Scanner Darkly Effect

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Movie Facts:

* Each minute of animation required 500 hours of work by 50 animators

working full-time.

* After the movie was shot, it was then edited and picture was locked
before it arrived to the animators. Animators were in post-production for
roughly a year and a half.

* According to director Richard Linklater, filming was completed in 23

days; the animation process took 18 months.

This Effect Draws over every single frame of footage adding the effect
that turns normal video footage into a hybrid video/animation movie that
is un-like anything anyone has ever seen before
Step 1 Make your picture the proper size in PHOTOSHOP
(8.5x11)

Before choosing a Photo for this Assignment Open the photo using
PHOTOSHOP and make the picture size 8.5x11 inches

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Step 2 Create a new Illustrator Document, Open your
Picture in ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

Choose File> New. Change the name to Scanner Darkly

Set the New Document Profile to Custom, The Canvas Size should
be 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches tall. You may have to change the
UNITS to INCHES

Note: Setting this Profile to Custom will make your canvas size the
perfect size and resolution to print out your picture on a standard
8.5”X11” paper.

To open a picture or file in Adobe Illustrator you must go to

File>place, and then choose the picture you will be working with.
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Step 3 Lock Layer, Add Layer

(Tip) If you cannot see your layers tab Select Window>Layers
From the menu Bar

Since you’ll be drawing right over the top of your image you want it to
remain untouched, you’ll need to lock it on its own layer. In the Layers
palette, double-click the layer and name this layer Image. Create a
new layer to draw on by clicking on the Add New Layer icon at the bottom
of the Layers palette and call it Blacks.
If your Layers Window does not look like the picture above do not
proceed to the next step

SAVE your File, Make sure you save it as Scanner Darkly and
make sure that the file is saving to your Documents folder
Step 4 Select Pencil Tool
Select the Pencil tool, and check that the Fill color is black and the
Stroke color is None.

Your color selection should look like this picture above

with nothing in the square behind it.
Step 5 Double-click the pencil tool

Double-click on the pencil tool and change the settings to those

shown here:

Step 6 Start Drawing

Start drawing. Start by drawing thin black outlines around major
forms and fill in the darkest regions. If you need more control, you can
switch to the Pen tool and draw exact curves or straight lines; I prefer to
draw quickly with the Pencil tool and then manipulate the results
afterwards by using the Direct Selection tool to refine the shape and the
Pen tool to add more lines.

Tip: Toggle the Eye icon on your Layers palette to hide the Image
layer to check your results as you go.

The Pencil tool, unlike the Pen tool does not apply Fill or Stroke
until you release the mouse, which is a particular advantage since it often
hides edges you need to trace as you draw them. If you release the
mouse before you completely circumnavigate the shape you are tracing,
you can simply draw another shape that completes the shape. Or if it is
completely wrong, you can press Command Z to undo that last action
and redraw it. If your line is jagged or rough, you can use the Pen tool to
delete extra points to smooth out the shape. Deselect the shapes after
you’re satisfied with them by pressing Command Shift A

Note: this step will take several hours as it is very time consuming and requires
you to draw over you entire picture
On you LAYERS palette you can click the Eye on and off to better show
your Black Layer, To do this just click the eye off on your Scanner Darkly Image
Layer
Step 7 Start the Color

Once you have finished with “inking” the blacks, you’re ready to begin
painting in the color.
Create a new layer underneath the Blacks layer and call it Calor
that you are working on like BROWN.
Each color will have its own layer and be divided into at least three
tones, each with its own sublayer. Press I or use the mouse to choose
the Eyedropper tool and select the appropriate colors right from the
photo. Drag the color from the Toolbar into the Swatches palette
(Window>Swatches). When you’re satisfied with your color range, double-
click each color individually in the Swatches palette to set the swatch
options and check the Global box.
This will make it easy later on to optionally replace all instances of
that color by simply adjusting the swatches. Make sure you are on the
right layer and press N or use your mouse to switch back to the Pencil
tool. Just like you did for the blacks, color over the reference image with
the Brown shapes. Finish all of the Brown shapes before moving on.
Step 8 add more color

Now that you have finished all the Brown create a new layer and select the
next Brown Color to work on. Repeat the process of drawing over the
reference image to fill in each new color.

Note: This picture has 4 different Brown and each has its own layer

Tip: Toggle the Eye icon on your Layers palette to hide the Image
layer and check your progress.

Step 9 Stay Organized

It’s important to stay organized with your layers because there will be
lots of shapes and colors to keep track of by the end. If you don’t stay
organized, it can become a huge headache to refine the shapes later on.
The Blacks layer should remain on top at all times, and each new
group of colors they should go underneath the previously finished ones.
That way you are always filling in behind what you’ve previously finished.

TIP: If you are done with a layer you should LOCK it by clicking the
lock icon just next to the Eye icon
Step 10
Try to describe accurately the forms with your shapes, and don’t be
afraid to play around with colors until they mesh well. Some parts of the
picture, such as people’s faces, will require emphasis and greater detail.
You will probably have to add a few additional colors to increase depth
and to draw attention to those regions.
Step 11 Turn off the Image layer
Once the whole image is filled in, turn off the Image layer and clean up
the illustration. I usually create a correction layer on the bottom that can
be used to quickly fill in the gaps and a layer on top to cover over any
ugly spurs in the shapes. Then unlock the Image layer and drag your
reference image to the side to compare it with your drawing. Continue to
manipulate the image until you are happy with the results.

SAVE your File, Make sure you save it as Scanner Darkly and make
sure that the file is saving to your Documents folder