Using Automatic Lip-Sync
The simplest lip-sync solution switches between the available sublayers in a Switch layer based on the amplitude level of the associated audio file. This method is called Automatic Lip-Sync. For example, if you create three mouth graphics showing the mouth closed, half-open, and fully open, then the Switch layer will switch between these graphics showing the mouth closed graphic when the audio is silent, half-open when the volume is mid-level, and fully open when the audio is at its loudest. This isn’t an exact match, but for some characters it is close enough to show the character speaking.
Note
Automatic lip-sync is available in both Anime Studio Debut and Anime Studio Pro.
Ordering Graphics
To use the Automatic Lip-Sync solution, first create a Switch layer by clicking the New Layer button at the top of the Layers palette and selecting the Switch option from the pop-up menu. Then create several mouth graphics showing the mouth at different stages between open and closed. Each graphic should be located in the same location, and each should be on its own layer.
Drop these layers onto the Switch layer in order from closed to fully open. The order of the mouth graphics is important with the closed layer at the bottom of the open layer at the top, as shown in Figure 20.1.
Figure 20.1. Mouth graphic sublayers are ordered from closed to open.
Linking to an Audio Source
Once the Switch layer is correctly configured, you’ll need to import the dialogue audio file using the File, Import, Audio File menu command. The audio file needs to be either a WAV or an AIFF file. You can learn more about loading and working with audio files in Chapter 19, “Working with Sound.”
Note
The Library palette includes several short dialogue phrases in the DK Toons Audio Boy and Audio Man folders.
After an audio file is loaded into the project, you can make it the source file for the Switch layer using the Layer Settings dialog box. Simply double-click the Switch layer and choose the Switch panel in the Layer Settings dialog box. Then select the audio file from the Audio Sync Source drop-down list, as shown in Figure 20.2.
Figure 20.2. The Switch panel lets you specify the audio source.
Interpolating Sublayers
The mouth graphics aren’t limited to a specific layer type. They could be image layers, vector layers, or even particle layers. But if all the mouth graphic sublayers are vector layers and if each sublayer has an equal number of points, then you can enable the Interpolate Sublayers option in the Switch layer panel to make the layers smoothly move between the adjacent sublayers as the audio level is increased or decreased.
To lip-sync audio using the automatic method, follow these steps:
Open the Glasses face.anme file from the Chapter 20 folder on the CD. This file includes a simple face minus the mouth.
Click the New Layer button in the Layers palette and select the Switch option from the pop-up menu to create a new Switch layer.
Use the New Layer button in the Layers palette to create a new vector layer. Name the new layers Closed. Select a black Fill color and with the Draw Shape tool, draw a thin, horizontally aligned oval to represent the closed mouth.
With the Closed layer selected, click the Duplicate Layer button in the Layers palette. Name this new layer Mid, and with the Translate Points tool, select the top point and drag it upward to widen the mouth. Then repeat this for the lower point.
Repeat step #4 to create a third mouth layer that is named Open and has a wide-open mouth.
Drag and drop the mouth layers into the Switch layer starting with the Closed, Mid, and then Open layers.
Open the Library palette and locate and double-click the Areyousure audio file in the DK Toons, Audio Man folder to add the audio file to the project. The waveform for the audio file appears in the Timeline palette when loaded.
Double-click the Switch layer in the Layers palette and choose the Switch panel. Select the Areyousure.wav file as the source file, enable the Interpolate Sublayers option, and close the Layer Settings dialog box.
Click the Play button located at the bottom left corner of the working area to see the resulting animation, as shown in Figure 20.3.
