Designing Image Backgrounds in Moho Pro from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objective

Build 2d or 3d image based backgrounds using procreate, photoshop and moho

Syllabus

Introduction

What You Will Learn in this Course

This lesson overviews the basic functionality of Procreate, which we will be using to create textures for the initial set design.

Don't have Procreate? No problem! Open up your favorite photo editing or drawing software and work from there. Also, the textures I use will be available for download.

It's always best to have some sort of plan before diving into the design process. In this video I will create a quick (and messy) sketch that we can reference, if needed, while in Moho.

In this lesson we will begin the process of texture creation by painting an abstract design that resembles wood.

Following the example from the previous lesson, we will continue to paint textures in Procreate, this time creating a brick wall.

Now we will paint a basic metal texture in Procreate to be used in scene creation.

Now we will create a texture for the sandbags.

In order to make this work, the textures need to be brought over to the computer so they can be imported to Moho. Here is the process.

Once the textures are brought over from Procreate, we will need to compress them so Moho can better handle the load. There are several ways to compress images. This lesson shows how to do it using a free script for Photoshop.

In this lesson we jump into Moho for the time first, create a document and import a sketch for reference.

In this lesson we lay down the 3D floor which will be used as the foundation for the rest of the background.

Next comes the walls. Using a similar technique as the floor, we will construct simple cubes and map textures to them.

In this video we will add a door opening in the event you want to animate the door or have a connecting room.

With a hole in the wall, we will need a door! In this lesson we will build a 3D door, suitable for animation or being embedded into the background.

In this lesson we will add some trimming for the door and walls to add more contrast and style.

In this lesson we build some beat up boxes to be added to our backstage scene.

To add extra dimension to the background, we will build a 3D shelf which can be repurposed in a variety of ways.

A 3D table will be constructed and added to the scene for further variety.

In this lesson we will build some some foreground and background sandbags to add to the environment.

To build clutter and add a light source, we will build a 3D light source using a variety of shapes.

Here we build a simple exit sign to hang over the door.

In this lesson we will import images into the shelving group to help build up more clutter and character.

Here we import the light into the set, duplicate it, and position accordingly.

Here we populate the set with pre-made props to help build up the background.

Here we will set up layer comps to not only prepare for 2D export, but to help with organizing props during the design process.

In this lesson I take a moment to detail what we plan to do in this chapter with the 3D set.

In this lesson we jump back to Procreate to create more texture variety for our scene.

In Moho we will swap out the old textures for new. This is sometimes required when you want to enhance or change things in the scene.

By using Layer Blend Modes, we can enhance the way the light looks in Moho.

Here we learn how to create a quick vignette effect to build atmosphere and add focus.

In this lesson we add an animated character to see how he works within the shot.

Sometimes issues may pop up when mixing 2D and 3D elements. In this video we overview the process of correcting potential problems. Then we export our first scene example!

In this lesson we set up the 3D environment for a 2D export.

With Moho Exporter, we go through the process of exporting out each layer or group as an image to be brought back into Moho.

This lesson is dedicated to bringing the newly exported images into a new Moho document and getting them properly ordered.

By using groups, we can section the background into three areas for easier masking and coloring.

Here we will apply gradients with layer blend modes and mask the three areas, creating a gradual dark effect.

Here we will add an overall filter, plus a light effect, to help polish the main visual assets of this scene.

Here we will apply separate filters to darken the sandbags to help sell the lighting effect.

Here we will add a test animation and play around with some layer settings to help blend.

By taking advantage of depth, we can move items in and out to create a parallax effect with 2D elements.

Here we will compress the background further to help with speed and file size.

We now shift focus to Photoshop and import the PNGs we exported prior.

Like Moho, we will take advantage of gradients to build darkness and atmosphere in Photoshop.

The nice thing about Photoshop is we have Adjustment Layers to make quick changes. Here we will adjust the brightness and contrast in a variety of areas.

Using a gradient again, we can mold a light effect and use blend modes to help with atmosphere.

The sandbags will need to be adjusted separately to create an effective environment.

Here we explore different options for importing your background back into Moho.

In this video we look at how to add more contrast using textures as well as bolster the 3D set with shadows and glows.

Here we look back at the 2D Moho set and add more filters and a shadow to help with the shot.

Here we take a look at how we can improve the PSD background animation using Moho's design and layer tools.

My final thoughts on this course!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Uses Procreate and Photoshop, which are industry-standard tools for creating textures and enhancing visual assets, making it relevant for professionals

Explores 2D and 3D image-based backgrounds, which are essential skills for creating immersive and visually appealing animated scenes

Covers techniques for enhancing backgrounds in both Moho and Photoshop, providing a comprehensive workflow for achieving high-quality results

Requires access to Procreate, Photoshop, and Moho, which may pose a barrier for some learners who do not already have these software programs

Focuses on older versions of Moho, Procreate, and Photoshop, which may not be compatible with the latest features and workflows of these software programs

Reviews summary

Practical image background design in moho pro

According to learners, this course offers a practical guide to designing image backgrounds for animation using Moho Pro, Procreate, and Photoshop. Many found the step-by-step projects and techniques like building 3D sets, creating 2.5D parallax, and using blend modes helpful. Seeing how to integrate software and optimize files was positive. However, many noted it assumes existing software knowledge, making it challenging for beginners. Some felt it moves quickly across techniques.

Demonstrates integrating Moho, Procreate, Photoshop

"I learned so much about combining Procreate, Photoshop, and Moho..."

"Helped me integrate Photoshop painting into my Moho workflow seamlessly."

"Covers useful ground on using images in Moho... useful for specific background types."

Covers hands-on methods for background creation

"Excellent practical guide... exactly what I needed for my animation projects."

"Really useful techniques for quickly building 3D and 2.5D sets..."

"The step-by-step projects made it really easy to follow along and build confidence."

Covers many topics quickly, could use more detail

"it feels a bit rushed covering so many different things. Could benefit from more depth..."

"Techniques shown seemed basic or quickly demonstrated without enough explanation of the 'why'."

"Good overview, but... felt a little unclear or glossed over details."

Challenging for those new to Procreate/Photoshop/Moho

"Assumes you are already an expert in Procreate AND Photoshop AND Moho."

"it assumes a certain level of familiarity with all three software packages, which made some parts challenging."

"I mainly use Moho and found the Procreate/Photoshop parts... too fast if you don't."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Designing Image Backgrounds in Moho Pro with these activities:

Review Procreate Fundamentals

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Review the fundamentals of Procreate to ensure a solid foundation for creating textures used in Moho.

Browse courses on Procreate

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Review Procreate's interface and basic tools.
Practice creating simple textures using different brushes.
Experiment with layer blend modes and effects.

Brush up on Photoshop Skills

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Refresh your Photoshop skills to effectively enhance backgrounds and apply filters.

Browse courses on Photoshop

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Review Photoshop's interface and essential tools.
Practice using adjustment layers and blend modes.
Experiment with filters and effects to create different atmospheres.

Mastering Digital Painting in Procreate

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Study a book on Procreate to gain a deeper understanding of digital painting techniques for texture creation.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters on texture creation and brush techniques.
Follow along with the tutorials and practice the techniques.
Experiment with different brushes and settings to create unique textures.

Four other activities

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Moho Animation Exercises

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Practice animating simple objects in Moho to become more comfortable with the software's interface and tools.

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Create a new Moho project and import a simple shape.
Animate the shape moving across the screen using keyframes.
Experiment with different interpolation modes to create smooth or dynamic movement.
Add additional shapes and animate them together.

Create a Simple 3D Room Mockup in Moho

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Create a simple 3D room mockup in Moho using basic shapes and textures to reinforce the concepts taught in the course.

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Create a new Moho project and set up a 3D environment.
Create basic shapes for the floor, walls, and ceiling.
Apply textures to the shapes using images created in Procreate or found online.
Add simple props to the room, such as a table and chairs.
Adjust the lighting and camera angle to create a visually appealing scene.

Moho Animation Handbook

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Study a book on Moho animation to gain a deeper understanding of the software's capabilities and animation techniques.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters on 3D animation and background design.
Follow along with the tutorials and practice the techniques.
Experiment with different animation styles and effects.

Design a Background for a Short Animation

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Design a complete background for a short animation using the techniques learned in the course to solidify your understanding and skills.

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Plan the animation and create a storyboard.
Create the background elements in Procreate, Photoshop, or Moho.
Assemble the background in Moho and add any necessary effects.
Animate the characters and integrate them into the background.
Export the animation and share it with others.

Career center

Learners who complete Designing Image Backgrounds in Moho Pro will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Animation Background Artist

An Animation Background Artist designs and creates the backgrounds for animated content, contributing significantly to the overall mood and visual storytelling. This course, which covers creating textured two dimensional and three dimensional sets, as well as rendered backgrounds, will enhance an artist's ability to create compelling backdrops for animations using Moho Pro. The course helps an Animation Background Artist work with images in unique ways to maximize their style and workflow when creating dynamic backgrounds for animation. The lessons about building props can directly translate to designing elements within the background.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animation Background Artist

Animator

An Animator brings characters and objects to life through a series of images or frames. This course is extremely tailored to an animator, as it aims to teach variations of how to put together a background using images in Moho. It goes over creating textured three dimensional sets, condensed sets using a 2.5D space, and rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects. The course goes on to add an animated character to the shot, as you would see in animation. It even goes over how to correct potential problems. The course enhances an Animator's ability to create visually compelling scenes with dynamic backgrounds.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Video Game Artist

A Video Game Artist creates the visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and user interfaces. The training in this course will help them learn the best way to put together a background using images in Moho. Specifically, the course goes over creating textured three dimensional sets, condensed sets using a 2.5D space, and rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects. As a Video Game Artist, the training enhances an ability to create visually compelling and immersive environments that can enhance the gaming experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Artist

Multimedia Artist

A Multimedia Artist creates animation, visual effects, and other visual images used in television, movies, video games, and other media. They work with images in Moho to get the most out of style and workflow. This course aims to teach three variations of how to put together a background using images in Moho: a textured three dimensional set, a condensed set using a 2.5D space, and a rendered background using Photoshop's effects. The course will enhance an artist's ability to create visual elements and stunning backdrops for various animation projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Multimedia Artist

Digital Artist

A Digital Artist creates art using digital technology. This course aims to teach three variations of how to put together a background using images in Moho: a textured three dimensional set, a condensed set using a 2.5D space, and a rendered background using Photoshop's effects. The course goes on to explore how to enhance backgrounds in Photoshop. As a Digital Artist, this course unlocks new potential to explore art for your portfolio.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Artist

Storyboard Artist

A Storyboard Artist visualizes the narrative of a film or animation through a series of drawings or images, often including background elements to set the scene. This course, which aims to teach variations of how to put together a background using images in Moho, may be useful for a Storyboard Artist looking to enhance backgrounds. Specifically, the course covers creating textured three dimensional sets, condensed sets using a 2.5D space, and rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects. The skills gained from this course can directly improve the visual quality and storytelling potential of storyboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Compositor

A Compositor combines visual elements from different sources into a single, cohesive image or scene. This career typically requires an advanced degree. This course may be useful for a Compositor looking to create variations of how to put together a background using images in Moho. This course also covers rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects, which can be useful for refining and integrating elements into the final composition. A compositing artist combines backgrounds with other visual elements to create a final, polished product.

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Concept Artist

A Concept Artist creates visual representations of ideas for use in films, video games, and other media. This course, which covers how to construct images in Moho, is helpful for a Concept Artist wanting to create different variations of backgrounds. The course shows how to put together a background using images in Moho, including a textured three dimensional set and a condensed set using a 2.5D space. The course goes on to cover rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects. This may be useful when pitching ideas to a client or team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Visual Development Artist

A Visual Development Artist is responsible for creating the overall look and feel of an animated project, including backgrounds, character designs, and color palettes. Using the skills taught in this course, a Visual Development Artist may be better equipped to create detailed and visually appealing backgrounds. The course covers a range of techniques, including creating textured three dimensional sets and rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects. The course may allow them to experiment with different styles and workflows to enhance the visual storytelling of a project.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Development Artist

Texture Artist

A Texture Artist creates the surface details and textures for three dimensional models and environments, adding realism and visual interest. This course may be useful for a Texture Artist seeking to expand their skills. The course teaches how to create two dimensional or three dimensional image based backgrounds using Procreate, Photoshop and Moho. By learning texture creation using Procreate and how to compress images for optimal use in Moho, the Texture Artist enhances their ability to bring depth and realism to digital environments. The artist makes something more convincing through their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Texture Artist

Digital Matte Painter

A Digital Matte Painter creates photo-realistic or stylized backgrounds for films, television, and video games, often working with digital painting and compositing software. This course may be useful for a Digital Matte Painter wanting to create backgrounds using images in Moho. The course teaches different variations of how to put together a background using images in Moho Pro, including textured three dimensional sets and condensed sets using a 2.5D space. The course goes on to cover rendered backgrounds using Photoshop's effects. This information may be useful when constructing a scene for painting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Matte Painter

Motion Graphics Designer

A Motion Graphics Designer creates visually engaging animations and digital media for various platforms. This course may be useful for a Motion Graphics Designer looking to expand their skill set, as it helps them to build two dimensional or three dimensional image based backgrounds using Procreate, Photoshop, and Moho. The course also dives into enhancing backgrounds in Photoshop and Moho. By importing the Portable Network Graphics exported prior, the designer learns to build darkness and atmosphere in Photoshop by using gradients. This is a great addition to anyone's toolbox.

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Illustrator

An Illustrator creates still images for a variety of media, including books, magazines, and advertisements. This course may be useful for an Illustrator looking to enhance their skills of building 2D or 3D image based backgrounds using Procreate, Photoshop and Moho. This course also goes over painting textures in Procreate, which will allow the artist to explore new styles. This adds to the artist's toolbox and enhances their ability to deliver stunning and attractive imagery.

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Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates learning materials. They may be interested in this course as it explores the basic functionality of Procreate and how to use it to create textures for set design. The course goes on to explore how to enhance backgrounds in Photoshop. The course helps with setting up a room in three dimensional space. As an Instructional Designer, one can leverage this course to create new kinds of course material, or improve upon pre-existing course material.

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Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts to communicate information, often working with layout, typography, and imagery. While this course focuses on background design, Graphic Designers may find it useful if their work involves creating visually rich and immersive environments. The principles of design and image manipulation covered in the course may be used to improve a graphic designer's skill with graphic elements. This course may offer a unique perspective on how to create depth and atmosphere in visual compositions.

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Designing Image Backgrounds in Moho Pro

What's inside

Learning objective

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical image background design in moho pro

Activities

Career center

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