Approach and Work Flow for Animated Japanese Fan – For RJKD

Introduction

You asked for my XCF file to help you with the animation effect that I achieved. Well the way I have learned to work with GIMP is very deliberate and fastidious, and I progressively stage my XCF and GIF/APNG work flow, saving in separate files along the way. Also, as I mentioned elsewhere, I tend to draw big then scale down for the final outcome; this image was 1600 x 1200 pixels.

So, in this case I actually have 3 individual XCF files totalling well over 100 megabytes and you may find the plethora of layers in each somewhat confusing – it is even for me just going back to look at them right now.

So, I have put together this work flow process for you, with example images, to demonstrate what I did.

In summary this is the way it goes:

• Create the original static Japanese fan; preserving all individual components (wooden ribs, string, fastening device, fan art work) in separate layers. • From the completed static fan, progressively cut individual segments and of course keep them in separate layers. Preserve the last, topmost wooden rib in the foreground and rotate it for each of the opening/closing sets of layers • Combine the individual segments with the background, duplicate this set of layers and put them in reverse order to deliver opening/closing animation capability.

The Original Static Fan – XCF 1

This is the final (new from visible) image derived from all the separate separate layers identified below. Note the position of the guidelines at 800 pixels vertical x1050 pixels horizontal, which I set and used as the centre for rotating the bamboo ribs of the fan.

Examples of the Layer Dialogue containing all the separate components of the fan. Example of the Paths Dialogue showing the paths used to create the individual bamboo ribs and the shaped paper fan.

Creating The Individual Animation Components - XCF2

In this section of work I used a cut down version of the previous XCF to create the individual animation frame layers. I will address that process further below.

However, here is the starting point, which comprises the complete open fan from XCF1, but with the background, string and fastener components still as separate layers. The latter two are not visible in this image yet, because, in making the individual animation frames, there is a need to modify/remove the ribs where they cross over and are fastened at the bottom.

Next I cut out the last (topmost) bamboo rib and the fan material on the bottom of the rib as shown below.

Then, using each bamboo rib as a guide, I duplicated the complete fan layer and cut the next section of the fan away from the original. Then I rotated the topmost bamboo rib cut out and placed it over the preceding bamboo rib – where it would be positioned when the fan opens/closes.

I repeated this process for each of the individual bamboo ribs.

Here are some of images progressively exemplifying these actions.

Remember what you are seeing is still on individual layers. Here is a shot of the layers dialogue and you can see that the fastener device and string are still invisible, and also the multiple layers just created from the replicate/cut process. Also remember that some extra work was done to erase/clean up the area where the ribs cross over. For that I used the paths from which the bamboo ribs were previously created in the first place.

Next I performed a series of 'new from visible' actions from the 'cut' fan layers plus the fastener, string and background layers, to create a set ready for the animation. These new layers are shown in the layers dialogue belolw. Creating Animation File - XCF3

Using the XCF file above but deleting all extraneous layers from it, I then created the third XCF file, being the one from which I exported the eventual GIF file.

I used the newly created layers from the image immediately above, duplicated each one and re- ordered those duplicates to generate the closing/opening process for the animation. Finally after testing out the result using Filters>Animation>Playback, I assigned new names and timings using Filters>Animation>Rename Layers.

Then I exported it as a GIF animation and you know the result.