Keyboard Triggers & Cycle Layers - ARCHIVED (Adobe Character Animator Tutorial)

[@albertdraper1157]

I propose a concept towards key triggers- setting groups of letters on the keyboard that are close together as emotional groups of expression. Sadness top left, anger bottom left, happiness top right, ambiguity bottom right.

[@albertdraper1157]

These videos are great. Thank you! The more the Merry Christmaser.

[@mus1307]

was looking for such a tutorial thanks

[@1murkeybadmayn]

My cycle layers just deforms. I don't think character animator can handle cycles that have a lot of folders. They are only 10 frames but have nested layers. I have no idea how to clear cache either or why old files just open up automatically in the same project all the time, so frustrating.

[@okaysamurai]

If something is deforming, try making it independent (add the crown icon to the group).

[@kobiwise4020]

You are the best..you always teaches what i have intended to know

[@lekkerfruit2208]

How can i put my character behind a layer from my background?

[@okaysamurai]

I would import as two separate elements - background and foreground. Import both of those and sandwich your character between them on the timeline.

[@lekkerfruit2208]

@@okaysamurai yeah it worked! Thank you

[@CryptoFeeders]

im working on a rig but triggers not working in my rig i do as same as in other rig in PS. also added cycle behaviour and a trigger like key A . but not working. can i show u a snapshot of rig stage? ist time using. Ca. folder under head: name is Mouth: under than Folder : Ah in that three layers 1, 2, 3 as in other right for cycle. then added a cycle behaviour in rig mode at right side and also add a finger icon trigger as a' key. but nothing happening. plz help. reply

[@okaysamurai]

This is an older tutorial - try kzbin.info/www/bejne/jau8e5WQjs2ro80 instead for an updated take on triggers.

[@DADAToons-c4d]

DO I HAVE TO ADD IMAGES OR I CAN ADD DIRECT .AI FILES .. BECAUSE WHEN I ENTER GROUP OF LIGHTING LAMP .. IT IS NOT SHOWING AS A GROUP SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GIVE CYCLE LAYERS

[@okaysamurai]

Ideally it should be a group of layers in an AI or PSD file. If the problem persists, please upload a video or screenshot of your issue to adobe.com/go/chfeedback and we'll try to help you out.

[@silviocosta1577]

Hoping this video it's not too old, I have this problem: when I choose a keyboard key for a trigger, the triggers panel doesn't show "Hide others in group" buy I see only "Block" (to show always the triggered object) and MIDI (I really don't know what's that) and the field "Triggers" in the scene panel (I mean the panel with the red circles) is empty. What's wrong?

[@okaysamurai]

Yes, this video is super old! You want to watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/jau8e5WQjs2ro80 to catch up on the latest setup.

[@ShentonMathew]

Another great informative video, the inclusion of key triggers are fantastic, and thanks for the tip about the 'hide others in layer' I was struggling yesterday evening trying to figure out how to do exactly that! Are there any plans to include MIDI data inputs? I would love to control my character and key triggers with my MIDI controllers. Keep up the great work, CH is becoming one of my most used apps in Adobe CC. Best regards to you and the team!

[@okaysamurai]

Thanks! There are plans. If you could see the prototypes I've seen your head would probably explode. Very cool stuff on the way...

[@mehranali4719]

Can we set to cycle layers having both hands with hammer and set to a swapset

[@okaysamurai]

Yes.

[@ablerisingfromhell1175]

Sir, I added a cycle animation of legs as a keyboard trigger but when i enter the trigger the character is hidden and only the cycle animation is playing.I am using privew version of A.Ch.

[@okaysamurai]

Sounds like an issue with "Hide others in group" being checked and what's in that group. If the character is disappearing that probably means it's in a group with the other stuff and getting hidden because of it - your best bet is to put your cycle layers animation in its own group, for example +Character > Body > Legs > with 2 groups inside, Default and Animated. Only Animated should have a key trigger with hide other checked.

[@PrankstaProductions8]

I need some help, how do i cycle layers to make a loop when i press a trigger? ive been trying for quite some time swaping out options, but all i can manage is to have the animation (cycle layer) loop when it's set to immediate, and that is obviously not what im trying to do, any one have any screen shots for a simple 3-5 frame cycle layer loop, that's trigger by a key, would look like?

[@okaysamurai]

Sure - all you need is to set Cycle to Continuously instead of Once in the behavior parameters. Evans the robot or Red Monster Live on the OKS puppets page have several looping animations as part of them.

[@JimmyBlimps]

How do you get multiple groups to cycle with one hotkey? I have 4 groups where each is a 4 frame animation of a dial spinning, and I want them all to spin at the same time so I set them up like you did the smoke in this tutorial but only one will fire. Even assigning each group a unique hotkey and simultaneously holding each down only one will play.

[@okaysamurai]

This tutorial is the old way of doing triggers - you probably want to check out "New Features Part 1" - which talks about the new Triggers panel. I'm working on an updated version of a triggers tutorial as well.

[@JimmyBlimps]

Sweet thank you :)

[@FlamyREC]

Hi there :) I've seperated my animated layers from the rest of the body and now can successfully trigger the animation without the rest of the body disappearing! But there is still a problem! I want to repeat the same process using the Head Turner for different head positions (I've created different angles of the same animation). Sadly the animation stays the same on all angles despite having different different animations labeled as frontal, left quarter etc.) I've even added Head Turner to the main group... Any solutions?

[@okaysamurai]

Heads can be tricky. This might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpmnnXZ7qrGtq7s. The Brooklyn Buddies on adobe.com/go/chexamples also have transition animations for head turns. But I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for exactly.

[@michaelkohler9831]

I’m not seeing a trigger section on my version is this part of an update?

[@okaysamurai]

This is an older tutorial - try this more updated one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jau8e5WQjs2ro80

[@michaelkohler9831]

Okay Samurai thank you very much

[@rachitaiyer9216]

Hi Okay Samurai. I'm trying to follow the steps you took to add the poof animation to my puppet. I downloaded the "poof", but once I go onto Character Animator to try and import it, the software treats each of the 10 PNG Files as separate puppets instead of all 10 images as one puppet. How do I fix this? Thank You.

[@okaysamurai]

I think I did it manually copying and pasting each one, but I think there's a faster way to do it - I believe there's an "image sequence" option on import you can check somewhere.

[@rachitaiyer9216]

Hi Okay Samuri. Even after your tip, I still couldn't bring all ten "poof" images into a group. Could you please explain how you imported your poof group into character animator? Also, in order for the "poof" group to show up in character animator, did you also have to add it in the illustrator file? Thanks!

[@okaysamurai]

The easiest thing would be to press "Add cycle" at the bottom of your layer panel in CH, then select the first png in your sequence. That will bring it in as a group with cycle layers already applied, and then you can drag that into your puppet inside CH. You don't have to add it to your main PSD/AI - you can import several effects and drag them in this way.

[@SETSUMEI]

Nice tut on how to use keyboard triggers. I have been using them all the time now for my videos. Keep up the good work. Question: Will there be a easier way to add mouth shapes manually for lip-syncing? Something like a keyboard caddy (used in flash and character animator) If so that would be AMAZING

[@okaysamurai]

Yes. It'll be in the next version and it's going to be 100x better than what we have now.

[@okaysamurai]

But for now, under the Lip Sync behavior try changing from audio input to keyboard input. If you press the first letter of a viseme on the keyboard, it'll trigger that shape.

[@Sketchflix]

Okay Samurai Amazing!! That will be a big game changer. Thank for all The hard work and the quick response.

[@NewbArchitect]

im stuck right now on a trigger. i want to make a 'blushing' color on the face. where to i place this trigger? i'm still using preview 3 btw. do i do +blushing ? or just 'blushing' and assign trigger? i did both but it doesn't do anything unless im supposed to add some kind of behavior? please help! thanks!

[@okaysamurai]

It sounds like you did it correctly, not sure. Independence (+) shouldn't matter. I don't have PV3 anymore so I don't remember what's changed since then!

[@NewbArchitect]

where to place it? i placed it within head and the head disappears. in the eye, disappears. i uncheck the 'hide' and nothing happens. is it how i drew it? im using illustrator drawing a circle, transparent 50% and blurred effect.. if this doesn't work, could i do this effect in AE? :(

[@okaysamurai]

Key triggers need to be on the actual group or layer you want to show/hide. So if you have a blushing artwork layer, that's what it needs to be added to.

[@okaysamurai]

You could do it in AE, but it'll just be more work tracking it to get it right - simpler in CH. Although that too would be easier if you updated to Beta CC since there's dynamic link now. Any reason why you're sticking with PV3?

[@NewbArchitect]

I tried updating but it gave me some network error. but ya, i treated this layer similar to how i created different eye triggers, but the blush layer never seemed to appear, which is really irritating. hopefully i can figure something out this weekend...

[@rue8682]

Hi, your videos helped me a lot 😊 but I'm having trouble with my cycle layers. I can't control its properties bc it's not appearing on my behavior panel. Any solutions? I can't find any tutorials to fix it.

[@okaysamurai]

If you select a group with Cycle Layers added to it, it should show up under "Behaviors" on the right. This tutorial is a little older - a newer one about triggers is here, and part 2 covers cycle layers in greater detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jau8e5WQjs2ro80

[@mewtwo3291]

Is it possible to create A default cycle?

[@okaysamurai]

Yes. If a cycle layers behavior is set to "immediately" then it will start by default.

[@mewtwo3291]

Okay Samurai thanks a lot, I want to try my best to emulate traditional 2d animation with the program, and I feel like some line boils and pre-made cycles would do the trick. I just got my hands on the program and Based on what I've learned, it seems like the possibilities seems endless.

[@okaysamurai]

Yeah! Check out Scribbles or the Baker character in the Limb IK pack on okaysamurai.com/puppets for some working examples of the line boil treatment.

[@extremesegaa9239]

Do you have a tutorial on moving a character off screen to on screen with only half body character(head to torso)?

[@okaysamurai]

I would add the Walk behavior to the character but only tag the waist. Then it will move left and right if you start walking and bob the character up and down - without needing to rig the whole body. Simple but effective!

[@extremesegaa9239]

Thanks will try that

[@extremesegaa9239]

Update Success: So I added the walk behavior to character, but it was making my puppet go crazy, figured out all I had to do was lower the strength to 0, add body speed to my liking, and start/ stop via left right key. This achieved exactly what I need a basic off/on screen movement.

[@RamKumar-nm5lr]

Your videos are really very helpful. I wish like you to make a video with multiple characters. Good job!!

[@okaysamurai]

I'm hoping to do a tutorial about a 2 character cartoon soon. Stay tuned!

[@georgehassab-alla2802]

Can I trigger behaviors (say like a transform behavior) instead of layers?

[@okaysamurai]

Yes - if the behavior has an animation associated with it (like moving left to right with Transform) you could make that as a Replay - look for the "Replays" tutorial on this channel for more info.

[@georgehassab-alla2802]

thanks a lot!

[@rockiessengonzi]

it would be nice to add total body motion capture "mocap" just like the ikinema action 2.0 did for maya and unity motion builder. Is that something you have in your pipeline of new features to come?

[@okaysamurai]

We would love to do this - I think it's very likely you'll see this in our future, particularly as standard webcam technology improves.

[@StarbubuGAMING]

where can i get these type of images for my cyle layers

[@okaysamurai]

Search online for PNG sequences or spritesheets.

[@StarbubuGAMING]

@@okaysamurai Thnxxxx

[@omniclipstudios1111]

How do you trigger with MPK mini?

[@okaysamurai]

Watch this tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5q2YZqLpMpkn5o

[@okaysamurai]

About 21 minutes in it talks about midi.

[@omniclipstudios1111]

@@okaysamurai I found it after watching it a little more and I'm using it now thanks. I just started learning this less then a few days ago and I'm already working on putting my character in a scene. I love the idea of using my MPK to control the character. I was up all night playing with it.

[@LookzA]

great informative video

[@logankramer6475]

i am not able to download the character from this site.. i am using mac. it always says that we can find the app to open this kind of file okaysamurai.com/puppets/

[@logankramer6475]

HELP

[@okaysamurai]

You might need to try a different browser - if you have CH installed, it should recognize that ".puppet" files are okay...

[@logankramer6475]

what is CH?

[@okaysamurai]

Character Animator. That's our logo / abbreviation.

[@rachitaiyer9216]

Hi! You make really helpful tutorials! I've watched almost all of them! I'm working on an animation right now. Is there anyway you can do a cycle animation to make it look like it was snowing? If so, how do you do that? Also, I've already exported my character animator project on to after effects to edit. If I decide to do the snowing cycle layer, can I export that in to after effects to combine it with my original project? Thank you!

[@okaysamurai]

Thanks! Yes - see the Okay Samurai puppet pack in the video description, there's a snowperson (Aurora) who has a snow particle effect (make a snowball puppet, add the particle behavior to it). For exporting, if you did dynamic link with AE it will just show up - otherwise you could rerender the PNG sequence OR do the snow as a separate scene / PNG sequence and overlay that as a new comp in AE.

[@jfiera4965]

My comment may be read or not . Its just I tried your software by using my own photos , but I can't find a tutorial of how to animate characters by using photos and not drawing them on the computer . If you can make one in the next update it will be great of how to use photos and animate them in Adobe character animator, it will be helpful thank you .

[@kabler6226]

Okay Samurai, Since the consolidation of Flash and Animate I've been confused. I'm having trouble finding an answer to my question and I know forums are always the best way to obtain information. But, I wanted to ask you directly. If I wanted to make a short five minute cartoon, what is currently the best way to create a frame-by-frame animation using Adobe software? I'm used to using Flash (now animate), but now I'm wondering if After Effects would be easier. Especially now that I have Character Animator.

[@okaysamurai]

I'd say it's two different tools in the toolbox to approach the same end goal. Any of those apps you listed will allow for a frame-by-frame level of animation, but have different ways of getting there. Personally I know AE better than Animate, so I've been going the AE + Character Animator route. I guess what is "best" or easier" depends on your knowledge going into it and what you're trying to make - my suggestion would be to try out CH for a dumb 10-second Instagram project or something using a premade example puppet and see how the experience and final product feels for you.

[@kabler6226]

Thank you for the great reply!

[@ElvisE46]

I have done all the thing you did in this video but triggers still do not work. Any Suggestions?

[@okaysamurai]

Are you definitely using the newest version (Beta 6)? Do triggers work for the template characters from the Start workspace, like Chloe (W, A, B, 1-6 keys)?

[@renvicar]

A few minutes ago , il ordered 4 items on your website and I have paid them through Paypal. Now , how downloading them ?

[@okaysamurai]

Which website was this? I don't sell anything on mine (okaysamurai.com).

[@renvicar]

Yes I really sorry I'm wrong , I apologize.

[@Wizalia]

I really need help, I can't seem to move simons arms, any idea how to fix it Okay Samurai?

[@okaysamurai]

Do you have the latest version (Beta CC)? And are you looking at him in a scene with him selected in the timeline?

[@tewanineelesh]

i want to ask you one thing that how can i improve my drawing i draw my characters very badly

[@okaysamurai]

I've been drawing for 36 years and still have a lot to learn! It just takes time and practice.

[@mysticrelaxationmusic8162]

I've never been so confused bro😂 you're moving so fast. But it's coz I rather like being told things like you're telling a baby so I understand the Why's and How's of every single thing, either way thanks for the tutorial it seemed to help others

[@okaysamurai]

This is an older tutorial, try this one instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWHUioasrd52h5o

[@TheGameSeekers]

Hi Mr. Samurai. I have a question. If I draw my characters head in both sides to turn will the motion capture work? or does it work only on triggers?

[@okaysamurai]

Yes, if you add a "Head Turner" behavior and have the right views, the head will turn with your own head in the webcam. Wendigo from the Start panel is a good example of how to set this up.

[@citrusn]

I have a question: Does Character Animator trigger eyelids? I've been trying to make it do that, but I'm not sure how.

[@okaysamurai]

Yes. See "Dude" from okaysamurai.com/puppets/ - he has upper and lower eyelids. Basically you should do eyelids or blink, and most people opt for blinks instead (eyelids can be twitchy depending on camera lighting/setup).

[@wattanaponchumphet5125]

Hi .. Okay...Can I use you Character for my presentation?

[@okaysamurai]

Yep, any of the puppets I put online are free for anyone to use however they want.

[@wattanaponchumphet5125]

lovely

[@fabiolamendonca8335]

Thanks

[@nebrag]

Muchas gracias!... Thank you a lot!

[@Ricardo-ns5hl]

a (obsolete) appears on keyboard activator and doens allow to do shit.

[@okaysamurai]

This is an old ARCHIVED video - see kzbin.info/www/bejne/jau8e5WQjs2ro80 for the more up to date version of triggers.

[@robinsonanimation]

when are you going to add the ability to draw right on it, instead of having to go back to photoshop, then after effects? this is the major drawback of character animator, having to get out of the program to do the whole production, it is a great idea, and I hope it eventually lets you drive if not is just an add on, if it was inside after effects and it had the capability to draw on it inside after effects it would be the perfect animation software. I am still using toonboom because it has the draw frame by frame right on it. besides the IK and forward k, and auto lipsync. I wanted character animator to replace it but I couldn't mask the eyes inside the white of the eyes, or do masks the same as in after effects, that and not being able to create my art on it, made me go back to toonboom, hope this can keep improving.

[@okaysamurai]

Yes, we hear that request often. The quickest way for us to get up and running was to rely on the more advanced drawing capabilities of PS & AI - but I'd imagine in the future you will be able to do composition in CH. I agree, even if I just had internal brush and pen tools I'd be good to go. Dynamic link with AE makes the workflow better between the two, but we have some more ideas on the way. IK and masking are on the potential future list as well - my hope is we're working towards a feature set that would fit your needs. Thanks for the feedback, I'm forwarding it on to the team.

[@robinsonanimation]

thanks for your reply I really appreciate it

[@ashRAFKSALIM]

I Love you