Today, I'm going to walk you through the process of animating mid-journey images. We'll be using a couple of tools called mid-journey and Leonardo. However, keep in mind that you can use any image generation AI tool of your choice. It doesn't have to be specifically mid-journey or Leonardo AI.
So, let's get started! To begin, click on “Start Using Leonardo” and select some images for our animation. On the image generation tab, choose a 3D animation style model. Now, give it a prompt and see the results. Wow, these images look amazing! I'm definitely going to download them.
Next, we need to edit these photos in Photoshop. If you want to make any changes to the image, select it first. For this example, I'll select the entire image. Then, click on “Generative Fill” and add some fog to the scene. Click the generate button, and voila! We've got a lot of fog, but we don't want it to overpower the background. I'll adjust the opacity level until it looks just right.
Now, let's remove the unnecessary elements from our photo, such as the trees. Select the trees and feather around 10 pixels. Then, give it a prompt, and watch as the trees magically disappear. To keep things organized, let's group all the edited elements together into a single layer.
To add some depth to the image, let's adjust the levels to make it a little darker. We can also lower the opacity of the fog to create a more realistic effect. Now, it's time to introduce our main character to the scene. Use the “Select Subject” tool to select the character. If needed, make some minor adjustments to include other areas. Then, make a copy of the character layer and paste it into the background. Ensure that the character fits perfectly among the trees. Make any necessary adjustments to remove any extra padding or unwanted elements.
Great, it looks pretty good so far! Now, let's save the image as two separate layers – one without the character and another without the fog. These will come in handy later on.
Moving on, let's head over to Side Labs. Here, we can find some options for voiceovers. I'll go with Clyde for this animation. Input your desired text and click on the generate button. After generating the audio, save it for later use.
Now, let's visit the website Studio.dot.ID. Sign up and click on the “Create Video” button. When you're prompted to add your own image, log in first. Once you're logged in, return to the create video option and select to add your image. For now, I'll choose any voice option and click on “Generate Video”.
Once your video is ready for download, go ahead and save it. Now, we'll be using Runway Ammo to remove the background from our video. On the edit video section, click on “Remove Background” and upload your video. Select the character and let the software generate a mask for you. If you want to include or exclude specific areas, simply click on them. Once you're happy with the mask, click on “Done Masking”.
Now, let's move to After Effects. Create a new project and import both the background image and the character image. With the background image on the timeline, it's time to animate the trees. Use the masking tool to mask the trees. Once masked, search for “Turbulent Displacement” and apply it to the masked layer. Adjust the amount and size to your liking. Next, select “Cycle Evolution” and set a playback value of around four. Now, sit back and admire the animated trees in the background!
But why stop there? We can also animate the character. Let's start with the hair. Mask out all the hair strands and copy the effect we used for the trees. Paste it onto the character layer, and voila! The character now has beautifully animated hair. To keep things organized, let's create a composition, ensuring that the character is on the same layer throughout.
Moreover, we can duplicate the character layer and mask only the character's body. Add some movement using the puppet tool. Keep the animation subtle, but enough to bring some life to the character. Extend the animation to match the desired playtime. Furthermore, remove the character from the other footage by excluding the mask and slightly feathering it. Now, we have a smooth animation with the character's hair and head moving!
To add some ambiance, let's create a rainfall effect in the background. Search for a suitable rainfall effect and adjust the wind or speed. Add a muddy blue tint to the effect for a natural look. With minimal effort, we've created a scene with a realistic rainfall effect!
Lastly, let's export our animation without the background. I'll export it in 1080P using the MP4 format. Now, you have the choice of animating the entire character or using the footage we just created. If you opt for the latter, search for the “Key Light” effect and apply it to the footage. Select the green color as the screen color, so only the character is visible, and the color disappears. You can extend your composition time if needed and adjust the layers accordingly.
And that's it! You've successfully animated mid-journey images using various tools and techniques. I hope this step-by-step guide has been helpful to you. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to check out our other tutorials. If you found value in this guide, please let us know by giving it a like and subscribing to our channel. Thanks for watching!
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h2 Frequently Asked Questions
h3 1. What tools can I use to generate the mid-journey images for animation?
– You can use any image generation AI tool, such as Mid-Journey or Leonardo, to get your images.
h3 2. How do I edit the photos in Photoshop for the animation?
– To make changes to the image, you need to select the part you want to edit, use generative fill to add effects, and make adjustments to opacity and levels.
h3 3. How can I add my main character to the footage?
– You can select the subject of the character using a tool like “select subject” in Photoshop, make minor adjustments to fit them into the scene, and remove any unwanted elements.
h3 4. What is the process for removing the background from a video?
– You can use the website Runway Ammo to remove the background from your video by uploading it, selecting the areas to include or exclude, and generating a mask.
h3 5. How can I animate the trees, character, and add effects like rainfall?
– To animate the trees, you can mask them, apply turbulent displacement, and adjust settings for the desired effect. For the character, you can animate specific elements like hair by masking and applying effects. To add rainfall, search for a rainfall effect and customize settings like wind and color.