Edit Image in Xara for CTA3


https://forum.reallusion.com/Topic419109.aspx
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By karapete - 5 Years Ago
Hi,
 I have an image which I have sliced into it's components in the latest Xara graphics program...head,torso,legs arms and feet.
Am I confused? YEEEEEES!
Instructions?
Delete Photo 'Back Hair' if I wish to replace the default image (RL_Talking Head/Head Image)...?????..is it 50+ times over or once for the face?
In 'RL_Image'... Photo 'Back Hair' doesn't exist.
Being a newbie these instructions are not very good.
If anyone can help I feel as though I'm almost there
Cheers
Karapete

By vepop - 5 Years Ago
Export a template character from CA4. 
Then, replace the sprites in the folders with your own.
Hopefully, this will work.

By karapete - 5 Years Ago
Thanks Vepop
I'll give it a crack
Cheers
Peter
By karapete - 5 Years Ago
Hi,
I believe I've tried every thing.
The best result I get when using Xara (after exporting the PSD file  into CTA 3/4 Pipeline in many different ways) is for the sprite editor to indicate  all the sprites are present...UNFORTUNATELY... the total image is NOT.
Just one blurred sprite with a BULLSEYE? in the middle of it...I'M STUMPED.
Any takers?
Cheers
Peter
By vepop - 5 Years Ago
I think Reallusion has to do something with the problem.
Every time I exported a character to Affinity Designer, I have to tick the sprite layers for all the particular folders that consist of more than 1 sprite layers before importing them back to CA4. Otherwise, some sprites will be missing.


By karapete - 5 Years Ago
Hi,
Thanks for your help ..its certainly not as cut and dried as the instructions would have you believe..e.g. if I import a Xara template and a character already in layers...this character's sprites do not appear in the layers (henceforth you cant replace the sprites in the template)...whereas if I import each sprite individually they find a place in the layers...there's certainly some prior knowledge required...of which I am bereft...indeed I have tried your first suggestion of importing a character and replacing the sprites in Xara..xport as a PSD...that's when I see a hand sprite in Reallusion only...with a bullseye in the middle of it...very frustrating!!!
I'll push on.. investigate your suggestion.
Cheers
By vepop - 5 Years Ago
I managed to get the solution which is quite easy actually.
What I don't understand is why Reallusion did not rectify the error.
Why wait until the users made a complaint?


By vepop - 5 Years Ago
oopppsss ..I realized you posted in CRAZYTALK ANIMATOR 3.
Are u using CTA3 or CA4?
For CTA3, I don't have such a problem.

By Peter (RL) - 5 Years Ago
karapete (8/13/2019)
Hi,
Thanks for your help ..its certainly not as cut and dried as the instructions would have you believe..e.g. if I import a Xara template and a character already in layers...this character's sprites do not appear in the layers (henceforth you cant replace the sprites in the template)...whereas if I import each sprite individually they find a place in the layers...there's certainly some prior knowledge required...of which I am bereft...indeed I have tried your first suggestion of importing a character and replacing the sprites in Xara..xport as a PSD...that's when I see a hand sprite in Reallusion only...with a bullseye in the middle of it...very frustrating!!!
I'll push on.. investigate your suggestion.
Cheers


Hi...

The tutorials and instructions given are for Photoshop where the process should work exactly as described. While there are other image editors that support PSD files, they don't all offer 100% compatibility with the Photoshop format and that's why you often end up with grouping or layer issues.

Unfortunately I don't think we have done much if any testing with Xara but workarounds are available for software like Affinity Photo or Affinity Designer. If you do want to use the PSD templates rather than doing the work in CTA3 itself, then I would refer to the whitepaper and make sure that your groups and layers in Xara match those shown in Photoshop.

I will also pass on your feedback to the CTA team who may be able to find a workaround for Xara users.
By Peter (RL) - 5 Years Ago
To help with issues using Xara with Cartoon Animator 4, the CTA team have made a short video available which shows the steps to use. We hope this can help you.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AjXGc1CAcxWTao2hepuocNcJbP0?e=IJf1RR
By karapete - 5 Years Ago
Hi,
Sorry I've been away.
Thanks very much for your help
Peter
By karapete - 5 Years Ago
Sorry,
I have been away.
I appreciate your help.
I have Pipeline 3 & 4.
Believe me I am trying everything.
It looks as though I can't avoid purchasing Photoshop.
Cheers
Thanks again.
Peter