvas as the top layer. Center it over the other leg using the top horizontal and vertical guides.

Finally, drag this layer below the "Top Leg" layer in your Layer palette and label this layer "First Step".

Save this image as "/tutorial/html/tut7eff/Walk1.gif".

Step 4: AnimWalk Second Step

Close the image just merged as it is no longer needed and use the second duplicated leg canvas done above.

Highlight the "Bottom Leg" layer in your Layer palette and go to Image || Rotate. Leave the settings as are, just change the value to 25.

Highlight the "Top Leg" layer and rotate it as well, but with Direction = Left and a value of 5. Then center both ovals again.

Turn off the bottom layer in your Layer palette, highlight one of the top two layers and go to Layers || Merge || Merge visible.

Copy the "Merged Layer" (Ctrl+C) and paste it as a new layer (Ctrl+L) on the first canvas as a top layer, and name it "Second Step". Center this new layer in the image.

Turn off the "First Step" layer and save this image as "/tutorial/html/tut7eff/Walk2.gif". Close the merged image you just worked on.

Step 5: Best Foot Forward

Select the third duplicated image and turn off the bottom layer in your Layer palette. Highlight one of the top two layers and go to Layers || Merge || Merge visible.

Then go to Image || Rotate, leave the Direction = Left and set a value of 20.

Copy this leg (Ctrl+C) and paste it as a new layer (Ctrl+L) in your original canvas. Label this layer "Straight Leg".

Center this leg and close the merged leg canvas you just worked on.

Step 6: Bend it Back a Bit

Select the last duplicated canvas, highlight the "Top Leg" layer and rotate it to the right with a value of 15.

Highlight the "Bottom Leg" layer and rotate it to the right with a value of 45. Center the legs.

Turn off the bottom layer and highlight one of the top two layers, then go to Layers || Merge || Merge visible. Copy it (Ctrl+C) and paste it as a new Layer (Ctrl+L) in the original canvas.

Center the leg and label this layer "Bent Leg". Close the merged image you just worked on.

Step 7: AnimWalk Third Step

In your main canvas, turn off all layers except "Bent Leg", "Straight Leg" and "Background".

The "Bent Leg" layer will be on top of the "Straight Leg" layer in your Layer palette.

Save this image as "/tutorial/html/tut7eff/Walk3.gif".

Step 8: AnimWalk Fourth Step

This is similar to Step 7, only this time place the straight leg on top of the bent leg.

Go on you can do it.

Save this image as "/tutorial/html/tut7eff/Walk4.gif".

Step 9: Let's Go for a Little Walk!

Go to File || Jasc Software Products || Launch Animation Shop. When Animation Shop has opened go to File || Animation Wizard.

In the first four dialog boxes, just click on the "Next" button. You should now have a dialog with an "Add Image" button; click on that button.

In this dialog box, find the folder that has all your walking legs in it. Add the images as follows:
– Walk3.gif
– Walk2.gif
– Walk1.gif
– Walk4.gif

Then click on "Open". Click on "Add Image" again and add "/tutorial/html/tut7eff/Walk1.gif" and "/tutorial/html/tut7eff/Walk2.gif" a second time so you have them twice in the dialog box.

Now order the images in the dialog box as follows:
– Walk3.gif
– Walk2.gif
– Walk1.gif
– Walk4.gif
– Walk1.gif
– Walk2.gif

Click on "Next", then on "Finish". You should now have a row of 6 frames.

If you now go to View || Animation you will see your legs moving rather fast!

Click on the row of frames to make them active, then press Ctrl+A (Edit || Select All). Right-click on one of the frames, go to Animation || Frame Properties and make the Display time = 20. Click on OK.

Your legs (well not yours but you know what I mean) should now be strolling. If they are well done!! If it has worked send me a copy and your views on the tutorial, I'm always interested.

Next time we will add the body and arms. (I hope!!)