Skip to main content
Creative Bloq Creative Bloq ART AND DESIGN INSPIRATION
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Subscribe
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Design Magazine Subscriptions
(opens in new tab)
Design Magazine Subscriptions (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • Try 3 issues for £/$/€3
  • Delivered to your door or device
  • Every issue is packed with art and design inspiration
From£3
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)
  • 3 for $3/£3/€3 mag offer
  • News
  • How to
  • Features
  • Buying guides
  • Reviews
  • Magazines
    • ImagineFX
    • 3D World
  • Events
    • Vertex
    • Brand Impact Awards
    • About Us

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. Features
Advertisement Feature

Add animation seamlessly into your PSD workflow

By Creative Bloq Staff

Cartoon Animator 4 connects PSD tools with Wacom tablets for a roundtrip workflow.

Cartoon Animator 4
(Image credit: Reallusion)

Cartoon Animator (CTA) (opens in new tab) is recognised among the easiest 2D animation software to use. Version 4 (opens in new tab) connects the tool with users of all the mainstream PSD tools, from Adobe Photoshop to Krita, Affinity, Clip Studio and Photopea. Creatives who use these PSD tools can now swiftly turn their creative concepts into animations, using their original processes, via Cartoon Animator. 

"Reallusion has created a clean, roundtrip workflow between digital content creation tools and Cartoon Animator," says John C. Martin, VP of product marketing at Reallusion. "Now, the connection between Cartoon Animator and mainstream PSD tools enables users to simultaneously work on their concept art and drive it to a final look."

Now, you can animate your work at any stage in the artistic workflow, from early doodles right through to final production. "Simply send your drawings to Cartoon Animator, already auto-rigged for animation," explains Martin. "Return to edit the PSD, and roundtrip to CTA without losing a single keyframe animation."

Turn your PSDs into animations

There are some exciting features in Cartoon Animator that enable you to integrate animation seamlessly into your workflow. Let's take a look at how it works.

Cartoon Animator 4

Set up a 3D-like parallax effect from PSD layers  (Image credit: Reallusion)

First, it's now possible to use CTA to turn PSDs into scenes. Manageable scene elements can be created from PSD layers and sent to CTA for the arrangement of Z-depth. Use 3D depth to sort 2D scene elements and decide the relative order of characters and props in your scene.

Cartoon Animator 4

Easily build up hierarchical props by following the parent-child naming rule (Image credit: Reallusion)

It's also now possible to turn PSDs into props. Import a PSD file as a prop and apply Elastic Motion effects to generate organic animations. Alternatively, follow PSD layer naming rules to group items and set object hierarchy for Compound Prop Animations.

Cartoon Animator 4

Automatically set up facial and body rigs for 2D actors designed with PSD Character Templates (Image credit: Reallusion)

Finally, there's now a speedy way to turn PSDs into characters. Rig any imaginable 2D character design with the Free Bone Tool or use PSD Character Templates for biped human and quadruped animals. Simply replace the image layers with your own designs to automatically set up the character rig.

Use CTA with PSD tools and Wacom

Photopea is a free online image editing tool, and a great option for those who don't have a PSD editor at hand. And there's better news: Reallusion has partnered with Photopea to offer all paying CTA users an ad-free version of the tool.

And for Wacom tablet users there's a new workflow to take your concept art to animation production. Start with storyboard sketches and bring them to CTA for animation. The really exciting part is that all the animations will remain intact even as you update the artwork.

Sign up for a 30-day trial (opens in new tab) to explore the amazing CTA 4 features yourself.

About Reallusion

Reallusion Inc. (opens in new tab) is a 2D and 3D animation software and content developer. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, with R&D centers in Taiwan, and offices and training centers in Germany and Japan. Reallusion specialises in the development of real-time cinematic animation, virtual production, and motion capture tools that connect professional 3D animation technologies to creators, both independent and studio-based. The company provides users with pro character animation, facial and body mocap, and voice lipsync solutions for real-time filmmaking and previsualisation and production. Reallusion's core technologies are widely used by trainers, educators, game developers and filmmakers.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Already have an account ? Sign in here

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Already have an account ? Sign in here

Get Weekly Tips and Inspiration

Sign up below to get the latest from Creative Bloq, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over.
Creative Bloq Staff

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of six full-time members of staff: Editor Kerrie Hughes, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Deals Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Digital Arts and Design Editor Ian Dean, and Staff Writer Amelia Bamsey, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq. 

Related articles

  • Ohuhu Honolulu 320 marker set: a giant set of pens that are a delight to use Ohuhu Honolulu 320 marker set: a giant set of pens that are a delight to use
  • This bizarre soundproof microphone has the internet screaming This bizarre soundproof microphone has the internet screaming
  • The best USB-C mouse in 2023 The best USB-C mouse in 2023
  • The best Apple Pencil cases The best Apple Pencil cases
Recommended
The best drawing tablets: The best graphics tablets in 2023
How to make and sell an NFT
  1. A print ad for the restaurant Pastini
    1
    Can you spot what's wrong in this viral street ad?
  2. 2
    AI remakes Family Guy as a creepy live-action sitcom
  3. 3
    Monotype's hot typography trends for 2023 are here
  4. 4
    Why the Pink Floyd logo drama is ridiculous
  5. 5
    The green M&M scandal just got even more ridiculous
  1. A print ad for the restaurant Pastini
    1
    Can you spot what's wrong in this viral street ad?
  2. 2
    iOS 16 lock screen: How to customise your iPhone
  3. 3
    This new AI photo watermark remover is worrying
  4. 4
    AI remakes Family Guy as a creepy live-action sitcom
  5. 5
    Monotype's hot typography trends for 2023 are here
Design Magazine Subscriptions
(opens in new tab)
  • ●
Design Magazine Subscriptions (opens in new tab)
  • Try 3 issues for £/$/€3
From£3
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)

Creative Bloq is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.