What does your animation desk look like ?

[johncbeggs]

Well heres mine , dont laugh :) jk you can laugh, but I built it with my dad and it gets the job done.
(I hold the paper up with these stickers I placed on it)

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu41/johncbeggs/MyAnimationDesktop.jpg


what does your animation desk look like :) post a pic

[JayTea]

Heh... Whatever works :D
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=22

[CanAur]

johncbeggs

Very inspiring photo! Sometimes i wanna do something like this )))))
But still i work with a tablet and digital programs...

[lavallelee]

it's better than nothing! i was thinking of getting one of these starter kits?

http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/index.php/cPath/25_39?osCsid=20d84858fb7716c014780e340a9020af

any recommendations on which starter kit?

[zanekohler]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2349353770_7e8e061c75.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2349356088_dab4859d41.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2349354526_b9809ace76.jpg?v=0

Here is my set up. Ha...there are few Bluth related items with in the photos. These were taken last year...so I swear it was not planted in ;-)

I still have my first light table I made in high school wood shop. That thing is a beast! Heavy and big. I don't use it any more. Like mentioned before, It got the job done.

I will throw in my book collection. I love looking at what other people have because many times I discover something I don't have

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2212/2352494566_a386f19c84_b.jpg

[IzzyS]

wow Zane! I'm jealous!

[AnimatorX]

I only have a photo of the top of my desk. I love being an animator. You can have toys at 36 years old and no one looks at you funny :P

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c45/beerbeastredux/desk.jpg

[zanekohler]

Ha ha True... I like the collection! is that a Mystery science theater 3000 character?

Thanks for the comment IzzyS.

[AnimatorX]

Yep, that's Crow.

[JayTea]

johncbeggs

Very inspiring photo! Sometimes i wanna do something like this )))))
But still i work with a tablet and digital programs...
So the guy flying the stealth fighter wants to ride a pony? ;)

[JayTea]

it's better than nothing! i was thinking of getting one of these starter kits?

http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/index.php/cPath/25_39?osCsid=20d84858fb7716c014780e340a9020af

any recommendations on which starter kit?

If you really have that kind of money available -I'd suggest one of the rotating animation disks.
Being able to turn the drawing any which way is a really big help - esp. when doing clean-up. I was darn near thrilled to hear that they emulate this rotating function on the Cintiq pen display.

For those who are working with pocket change (like me) you might find a suitable light at a second hand store or yard sale. Get a cardboard box like I've done. A clear or white plastic cutting board from the kitchen wares department of someplace like Wallmart. If you can stand the problems of using round peg bar holes (when misaligned, the holes tear or the paper bunches up) you might make your own pegs with some wooden or plastic dowels glued to the surface. Cartoon Supplies also has inexpensive plastic peg bars, both traditional round/slot and all round, for about $5

With what you save you can buy all of Don's DVDs, a sizable supply of pre-punched paper, and/or zanekohler's book collection.

[Don Bluth]

Heh... Whatever works :D
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=22

Now that is pretty inventive... I love it! Good work.

[johncbeggs]

yeah Jaytea has a really cool one :)

mine is made out of car speakers box cut on a slant with the same light inside it, I never really had the chance to view a real animation desk before . :) thanks guys

[IzzyS]

yeah Jaytea has a really cool one :)

mine is made out of car speakers box cut on a slant, I never really had the chance to view a real animation desk before . :) thanks guys
that's very cool :D!

[johncbeggs]

thankyou CanAur for the kind words :)

I will take a better picture this one makes it look really ugly (its not that ugly) lol.

[JayTea]

Now that is pretty inventive... I love it! Good work.

Thank you Don. :)

[johncbeggs]

that's very cool :D!


thankyou too IzzyS

[JayTea]

I wish I had thought to take pictures of my desk at the various places I have worked. A very minor missed opportunity.
I did sketch my desk at college :)
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=23
Can anybody tell me what important item is missing from this image?

[CanAur]

JayTea


So the guy flying the stealth fighter wants to ride a pony?

No, i mean I want to draw first of all at the paper, and my tablet is VERY simple for all that i want to make. I prefer make the sketch lines with pencil, then i scan it and finish my picture with PC. I always start with paper.

[JayTea]

Ok, CanAur, that makes sense. My comment came from a bit of "hardware envy", if you will. It is likely that even if I were to get the best tablet available I would probably still make my best work with pencil on paper. Simply because that is what I learned on.

OT: I noticed that the images I posted to this forum do not show up if I am not logged on.
There is not even any indication that an image is there. Apparently a one-pixel transparent GIF is served up in its' place. My I suggest that gif be changed so it displays a short message like "you must be logged in to see this". It looks like off site storage is necessary if one wants their images available to guests.

[zanekohler]

OT: I noticed that the images I posted to this forum do not show up if I am not logged on.
There is not even any indication that an image is there. Apparently a one-pixel transparent GIF is served up in its' place. My I suggest that gif be changed so it displays a short message like "you must be logged in to see this". It looks like off site storage is necessary if one wants their images available to guests.

Oh good, I thought I was going crazy when people were commenting on your posts. I kept thinking what are they talking about!?!??! Yeah I checked the source code in my craziness and saw the 1 px gif as well. I would love to see the images :(

Edit: I noticed you are logged on now and I still can't see the images?

[CanAur]

---
zanekohler
No offtopic discussions here!
Please send questions like this only to admins or moderators.
The forum is very young, so it can have some bugs for the first time.
---

David Nethery:

My Cintiq is retrofitted into my animation desk, so I have the Griffin Powermate knobs mounted to the surface of the desk with "high-tech" method ... push pins

Cintiq + TVPaint animation desk
http://www.prodisney.ru/phpBB2/files0/powermate_setup_419.jpg
Griffin Powermate knobs . One used for rotation function of virtual animation disc , the other used for "flipping" drawings by scrubbing back-and-forth over drawings in timeline.

http://www.prodisney.ru/phpBB2/files0/knob_mount_109.jpg
Powermate knob held to surface of desk with push pins

-> http://www.tvpaint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1766

[JayTea]

Powermate knob held to surface of desk with push pins

-> http://www.tvpaint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1766

Oh, now that is sweet.

[johncbeggs]

Yea canaur has one hell of a cool desk setup :)

[DNethery]

Yea canaur has one hell of a cool desk setup :)

Hey, that looks like my animation desk set up ... wait a minute ... IT IS my desk set up ;) (posted from the TVP Animation User Forum (http://www.tvpaint.com/v2/content/article/community/gallery.php).)

The Cintiq lifts out if I need to so I can put a traditional animation disc in there if need be.

-DN

[johncbeggs]

Hey, that looks like my animation desk set up ... wait a minute ... IT IS my desk set up ;) (posted from the TVP Animation User Forum (http://www.tvpaint.com/v2/content/article/community/gallery.php).)

The Cintiq lifts out if I need to so I can put a traditional animation disc in there if need be.

-DN

so that is yours and not CanAUr's or am i just completely confused

[DNethery]

so that is yours and not CanAUr's or am i just completely confused

The Cintiq mounted in the traditional animation desk shown above is mine.
Originally posted on the TVP Animation User Forum here:

http://www.tvpaint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1766

[IzzyS]

so that is yours and not CanAUr's or am i just completely confused
CanAUR was showing off DNethery's desk that he found off of the TVP forums

[johncbeggs]

oh I get it now :)

well DNethery thats an awesome setup you got :)

[CanAur]

DNethery

Sorry, I didnt knew that it's yours! :D

[CanAur]

DNethery
Sorry, I didnt knew that it's yours! :D

[DNethery]

DNethery

Sorry, I didnt knew that it's yours! :D

No problem . :)

I was just surprised to see it cross-posted from the thread at the TVP user forum, so I thought I'd comment on it .

I've posted the same photos on my blog, so once it's out on the web I have to expect a photo ends up being more or less "public domain" .

I was actually going to post that photo or one like it to this thread when I noticed it was already here.

Actually , I do have another view of this same desk I'll post here:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_MOm49oFYn1E/SdihNebnGkI/AAAAAAAAAb4/B-N40m5hTWc/s400/DavidN_Cintiq.jpg

This is me at my old studio when I first got the Cintiq and had it retrofitted into my animation desk. (the desk is made by a company called Cartoon Carpentry which is unfortunately not in business anymore.)

The other photos that were from the TVP forum are from my present studio and also show the set up I use with the Griffin Powermate controllers which are used to scrub through the timeline to simulate rolling/flipping the drawings and to control other functions within the TVP Animation (http://paperless-animation.blogspot.com/)application that I use for paperless animation.

[lavallelee]

so lucky i wish i could afford a cintiq, one day! one day....

:D

awesome set up DNethery

[DNethery]

so lucky i wish i could afford a cintiq, one day! one day....


Yeah, the Cintiqs are nice and good for a lot of things, but don't let the lack of a Cintiq stop you from animating. Just get a good old lightbox with a peg bar or ideally an animation disc mounted in a lightbox (http://www.animationdesks.com/) . (or make one yourself : DIY Animation table (http://brockorama.blogspot.com/2006/05/do-it-yourself-animation-desk.html) and plans for DIY Animation table (http://inklingstudio.typepad.com/photos/animation_desks/animation_table_plan.html).)

Almost all the work I do these days is done remotely , with files sent in over the internet , so the Cintiq is great because I don't have to mail physical artwork or spend hours scanning when I'm on a tight deadline. If the volume of work justifies the cost then a Cintiq is worth it (and you can write it off as a business expense if you're making your living doing it)

But for learning animation nothing beats pencil on paper . The tutorials that Don Bluth is posting on this site look great . I wish something like that had existed when I was starting off.

[zanekohler]

DNethery,
That is a very sweet set up! I like the second photo as well in action. I think like many here I have to add I would love to have one. Also when you mention the scanning factor. Just yesterday working on a class assignment made wish for that very reason. Having to scan in all the paper then rotating and color correcting for each drawing. One day. As anything it gets cheaper as time goes on. :D

[DNethery]

DNethery,
Having to scan in all the paper then rotating and color correcting for each drawing.


What are you scanning and coloring with ? There are some relatively inexpensive animation programs available which do a good job scanning animation drawings directly into the program , with no rotating or additional processing required . Digicel Flipbook Studio does a good job as does ToonBoom Studio. Of course , you can also scan drawings directly into TVP Animation, though in my opinion TVP is really best for paperless animation drawn directly into the program with a Wacom tablet. (however, it is certainly possible to scan and import pencil on paper drawings to TVP . There is a setting in TVP called "Scan Clean" which will strip out the white/grey of the scanned paper and let you adjust the darkness of the line so the scanned images come into the program clean. But if I were only working with traditional pencil on paper I'd probably recommend Digicel Flipbook Studio as a less expensive alternative to TVP . A lot of people like Digicel Fllipbook, including this guy: Digicel Flipbook Testimonial (http://www.flipbookpro.com/movies/DonBluthComplete.wmv)

[johncbeggs]

Im officially a Digicel Flipbook Studio fan , looks great and I can bypass all the scanning problems I had and scan them right into the program. :)


Here is a link to what Digicel Flipbook can do :

http://www.flipbookpro.com/FlipBook6Videos/Intro/Intro.html

[AnimatorX]

DNetherly, that's a sweet setup. I use a Cintiq at work, and I can't recommend it enough. This is the future of animation folks. A cintiq in conjunction with Toon Boom animate or Storyboard Pro is tops.

For you studentsout there, save your cash and buy one. Do whatever it takes. Avoid eating out or buying coffee or video games or going to some bar. Save yo cash and ker-purchase one of these things asap.

[johncbeggs]

DNetherly, that's a sweet setup. I use a Cintiq at work, and I can't recommend it enough. This is the future of animation folks. A cintiq in conjunction with Toon Boom animate or Storyboard Pro is tops.

For you studentsout there, save your cash and buy one. Do whatever it takes. Avoid eating out or buying coffee or video games or going to some bar. Save yo cash and ker-purchase one of these things asap.

I dont believe it is the future at all ,atleast not for me, I would rather spend my whole life with pencil and paper just to create a film like one of Don Bluths.

(I had a chance to use one at capilano university with the traditional animation students during an open house I went to, they all were standing behind me watching me draw it was really fun) But nothing beats paper and pencil :)

[CanAur]

I dont believe it is the future at all ,atleast not for me, I would rather spend my whole life with pencil and paper just to create a film like one of Don Bluths.

Agreed. I dont really think the way of future art is only digital drawings.
There will always be a "pencil" and "oil paint".

And digital painting and oil animation are my favourite.

[AnimatorX]

I'm not saying digital is the only way to go. I'm just saying it helps streamline a lot of the process. Especially the storyboarding stage. I was trained with paper by Disney and Bluth artists. I prefer it. I love rolling and flipping. But as time goes on you'll be expected to learn the digital techniques if you want a job at a major studio. Every big studio is changing over in some way. It's just wise to become accustomed to the process so when they ask you if you're qualified for a specific job you can say, "yes".

[johncbeggs]

I'm not saying digital is the only way to go. I'm just saying it helps streamline a lot of the process. Especially the storyboarding stage. I was trained with paper by Disney and Bluth artists. I prefer it. I love rolling and flipping. But as time goes on you'll be expected to learn the digital techniques if you want a job at a major studio. Every big studio is changing over in some way. It's just wise to become accustomed to the process so when they ask you if you're qualified for a specific job you can say, "yes".

The cintiq Is really cool I'm not saying its not and I can draw on it really freely and I am definitely going to own one some time in the future if I have the money, but I believe a lot has to do with an artists hands and the computer will try to mimic that and does and it does an okay job. :) but hey If you are really good at it and can bring back that traditional feel then it would certainly speed up the process ,that I would love to be apart of. :)

[Snapai]

Here's mine-
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7978/deskshot.jpg

The animation disc on the wall is one my dad and I built from a round tabletop from the hardware store when I was still in school. I got rid of my animation table when I moved the time before last, but that disc is staying with me!

I stopped animating on paper once I got Toonboom, and discovered that it took less than half the time to draw it exactly the same way on the computer. No less drawing or thinking involved, simply shuffling paper around less.

The laptop is my portable system, and serves as my chat/stream console when I'm at home and broadcasting my work on ustream. The two TVs flanking my monitor are hand-me-downs from my grandparents, and are mostly unused. (one for console gaming, the other as a monitor for my home server, not visible in this picture)

The tablet in the center is just about the cheapest you can buy - an Aiptek 12000U (http://www.aiptek.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=R-HP12U&Category_Code=T1&Store_Code=AS), which is cheap enough I can put my dinner plate on it without worrying TOO much. :)

And after seeing DNethery's Griffin Powermates on here, I had to get one - that's sped my animation up even more (how else can you flip three seconds worth of animation on your light table with a single finger motion?)

The Coca-Cola is imported mexican Coca-Cola from the local grocery store. They make it with cane sugar. :9

[zanekohler]

Sweet set up Snapai! I am definitely going to have to get me a copy of toon boom and play around with it. I have used flash more... but when drawing in flash with a tablet I find it is not to accurate with the lines. How is it in Toon Boom?

Also have to love the Mexican coke! man what a difference. :D

[Snapai]

Well, Toonboom only supports Wacom tablets ( @#&*^$ing sell-outs >:| ), and otherwise puts an automatic "ink style" on the lines. But in general it works pretty well. That turnaround in my gallery thread as well as all the animations in there were done in Toonboom :)

[JayTea]

BTW, which version(s) of Toon Boom are y'all using?
A look at their download page shows:
Flip Boom,
Animation-ish,
Toon Boom Studio,
Toon Boom Animate,
Toon Boom Storyboard,
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro,
Toon Boom Pencil Check Pro.

And how usable is the trial-ware?

[Snapai]

I use Toonboom Studio, v2. Bought it when I graduated college.

Back then it was still available as shareware.

[Hana]

I've never used Toonboom =O What's it like compared to flash?

Also here is my desk. It's not really an animation desk or anything haha just where I work. It's got so much candy everywhere. I'm hoping to upgrade my tablet soon.
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb249/picormdwe/lj/omgdesk.jpg

[skellener]

I've never used Toonboom =O What's it like compared to flash?These days, expensive. ;)

[Snapai]

Flash is designed for making interactive web things.

Toonboom is designed for doing traditional 2D animation. :D

Apples and oranges. Though I haveta say, I've done some animating in Flash, and even though everything I needed was there, it was like pulling teeth, compared to toonboom.

Basically, Toonboom behaves like an X-sheet, light table and multiplane camera, and pretty much assumes you're going to be doing frame-by-frame animation. Its interface is designed to streamline that.

A random example:

Flash's onionskinning shows you the previous and next frames in a specific range of time.
Toonboom shows you a certain number of the previous and next drawings, regardless of how far away they are.

So if you're trying to put something between two frames that are forty frames apart, you just set it to 1 previous, 1 next, and you're all set. To then inbetween those, you don't need to change anything, just go to a frame between them. And just keep going.
With Flash, if you only wanted to see the previous and next frames while filling in a shot, you'd be adjusting the width of the onionskinning after every drawing.

[Regan]

Toonboom Animate has a real nice set of brushes...they are very very very accurate. They look like real pen lines.

I want to get that sucker.

[skellener]

It's all pretty subjective. Use what works for you.

[DNethery]

BTW, which version(s) of Toon Boom are y'all using?
A look at their download page shows:
Flip Boom,
Animation-ish,
Toon Boom Studio,
Toon Boom Animate,
Toon Boom Storyboard,
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro,
Toon Boom Pencil Check Pro.

And how usable is the trial-ware?

I own and occasionally use ToonBoom Studio v 4.0 (though I usually use TVP Animation (http://paperless-animation.blogspot.com/). But if I need a vector app I'll use ToonBoom Studio.
I can rough animate in TVP Animation with it's great pencil tools, then export the roughs to ToonBoom Studio to clean up with a vector line if vector art is asked for by a client.)

You asked about Trial Ware:

I have the Personal Learner Edition of ToonBoom Digital Pro .

Even though it is vector it has some better "natural media" pencil tools that "sort-of-kinda" feel like real pencil line. (for rough animation.)

The PLE edition is free. Try it. But now they are calling it "ToonBoom Animate Pro" (http://www.toonboom.com/products/animate/trial.php).

TB Digital Pro is pretty good. Very complicated interface. I wish I could take classes from someone who has used it before . (I think basically ToonBoom Digital Pro was at one point considered the single-user license version of ToonBoom Harmony. Based on the latest marketing I'm seeing from ToonBoom they have changed the former "TB Digital Pro" to "TB Animate Pro". Also, recently ToonBoom bought Cambridge Animation Systems, the maker of Animo . It will be interesting to see if Animo support continues or if features from Animo will be rolled into ToonBoom Harmony or ToonBoom Animate Pro (or Digital Pro) . If I had to use a vector app I think I'd like to use ToonBoom Digital Pro (or ToonBoom Animate Pro, whatever it is going to end up being called.)

At this point I feel ToonBoom is available in too many "flavors" and they keep changing the name of products too often. Just the past couple of years has seen ToonBoom "Solo" become ToonBoom "Digital Pro" , which has recently been re-named ToonBoom "Animate Pro" .

[JasonCampbell]

Pic on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoncampbell/2149436135/sizes/l/in/set-72157607360704611/)

It's a little blurry, I think I took it with my iPhone.

[Regan]

Pic on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoncampbell/2149436135/sizes/l/in/set-72157607360704611/)

It's a little blurry, I think I took it with my iPhone.

Wow, that's an amazing setup. Is that a Disney desk? Love the Sword in the Stone poster.

[JasonCampbell]

Yeah thats a Disney desk, I got it a few years back. I found some doodles on it that let me track down the guy who used it on Lilo and Stitch, he sent me a pic of it from that time.

It's awesome.

[Regan]

Yeah thats a Disney desk, I got it a few years back. I found some doodles on it that let me track down the guy who used it on Lilo and Stitch, he sent me a pic of it from that time.

It's awesome.

That's really cool. Is the framed drawing next to the desk Little John from Robin Hood?

[JasonCampbell]

no it's Sir Ector from Sword and the Stone, my favorite film, I am trying to collect an original pencil of each of the characters, I have him and wart/arthur so far.

[johncbeggs]

jason , that would be my dream setup right their :)
what a perfect area for drawing :)

my room is soo small I can barely put a bed in it!

[fanimation]

Pic on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoncampbell/2149436135/sizes/l/in/set-72157607360704611/)

It's a little blurry, I think I took it with my iPhone.

That is a great set up Jason, and it's history is so cool! I have to get a new picture of my animation desk. I have this very old one from when I was a kid back in 1985 (I was such a dork!:laughing:). Even though the Black Cauldron was not my favorite Disney movie (check out the poster in the background), It was out around the time of this picture. I did like that they tried to make it a darker film but it did not turn out very good. Anyway,the animation desk means a lot to me. My grandpa made it for me. He was a very creative man and he worked with his hands all the time. There was noting he could not make. He always loved my art and supported me in doing it. When I was in high school I mentioned to him that I was saving for an animation table. Unknown to me, he did a little research on them and a month later brought it over to me. I was so happy and surprised.

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww141/fanimation/MeandmyAnimtiondesk.jpg

My grandpa is gone now and I miss him so very much, but, I still have that animation desk he made for me and it still works so great after all these years!

John J.

[Regan]

Black Cauldron! I remember my parents took me to see that at the theater and I loved it. I haven't seen it since then...I have a feeling it would ruin my good memory of it to see it again.

[Regan]

I started watching Black Cauldron on YouTube :shifty:

So far I don't remember any of it. It's very dour. :eek:

[lavallelee]

i dont think i ever saw that movie, i would like to see it

[IzzyS]

I loved the Black Cauldron the times I saw it, a lot of people I knew, though, weren't fond of it at all. Gergy had to have been my favorite character of that film

[Snapai]

Well, not so much my animation desk but

Here's a mod I just finished on my animation disc!:
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9793/lightdisc.jpg

It's two rows of white LEDs, on a reflective back, with a jack that connects to a 12V switched adapter. So now I can animate on my lap anywhere I can find an outlet. :D

(it unfortunately doesn't look anywhere near as good in person as it does in the photo, though - the brightness of the LEDs is washing out the entire surface, so it looks awesome in the photo. :laughing:)

[lavallelee]

are you sitting infront of a green screen??

few more days and my animation desk should arrive in the mail, can't wait to post mine!!

[Snapai]

are you sitting infront of a green screen??

few more days and my animation desk should arrive in the mail, can't wait to post mine!!

Yes. Sort of.

Here's a worse picture of a better view, that shows you how it's actually set up:
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5684/greenscreenmagic.jpg

It's a queen-size fluorescent green sheet I bought from Target, and put up on a frame made from PVC. It works reasonably well, and makes a decent backdrop for filming etc. :D

[WillW]

looks awsome, I'm about to start building mine soon, couldnt afford a professional animation disk though so I got me a cheapish perspex disk one. Gonna use an old table stand to sit it on lol, also I got 2 10w strip lights which I'm going to wire together so I only require one plug. Should look great once its done, though its debatable if it will be ready for the CGP though.

I have my capturing device ready though : D I used a broken tripod to hold the camera up. I bought a EasyCap capture card which is actually used for capturing DVD videos and putting them onto the computer but I found it worked as a method for testing frames too, Cost ?15 and works like a charm!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/tyokio/101_2692.jpg

[feliceworkshop]

Snapai your Animation Disk is the shizznait! :D
roughly how much did it cost to put it together?.......
In regard to the queen-size fluorescent green sheet you bought from Target, is that a table cloth? is it reflective plastic or cloth?......do you recall the brand?
Sorry for all the questions, but I've been looking all around for those, but couldn't quite find something that worked for me.......

[Snapai]

Snapai your Animation Disk is the shizznait! :D
roughly how much did it cost to put it together?.......
In regard to the queen-size fluorescent green sheet you bought from Target, is that a table cloth? is it reflective plastic or cloth?......do you recall the brand?
Sorry for all the questions, but I've been looking all around for those, but couldn't quite find something that worked for me.......

It's a queen-sized BED SHEET.

Target has stuff in all kinds of tacky colors. Much better selection of fluorescent green and orange bedsheets than Wal*Mart has :laughing:

The animation disk itself is something my dad and I made back when I was in college - it's a round piece of tabletop that's been routed to the correct size, with proper channels for the rulers and glass, then the rulers themselves made those small strips of wood you can buy at Home Depot.

I went out today and got some white computer-case-lights, a plastic back, and an emergency blanket (cheap mirror stuff) to make the light out of. Wired the entire thing up to a 12V AC>DC converter that I got from an LED sign that my work was throwing away. :D

[feliceworkshop]

Kudos to you sir! :cool:

[jeremyhopkins]

Looks great! Very impressive lightboard hack! Just make sure you don't hurt your back by animating on your lap :P

[BrioCyrain]

it's better than nothing! i was thinking of getting one of these starter kits?

http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/index.php/cPath/25_39?osCsid=20d84858fb7716c014780e340a9020af

any recommendations on which starter kit?

Yeah I could use some starter recommendations as well to research into!

[GdeSouza]

I found the drafting table at the side of the road and made a hole in it with some help from a guy on another forum:
http://www3.telus.net/drard/mysetup.jpg

[WillW]

I found the drafting table at the side of the road and made a hole in it with some help from a guy on another forum:
http://www3.telus.net/drard/mysetup.jpg

wow! lucky find : D

[zanekohler]

I found the drafting table at the side of the road and made a hole in it with some help from a guy on another forum:
http://www3.telus.net/drard/mysetup.jpg

Awesome Job, very sweet set up!

[Lifed]

Mine's starting to look a lot like that. I have an old white desktop about that size and I'm just trying to figure out how to build the disk and fit it in. Aside from that though, my animation desk is a teeny old desk with my computer and a bunch of junk on it. But I've had my eye on a nice big L shaped desk for a while and I'll begetting it next week probably. Then I'll be able to fit my wacom cintiq which should come soon, AND my animation desk which should be done soon. So I'll be full of different media :D

[lavallelee]

Here is my first animation table!!! Just set it up last night!!! My office might be a little plain right now, i just moved in. Eventually it will be overloaded with stuffs

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=111

and some of my books

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=112

[Lifed]

Did you build that, or buy it? It's a nice compact desk.

[lavallelee]

Did you build that, or buy it? It's a nice compact desk.

I bought it from Cartoon Supplies

http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/product_info.php/cPath/25_44/products_id/76?osCsid=d7571434a0dea0d2849abb283ef43186

One of my best investments, ever!

[zanekohler]

I bought it from Cartoon Supplies

http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/product_info.php/cPath/25_44/products_id/76?osCsid=d7571434a0dea0d2849abb283ef43186

One of my best investments, ever!

Yeah they very are cool desks. It was one of the ones I was looking in on getting.

Well Congrats on getting it!! Looking forward to the work you will do on it!

Nice to see a pic of it set up...and your books! ooh jealous of the cartoon Modern book. Have not picked that one up yet.

[lavallelee]

Yeah they very are cool desks. It was one of the ones I was looking in on getting.

Well Congrats on getting it!! Looking forward to the work you will do on it!

Nice to see a pic of it set up...and your books! ooh jealous of the cartoon Modern book. Have not picked that one up yet.

Its a really cool table, really hard to get used too. But it is my first time drawing on a lightbox. One of my deciding factors on why i picked this one (because there were many to choose from) was this in its description;


Studios using our Pro include DreamWorks, Sponge Bob, Cartoon Networks, South Park, Leap Frog and more.

*sponge bob laugh*

http://4mchan.org/Forum/gallery/2_13_05_09_6_16_22.jpeg

[zanekohler]

*sponge bob laugh*


Sadly...or maybe just the genius of Tom Kinney but I can hear the laugh perfectly echoing in my head. :laughing:

[lavallelee]

Sadly...or maybe just the genius of Tom Kinney but I can hear the laugh perfectly echoing in my head. :laughing:

Then i have succeeded ;)

[WillW]

south park using light boxes? not sure how they'd be using them for cut out animation. I heard from some where that they use maya but I imagine thats not right.

[CanAur]

I heard from some where that they use maya but I imagine thats not right.

No, they use toon boom

[Mithmeoi]

south park using light boxes? not sure how they'd be using them for cut out animation. I heard from some where that they use maya but I imagine thats not right.

That's what several of my mentors on AM had told me, and I see it in their newer animations where it could be since there are a lot of shots that are blatantly 3D. Though in the beginning it did start out as just paper cut outs.


No, they use toon boom

I have heard of it but I don't know much about it. It's possible? Though I keep hearing otherwise. What all can it do? I thought it was just 2D and smaller simpler animation things...

[lavallelee]

I think they use everything really, Matt and Trey have so much money. I am sure they use lightboards for sketching and concept art. Probably.

http://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/southpark/

They do use Maya, and Photoshop.

[IzzyS]

I think they use everything really, Matt and Trey have so much money. I am sure they use lightboards for sketching and concept art. Probably.

http://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/southpark/

They do use Maya, and Photoshop.
honestly? reading the above, I doubt they use lightboards/boxes. you don't exactly need a lightbox to sketch out ideas. if they use digital programs, they don't even need paper at all. (I've never really found South Park all that great to me)

as a personal thing. I've found using lightboxes easier to ink drawings than to sketch them. but who knows, they could use them

[Snapai]

No, they use toon boom

I have heard of it but I don't know much about it. It's possible? Though I keep hearing otherwise. What all can it do? I thought it was just 2D and smaller simpler animation things...

Toonboom company makes a bunch of different software. They also acquired USAnimation years ago, whose software then became ToonBoom Opus, now ToonBoom Harmony - that's the digital ink and paint software that was used to color Triplets of Belleville, Simpsons etc. I believe the latest name includes all the TBS features too.

Toonboom Studio (the one I've used) was originally designed as a digital vector-based analogue to traditional animation. It stripped out most of what Flash does, and had just a drawing view which has an x-sheet and light table controls - and a multiplane camera view, which dealt in familiar terms - cel levels, cameras, peg bars.

Looking at their latest version though, they've added bone systems and kinematics and "automatic frame replacement" and just....a lot of features that don't make it any better for doing 2D animation, but probably make it easier to sell to limited-animation studios. :P

I was kinda' annoyed that they sold out to Wacom, and so none of their versions support the standard interface for tablet interaction on PCs. (WinTab API) I'd have to buy a tablet that costs 4 times as much for Toonboom to recognize pressure sensitivity. *grr*


...but yeah, South Park uses Photoshop, Illustrator, and Maya, according to wikipedia - because the 3D render makes it look like construction paper sitting on a camera stand, apparently.

[DNethery]

...but yeah, South Park uses Photoshop, Illustrator, and Maya, according to wikipedia - because the 3D render makes it look like construction paper sitting on a camera stand, apparently.

Yep, they use Maya for animation . They don't use Toonboom on "South Park" unless they just recently switched to it (which doesn't make sense because their production pipeline is already set up for Maya) .

The article that LavelleLee linked to explained very clearly how Maya is used to simulate the look of the original crude, paper cut-out animation with the "jumpiness" of the cut-out look , but in a more controlled manner suited for the demands of television mass-production schedules:

http://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/southpark/


"To duplicate that analog jumpiness today, the animation crew employs Adobe Photoshop and Maya.

?It?s incredibly fast,? says Stough. ?It used to take three months to do a show. We?ve gotten it down to six days.? The animators scan the original construction paper characters and backgrounds. ?We have a 10-year library of props and backgrounds and characters that we recycle and reuse,? says Stough. Those scanned images can be used as textures in Maya. The 3D modeling application can easily duplicate the physics of working in the real world with paper. ?With Maya, we have puppets now and they?re grouped together as if they were glued together,? says Stough. ?It?s kind of like a virtual camera stand in a computer. But instead of using a computer to make the animation smooth, the artist has to go in and make it jumpy.?

By the way, to get this back on topic, I just created a new sub-section of my blog which illustrates different types of animation equipment available , including desk options. I created the page as a handy reference for my students, but anyone can access it :

Hand Drawn Animation Equipment (http://animation-studio-stuff.blogspot.com/)

[Regan]

By the way, to get this back on topic, I just created a new sub-section of my blog which illustrates different types of animation equipment available , including desk options. I created the page as a handy reference for my students, but anyone can access it :

Hand Drawn Animation Equipment (http://animation-studio-stuff.blogspot.com/)

Cool! That's very helpful.

[johncbeggs]

Heres a better picture of my completely homemade animation desk sofar

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu41/johncbeggs/Animationdesk.png


The new homemade peg bar works extremely well, better than I could have thought :laughing: papers don't even budge :D

I suggest this to any younger member on here to make one because, it work. :D

this will help me before my real peg bar and paper gets here.

[lavallelee]

thats awesome, its on top of storage containers lol

dont you need leg room? :)

[johncbeggs]

Im 6'1 so my legs have no problems with the setup :laughing:

oh thats not my room just to tell you, this is the area by the door I claimed it as my spot :laughing: the walls were already that ugly bluey purple color.

[simba]

I like your set up john. What are the pegs made of.

[GdeSouza]

.......

Hand Drawn Animation Equipment (http://animation-studio-stuff.blogspot.com/)

Yes. Very cool thank you.
JOhncbeggs, I also made pegs for standard 3 hole punch. I used 3/8" dowels which worked well with pre-punched Xerox brand multi-use paper.

[johncbeggs]

I like your set up john. What are the pegs made of.

I bought this at the dollar store:

ruler with holes
http://www.schoolpak.com/prodimages/08-113-50.jpg

these pencils fit perfectly in the holes of the ruler, they are made of tough plastic when you cut the ends off! I bought the non glitery ones :laughing:
http://www.funservicesinc.com/catalog/images/Glitter_Bendable_Pencils.jpg

then just buy some wood and plastic super glue.
:laughing::laughing:

the pencil pegs might sound funny but really even the led is just hard plastic! they are not the same size as a normal pencil and fit the holes perfectly :D

hope thats a better explanation, yes yes laugh away because I am!


The storage under my animation table works great

[BrioCyrain]

Hmm, Still haven't been able to set up an animation desk. I have a desk right now but it's a flat surface and I can't think of anything so it would be at the angle of an animation desk, and would still need to attach some peg bars. So lost on what to do.

[johncbeggs]

Hmm, Still haven't been able to set up an animation desk. I have a desk right now but it's a flat surface and I can't think of anything so it would be at the angle of an animation desk, and would still need to attach some peg bars. So lost on what to do.

you can always do what I did, use an old speaker box or anything else that would work!
( Their was an old one in the garage)

just an example of one!
http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/direct/dbimage/50052266/Empty_Speaker_Box.jpg

the top of mine was already damaged so I cut an angle down it.

this is very simple I think and cheap to!:D

[johncbeggs]

Yes. Very cool thank you.
JOhncbeggs, I also made pegs for standard 3 hole punch. I used 3/8" dowels which worked well with pre-punched Xerox brand multi-use paper.

thats awesome :) I should try that out too :D

[DNethery]

Heres a better picture of my completely homemade animation desk sofar



I started off with something similar when I was first getting into animation.

The big thing I think that you will find that makes a difference is putting it on a different kind of table, so you can pull up closer to it with your legs comfortably under the table. You can use a couple of "saw horses" (http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00067/diy-table_67470s.jpg) with a board laid across the top of the saw horses to put your light box on. That will leave room for your legs to go underneath.

Even better would be an adjustable keyboard stand (http://www.interstatemusic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10021&productId=900008468) because you can lay a board on top of the keyboard stand and put your light box on top of it. The ability to adjust the height will make it a perfect fit for you.

http://www.interstatemusic.com/wcsstore/InterstateMusic/ims/ipf/ss094.jpg

(these keyboard stands are good too if you get one of the portable light tables from Colin Johnson Animation Desks (http://www.animationdesks.com/) or Lightfoot Animation (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/25_44/products_id/294), or make one from the DIY Animation Table Plans (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n-HQHa6TpjVLY_MZOly7Zw?feat=directlink)I posted. It makes a big difference in the comfort level to be able to adjust the height of the table so you can bend over it comfortably, in addition to being able to adjust the tilt angle of the table top. )

You know it is possible to use one of those light-weight plexiglass discs to animate on by simply holding it on your knees or propped up against a table or back of a chair , using ambient light shining up through the translucent plexiglass or you can put a small fluorescent light unit on the floor below it or a clamp-on shop lamp underneath a table to shine up under the disc. In his book, "The Animator's Survival Kit" , Richard Williams recalls animating the first scenes on the opening Roger Rabbit "Maroon Cartoon" sequence while sitting in a hotel room with the plexi-disc propped up on his knees.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShFvfkzFawI/AAAAAAAAA98/H-ynNFJUoag/s800/KitchenTable_Anim01.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShFvf4huK8I/AAAAAAAAA-E/v2V6yl6SFwc/s800/KitchenTable_Anim03.jpg

For rough animation you don't necessarily need a backlight if you use a good quality animation bond paper which has a bit of translucency to it to begin with . Lightfoot Animation actually sells a paper called GilClear (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/54_71/products_id/85) which they say "is the most translucent animation paper on the market. With up to 10 pages of translucency without backlight, you can now animate without a lightbox. (all you need is a pegbar). "

I've never used it , but it might be a good paper to use for animating on a disc with no backlight. (my only concern would be how flimsy is it and will it tend to "curl" at the edges after some hard use rolling and flipping it ?)

However, after all that , I'd say you'd get the best results from using a set up like GdeSouza showed in his post #74 (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2903&postcount=74) up above.
A regular drafting table with a hole cut in it for the disc is going to provide the maximum flexibility in being able to adjust both the height of the table legs and the tilt of the table top to the most comfortable angle to draw from.

Here's a picture of the animation desk I used for several years before I bought my larger animation desk. This worked fine and I got many years of good work out of this set up when I had to take work home on the weekends or do freelance work from home:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShFxrkh1i1I/AAAAAAAAA-I/t_hQjdDb_9M/s800/Drafting_Table2.jpg

[DNethery]

Heres a better picture of my completely homemade animation desk sofar

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu41/johncbeggs/Animationdesk.png


By the way, John, it looks like the surface of your light box is large enough to take a disc on top of it . If you use a strip of 1" x 1" wood molding screwed or glued along the bottom edge you can rest a disc on it and the disc will stay in place because of the wood strip . Then if you have a strong enough backlight it will shine up through both layers of plexiglass , the main light box and the translucent plexiglass disc.

You'll then have the ability to turn your drawings with the disc so you get the best angle to draw from. BUt without having to cut the 16 1/2" hole in the surface of the light table for the disc to fit in. The disc just rests on top of the light box surface .

Like this:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShFznbGRt3I/AAAAAAAAA-M/T-CiCu7Er98/s800/Large_Plexi_disc.jpg

[WillW]

I used to use a keyboard stand to hold up my Cintiq but ever since it decided to collapse (the screw went missing which fixes the two metal bits together) I kept it on my desk. Its much more secure now because I stuck 2 nails in it and attached a car seat belt to each nail, hasn?t budged for a whole year now lol : D

Finally started working on my light desk, was going to cut the hole for the disk today but the damn disk wasn?t delivered today :C could still be delivered but its quarter to 5 soon so I doubt it. Here?s a pic of what I have so far though with an artistic representation of the bits I still need to make.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/tyokio/LightboxWIP.jpg

Made it with an old table stand and a few bits of wood. I plan to make the height adjustable by using two long metal screws (its one long metal screw at the moment but I can soon make it 2..) I will have to make a wide hole to fit it in so it has room to move about to allow the angle of the metal pole to change when the height is adjusted. I also plan on attaching some old snooker table cloth around the back to stop the light from bleeding into the rest of the room. As for those lights, I don?t know if Its good to have a shelf attached to the top board or to leave them like in the pic, one light its bright enough to light a room pretty well.

Still a shame about the disk though.. I cant really work on any of it until I get the hole cut for the disk and with out the disk I cant really accurately measure where to put the cut.

[yutaro]

I just created a new sub-section of my blog which illustrates different types of animation equipment available , including desk options. I created the page as a handy reference for my students, but anyone can access it :

Hand Drawn Animation Equipment (http://animation-studio-stuff.blogspot.com/)That is great, thanks DNethery! Any kind of animation equipment is a rarity where I live so I'm going to make my own desk in due time, meanwhile I'll settle for that Artograph lightbox in your blog (no disc unfortunately), it's the only kind I could find for sale here. I'm going to have to import pegbars, paper and everything else though. I don't know what it is with scandinavia and animation but the two don't seem to go very well together? :confused:

[johncbeggs]

By the way, John, it looks like the surface of your light box is large enough to take a disc on top of it . If you use a strip of 1" x 1" wood molding screwed or glued along the bottom edge you can rest a disc on it and the disc will stay in place because of the wood strip . Then if you have a strong enough backlight it will shine up through both layers of plexiglass , the main light box and the translucent plexiglass disc.

You'll then have the ability to turn your drawings with the disc so you get the best angle to draw from. BUt without having to cut the 16 1/2" hole in the surface of the light table for the disc to fit in. The disc just rests on top of the light box surface .

Like this:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShFznbGRt3I/AAAAAAAAA-M/T-CiCu7Er98/s800/Large_Plexi_disc.jpg

Ive made the desk about a year ago, but I just might give your idea a shot!

its funny because Ive always turned my paper around since I was 11 without anyone ever telling me too, and all this time my dad has been saying its not good to turn your paper around once you start animating your going to be in trouble :laughing: now I see that every animator spins their paper around!:D

I got the idea of making the animation board from this plastic shop by the house we needed to pick up some buckets, So I asked the man that worked their what would be the best for an animation desk and he said you would be surprised how many people ask that! So he cut a nice sized piece out and I bought it for $5.
they could pretty much make you an animation desk made out of some seriously strong plastic if you asked them!.

[Mithmeoi]

That disc idea is really cool, I always have just turned the paper itself but my drawings get messed up because I don't have a peg bar to keep my papers lined up which is why I switched to animating on the computer with my tablet mainly. I really need to fix my set up better for traditional, I have a small light box I use on and off but space is a big issue for me. This is my setup at current.
http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu16/greykitty86/desk.jpg

[WillW]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/tyokio/lighttablecompleted.jpg

Finally competed mine now, works like a charm : D. I had varnished it really nicely but we drilled the screw too far so it stuck out the other side so it had to be filed down. height isnt ajustable but it turns out that its a good working angle for me so I dont need it to be ajusted.

Now all I need is some animation paper lol, Which will probably turn up late for the rough test challenge so I'll have to try really poor quality A4 which isnt punched.

[simba]

Hey willw, great job on your desk. It looks like a professional table, can't wait to see your work:)

[Hana]

Wow you table looks awesome :D

[lavallelee]

ya the table is really cool Will, my old kitchen table had those exact legs :laughing:

[DNethery]

Finally competed mine now, works like a charm : D. I had varnished it really nicely but we drilled the screw too far so it stuck out the other side so it had to be filed down. height isnt ajustable but it turns out that its a good working angle for me so I dont need it to be adjusted.


Looks good ! Nice job recycling the table to use as your animation desk.

Looks antique ... now all you need to add are some brass trimmings and some gears or something so it will look "steampunk" (http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm) .

P.S. if you ever did want to make it adjustable there is hardware that you can get from woodworking stores which are used for cabinets and tables which you can attach to the backside to make it raise and lower to different angles. You can see the type of hardware I'm talking about in these examples. It has ratchets that lock in place to hold the table top up , but can be adjusted to raise or lower.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShV0WPDs9dI/AAAAAAAAA-4/q3JwO7SaKmk/s800/briefcase_table_hardware.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShV0WQ30_iI/AAAAAAAAA-8/Wro5BbyFh7A/s800/table_hardware.jpg

[zanekohler]

P.S. if you ever did want to make it adjustable there is hardware that you can get from woodworking stores which are used for cabinets and tables which you can attach to the backside to make it raise and lower to different angles. You can see the type of hardware I'm talking about in these examples. It has ratchets that lock in place to hold the table top up , but can be adjusted to raise or lower.


You wouldn't happen to know the technical names of those? I was searching the net for it and for the life of me could not come up with a name that was close enough to find it in the search engines. I have the portodisc (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/65) which is just the top part. I have always wanted to build an adjustable box for it to sit on.

[DNethery]

You wouldn't happen to know the technical names of those?

I was searching the net for it and for the life of me could not come up with a name that was close enough to find it in the search engines.

I have the portodisc (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/65) which is just the top part. I have always wanted to build an adjustable box for it to sit on.

The name for those type of hinged supports are "lid stays" "flap stays" or "lid supports" .

See a variety of different kinds here:

Specialty Cabinet Supplies - Lid Stays (http://www.specialtysupplies.com/flap-stays-lid-supports-c-598.html)

and here:

Rufkahr's Lid Supports (http://www.rufkahrs.com/shelbe/lid.html)

The kind pictured on the desk I posted above is a "Lift Up Ratchet Support".
available from Rufkahr's , the X-70200/05Z Lift Up Ratchet Support (http://www.rufkahrs.com/shelbe/lid.html).


"Wherever a tilt is needed...beds sofas, drafting tables. Lift to the desired angle and it locks into place. Lift again to release and it folds down. Rugged, heavy steel, anti rust finishing. 10 position locking. Maximum operating arc 112? Sold in pairs. 8-1/2" long with 7-7/8" rotsating arm.
X-70200/05Z.....$16.95 per pair "

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShWLaOThsJI/AAAAAAAAA_g/MWwIUW_Vp3w/s800/Lift%20Up%20Ratchet%20Support.jpg

Another kind of support used is Pneumatic Spring Stay :

http://www.rufkahrs.com/shelbe/sgs800a.gifhttp://www.rufkahrs.com/shelbe/sgs800med.gif

You can see that kind of Pneumatic lift stay on the animation desk that Danish animator B?rge Ring (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuMm60nep6c) uses :

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShWJki2pIxI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/rm5AuYXJWwg/s800/Borge_Ring_animating.jpg

[DNethery]

I have the portodisc (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/65) which is just the top part.

I have always wanted to build an adjustable box for it to sit on.


By the way, a student of mine wanted to make a very light-weight , portable animation table , so he was thinking of getting one of those Port-A-Discs (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/65) from Lightfoot , then try to figure out a way to retrofit it in a light-weight tabletop easel . Here's the rough mock-up I did in Photoshop showing what it would look like:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShWPfZvwjSI/AAAAAAAAA_k/2Umq-XQ_nB0/s800/tabletop_easel.jpg

The easel is available from Dick Blick Art Supplies for $53.00.

Adjustable TableTop Easel (http://www.dickblick.com/products/adjustable-tabletop-easel/)

http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/503/15/50315-1009-1-3ww-l.jpg

It seems it would be easy to cut a squarish hole in the top of the easel (to let the backlight shine through) , then put the Lightfoot Port-A-Disc on top of the easel , with an extra wooden strip along the bottom to hold it in place and maybe a few bulldog clips along the top edge to hold it steady.

Haven't tried it yet , but it might work . I think it would be steady enough, but not sure until I try it . Just an idea...

[zanekohler]

Thanks for posting all the info!

Funny ...about a year ago I was looking at that exact light weight table for that exact thing! I went into a dick blick store about two months ago hoping to find it there to check the sturdiness. No luck though. That might be the best option especially for how well it folds up.

I bought my disc about 5 years ago. Back then Lightfoot had mentioned they were thinking about making a base part to sell separately. So I was holding for awhile waiting to see if he did. I think he ended up created a new product PRO TOP OVERLAY that has a base and top separately.

I have been really happy with the portodisc over all. works great. Since I have been seeing a chiropractor tho he has noticed without me saying a word that my neck and back seemed off the weeks I would be using it for a few hours or more. I figure it is time for good ergonomics and get it propped up :)


Thanks again for posting all those links!

[DNethery]

I have been really happy with the portodisc over all. works great.

Since I have been seeing a chiropractor tho he has noticed without me saying a word that my neck and back seemed off the weeks I would be using it for a few hours or more. I figure it is time for good ergonomics and get it propped up :)


Thanks again for posting all those links!

Excellent point about the ergonomics. While it certainly is possible to use the Lightfoot Port-A-Disc or just a plain white plexiglass disc to animate with it propped up on your knees or against the edge of a chair or table , but I wouldn't recommend making that a long-term arrangement because it will start to make your neck and back ache from long hours spent animating in that position. Over the long run it's much better to have the disc mounted on an angled drawing table that can be adjusted to a comfortable, ergonomically safe angle.

[Regan]

Thanks for posting all this stuff! Those ratchet supports look pretty spiffy. Now I feel like making my own desk.

I only own a screwdriver and plyers at the moment though. :laughing: But there's a hardware store a block away from me. I bet they'd be able to cut a hole for me too.

[WillW]

Thanks simba, hana, lavallelee, DNethery : D It was really fun to build. I feel like making a description of steps I took to build it, either for those who want to try it or want to have inspiration for their own designs.

I shall certainly keep those lid supports in mind DNethery c:

[Hammy]

By the way, a student of mine wanted to make a very light-weight , portable animation table , so he was thinking of getting one of those Port-A-Discs (http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/65) from Lightfoot , then try to figure out a way to retrofit it in a light-weight tabletop easel . Here's the rough mock-up I did in Photoshop showing what it would look like:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/ShWPfZvwjSI/AAAAAAAAA_k/2Umq-XQ_nB0/s800/tabletop_easel.jpg

The easel is available from Dick Blick Art Supplies for $53.00.

Adjustable TableTop Easel (http://www.dickblick.com/products/adjustable-tabletop-easel/)

http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/503/15/50315-1009-1-3ww-l.jpg

It seems it would be easy to cut a squarish hole in the top of the easel (to let the backlight shine through) , then put the Lightfoot Port-A-Disc on top of the easel , with an extra wooden strip along the bottom to hold it in place and maybe a few bulldog clips along the top edge to hold it steady.

Haven't tried it yet , but it might work . I think it would be steady enough, but not sure until I try it . Just an idea...

Personally, I love that kind of adjustable stand compared to the lid stays because it's a lot easier to adjust. The desk we have in our school was awful because we can't even adjust it because the desk is awfully heavy. I guess they were old though! Thanks for the links too David!!

[TimothyB]

Ok, my desk is not much of an animation desk. Heck, I really haven't animated but a couple random attempts in the past. Never thought I'd have such a reason to try until the cyber garage project.

I just ordered the Port-a-disc with 500 sheets of 12field acme paper, and a pencil kit. I may have to look at a table top easel like suggested above for this animation disc.

In the mean time, I may try animating a pencil test with printer paper and using my glass desk as a light box with a light that I originally bought for behind my tv for soft light while watching movies in the dark.

Anyway, the light fits right on the back of the keyboard tray to float it just under the glass, works pretty good:

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_2.jpg


------------------

Also, while I don't have a Cintiq, when I got a new laptop I made sure it was extra special. 12.1 inch screen with touch layer and Wacom layer, with included pen that has an eraser end. Only 128 levels of pressure, but works nice. Accuracy can be slightly off from the drawing tip in areas, so detailing is not great unless you zoom in. But it can be fun for sketching.

For the photos, I did a quick sketch that Don Bluth demonstrated in a video tip I just watched. I already tried it a couple times on paper.

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_3.jpg

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_4.jpg


------------------

Also, small part of my collection I just setup around the corner of my desk for inspiration:

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_2a.jpg

[lavallelee]

your corner of inspiration is inspiring! :D

[Mithmeoi]

Oh man you got such a nice tablet pc setup. XD I always wanted to try one of those. Great movie merch too btw. :D

[LordDirk]

The desk setup. I like to have almost everything within arms reach.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/LordDirk/GEDC0371.jpg

3:30 minutes is the length of my short film, 24fps shot on 2's. Yep, that's how much paper you will have to deal with should you try and make a film that length. 57 scenes in all.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/LordDirk/GEDC0377.jpg

My life blood, AKA soda.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/LordDirk/GEDC0375.jpg

Signed posters for inspiration and motivation.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/LordDirk/GEDC0372.jpg

[jtq3]

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=50&pictureid=237
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=50&pictureid=238
I bought an old 18 foot Terry Taurus travel trailer and parked it in my back yard. I gutted it last year and rebuilt the interior as a studio. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, drawing, Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash but, I haven't done any actual hand drawn animation yet.

[zanekohler]

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=50&pictureid=237
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=50&pictureid=238
I bought an old 18 foot Terry Taurus travel trailer and parked it in my back yard. I gutted it last year and rebuilt the interior as a studio. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, drawing, Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash but, I haven't done any actual hand drawn animation yet.

Suh-Weeeet! You should start a company that makes mobile studios.... Animotion mobile trailers. :D

[WillW]

jtq3: wow thats an awsome set up there! Animation on the move!

[jtq3]

thanks guys. i've been checking out your sites and your work is great. i only hope i can do something in this studio worth posting!

[lavallelee]

that is sweet! disney studios animated some movies in moble homes too

[TimothyB]

OK, got my port-a-disc in the mail, so time for a wide shot of my desk and how it fits. I added some large rubber feet to a lightbox I borrowed from my dad so the disc would hold better. Works well, a little high off the desk. I wish now I had those erasers that leave no shavings as I'm worried the bits could get inside where the disc rotates.

Also attempting to use my xbox to display the march cycle on my tv, though, I wish I had a device that used less energy than an xbox. I'll probably print things out and tape stuff on the tv.

Now I hope I can produce something worth while.

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_5.jpg

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_6.jpg

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_7.jpg

http://photos.toonguru.com/bluth/equipment_8.jpg

[johncbeggs]

all yours beats the hell out of my old storage buckets and purple walls :laughing:.

good luck to you in your animation :D

[lavallelee]

geeze timothy, if you turn on everything it would be like an oven with all those electronics on at once so close to each other

but still very cool set up

[johncbeggs]

yea man thats what I was thinking, My cousin has a 56 inch plasma I think but he uses it as his monitor you could stick a board on it and actually surf the net! :laughing: