If your animation requires part of an object or character to pass in front of another, use the Puppet Overlap Pin tool to define what should appear in front when areas overlap. Select the Puppet Overlap Pin tool in the Tools panel, click Show to display the mesh, and then click intersections in the mesh to place Overlap pins in the areas that should always remain in front.
You can adjust the effect of the Overlap pins in the options area of the Tools panel. The In Front value determines the apparent proximity to the viewer; setting the value to 100% prevents those parts of the object that are overlapped from showing through. The Extent value determines how far the overlap influence extends for the pin; the affected area appears lighter in the Composition panel.
Stiffening an area
The pincers, legs, and antennae of the crab will move in the animation, but the carapace should stay firm. You’ll use the Puppet Starch Pin tool to add Starch pins to ensure the carapace isn’t affected by the pins’ movements.
- Select the Puppet Starch Pin tool (
), which is hidden behind the Puppet Bend Pin tool in the Tools panel.
- If the mesh isn’t showing, select Show in the options area of the Tools panel to display it.
- Place Starch pins at the base of each pincer, leg, and antenna to stiffen the entire carapace, as in the image below.
- Hide the properties for the crab.psd layer in the Timeline panel.
- Choose File > Save to save your work so far.
Squash and stretch
Squash and stretch is a traditional animation technique that adds realism and weight to objects. It’s an exaggeration of the effect that occurs in real life when a moving object comes into contact with a stationary object, such as the ground. When squashing and stretching are applied correctly, the volume of the character doesn’t change. If you use the Puppet tools to animate cartoon characters or similar objects, consider how they interact with other objects.
The easiest way to understand the principle of squash and stretch is to view an animation of a bouncing ball. As the ball lands, it partially flattens, or squashes. As it bounces up, it stretches.
