Hello all,

I'm a fledgling animator, and I want to know if Inkscape has an "open as layers" function similar to GIMP. You see, when I have a line test completed in Pencil (for example), I can import ALL the images from a single scene into GIMP where each frame will be made into a layer. After I'm done inking and coloring each frame, I can save it as a .gif and my animation is pretty much complete! However, I don't like inking in a program like GIMP because it doesn't allow for the smooth, consistent lines of vector based software, so I was wondering if there was a "fast" way of inking and coloring multiple frames of penciled animation in Inkscape like there is in GIMP. All I'm capable of doing in Inkscape is importing and then coloring and inking each and every single frame (one by one!) which takes much longer than I'd like it to. Or perhaps I'm using the wrong software and Synfig* would be more capable of meeting my needs?

*I have absolutely no clue how to use Synfig. But I'll be willing to learn if it can accomplish what I'm looking for.

Welcome to InskcapeForum!

No, Inkscape doesn't have such a feature. And neither can it save or export GIFs. Or animate (yet). But maybe you could do the drawing and coloring in Inkscape, and then open as layer in GIMP? I don't know if GIMP can open or import SVGs but it can PNGs, and Inkscape can produce PNGs. Even though the drawings will lose a little quality in the conversion to GIF, it will probably still be sharper and cleaner than drawn in GIMP.

I'm not very familiar with Synfig, but it does handle vectors. I think I read where a recent update allows it to.....hhmm, something about SVGs -- open or save or something with SVGs. Here's the feature page for Synfig: http://www.synfig.org/cms/en/features/

Good luck

Brianfold wrote:if Inkscape has an "open as layers" function similar to GIMP

Not available as built-in function in Inkscape.

Maybe this external extension helps: inkscape-animation-extension by Nathan Jent
«This extension can import a series of image files and place them into frame numbered layers. Each frame layer consists of sub-layers for inking over the images. An output extension is included. It saves a series of images using the inked frame layers. ffmpeg or a similar program can then be used to make a movie file from these images. »

~suv wrote:Maybe this external extension helps: inkscape-animation-extension by Nathan Jent
«This extension can import a series of image files and place them into frame numbered layers. Each frame layer consists of sub-layers for inking over the images. An output extension is included. It saves a series of images using the inked frame layers. ffmpeg or a similar program can then be used to make a movie file from these images. »

Great! Thank you for your help.

Happy Holidays everyone!
Hey Brianfold, would you mind sharing what animation set up you found to work for you? (programs and procedure, assuming you're still animating). I'm particularly interested in hearing about your experience with Synfig.

I'm just looking into setting this up for the first time, so I could use some recommendations/tips/advice . I'm quite comfortable with Inkscape & Gimp, and I just installed Synfig (but haven't tried it yet). From what I've read about Synfig it sounds like it's just what I need.

Thanks in advance,

JDL