Directing a Web Game (2 of 5)
Setting the Stage
Before directors can film a scene, they must set up their characters and props so that the camera can capture them in the best
light. Toon Boom Studio’s three-dimensional stage gives Web directors the power to lay out their scene just like a film director
would compose elements on a stage.
In the Toon Boom Studio ShadowDialog animation files, we have packaged a number of pre-drawn and animated elements that you can
use to experiment with different staging scenarios and camera moves. After you are comfortable with the techniques for laying
out elements on the 3D stage and filming them, feel free to experiment with different layout strategies. You can even draw and
animate your own characters and props and add them to the scene.
1. Let’s get to it and stage this shot of Jane talking to Shadow about her troubles. Start Toon Boom Studio and open
the "ShadowDialog_Rough" animation set. All of the required elements were drawn or imported in the Drawing View (select
Window > Show Drawing View to display it), and the timing of animated elements was established in the Exposure Sheet
(Window > Show Exposure Sheet). We have already drawn and timed all of the animated sequences, so you can move right to
the Sceneplanning stage.
2. Select Window > Load Layout > Restore Sceneplanning Layout to switch to the 3D sceneplanning stage. Notice the Camera
View, Top View and Side View windows.Like viewports in 3D programs, these windows show your scene from different perspectives.
In the Top View and Side View windows, the element layers in a scene are represented by lines, like looking at an animation
cel from the top or side.
Now you will stage the scene by placing Shadow in front of Jane and the background image and to the right of the camera frame,
and Jane in between the background and Shadow, and to the left.
3. Select the Shadow element in the Timeline and then choose the Select tool (Tools > Select) In the Top View window, drag
the Shadow element layer (represented by the highlighted green line in the window) down, closer to the tip of the camera.
4. In the Top View window, drag the Shadow element layer (represented by the highlighted green line in the window) down,
closer to the tip of the camera.
You’ll notice as you move him that the Offset values in the Properties window change. You can use our values to be more
specific: .35 N, 3.62 E, 8.83 F.
Let’s move Jane between Shadow and the background image.
5. Click the Jane Peg layer in the Timeline. We’ve used a peg to group Jane’s element layers together so that you can move
all of her layers at the same time. You’ll learn more about pegs in the next page of the tutorial.
6. In the Top View window, use the Select tool to drag the Jane Peg element down in the Top View window, closer to the camera
tip, but a good distance from Shadow, and to the left side of the camera frame. To move the peg and all of the layers attached
to it, drag the red circle that represents the peg.
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