In Toon Boom Harmony, shading can be added using effect nodes, specifically the Shadow effect, which applies shading to drawings.
Adding shading involves inserting the appropriate effect node into your Node view and connecting it to your artwork. This method allows for non-destructive shading that can be easily adjusted.
Methods for Adding the Shadow Node
There are two primary ways to add the Shadow effect node to your Node view in Toon Boom Harmony, based on the provided references:
Method 1: Using the Node Library
The Node Library is a central place to find and add various effects and nodes.
- Open the Node Library view. If it's not visible, you can typically find it under Windows > Node Library.
- Browse or search for the Shadow effect. It is usually located under Effects > Lighting or similar categories, or you can simply type "Shadow" in the search bar.
- From the Node Library view, select the Shadow effect and drag it to the Node view.
Method 2: Using the Right-Click Menu
You can also add nodes directly within the Node view using a contextual menu.
- Right-click anywhere within the Node view.
- A menu will appear. Navigate through the options: select Insert.
- From the Insert submenu, select Combine.
- In the Node view, right-click and select Insert > Combine > Shadow.
Connecting the Shadow Node
Once the Shadow node is in your Node view, you need to connect it correctly to apply the shading to your artwork.
- Connect the drawing(s) or group of drawings you want to shade to the input port of the Shadow node.
- Connect the output port of the Shadow node to the Composite node or another relevant node in your network flow.
After connecting, you can typically double-click the Shadow node to open its Layer Properties window and configure the shading settings, such as the shadow colour, transparency, blur, and angle.
These methods allow you to integrate shading effects directly into your node-based workflow in Toon Boom Harmony.
