Anime Studio tutorials: PNG foreground image with alpha transparency mask

Anime Studio Tutorials:

Adding foreground images with transparency
using PNG format with alpha channel

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part 1: foreground on transparency - part 2 - part 3 - part 4

Here's another common task: to place a static image with transparency in front of the main animated character.

In this example, the foreground was painted in PD Pro, using particle brushes (optipustics) with the style set to include Alpha, to create tall grass.

It only took a few brush strokes and seconds to create this after setting the parameters, starting from a 'Grass' preset. Here are some of the essentials:

Mass and Gravity are set so the grass dows slightly bend down.

Initial and terminal velocity is set for a big grass tuft effect.

Life span is increased for taller grass

Using mouse velocity gives some control with the hand to yank out larger tufts.

<<< The Style: Shrinking Lines+ (!) includes alpha channel rendering.

You can save the image with its alpha channel included ina 32-bit image, for example from menu: File > Save... by using the 'Default Targa' format.

However, Animestudio may not recognize the alpha channel in this Targa image file. But, the PNG format will work fine. Thus, save to the PNG format.

If you want to practice
and follow this tutorial,
use this file - tallgrass1.png

<<< Over now into AnimeStudio (v5.6 in this example), you may have the default scene loaded (e.g. the Winsor character) , close the Layer so it's a little easier to see what's what.

part 1: foreground on transparency - next: part 2 - part 3 - part 4

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