Hi everyone,
I’m new to Krita. I want to create a simple animation in which I create a letter using the calligraphy function, and then I want that letter to transition into another calligraphy letter.
For example, I would like to draw a calligraphy “C” and transition it into a “D”.
Whenever I use the calligraphy tool, it automatically turns the paint layer into a vector layer.
There doesn’t seem to be a way to animate a vector layer.
How can I accomplish this?
Thanks,
Hello and welcome to the forum 
The calligraphy tool is a vector tool and so it automatically creates a new vector layer if you try to use it on a paint layer.
You can convert a vector layer into a paint layer image:
Select the vector layer in the Layers docker and do right-click → Convert → Convert to Paint Layer. That can then be animated.
Thanks so much Ahab. I will convert the vector layer to a paint layer.
I saw something in the FAQs about adding keyframes to create animation. Hopefully I will figure this out soon.
These two section of the manual, in particular, may be of use to you:
Note this sub-section:
None of it is really difficult but there are lots of concepts and small things to learn.
Thanks again, Ahab. Have a great day.
I feel as if I am missing something small. I created the layer for the letter “A” and saved it. Then I added a new layer on the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
Whenever I click on the new layer that was created, the main screen stays on the letter “A” instead of giving me a new blank layer to draw the letter “B”.
The screen stays on the same layer no matter what, so I can’t create the second layer that I want to transition into.
Do you mean that you did File → Save?
(If so, you didn’t need to do that.)
I think you mean you added a new layer in the Layers Docker.
The ‘Toolbar’ is the collection of icons that is usually under the menu bar.
It may be that you’re not familiar with modern digital image painting/editing applications. The layers are all stacked on top of each other and if you add a new layer on top, you can see through it to the layers below.
So, if you add a new layer, intended for item ‘B’, you can see through it to item ‘A’ that you painted on the layer below.
The canvas shows the composited image as seen as if you were looking down through the layer stack.
You did create the second layer, it’s just that you haven’t painted anything on it yet.
In an animation, you don’t ‘transition’ between layers, you progress between frames on an animated layer.
I have a good idea what you’re trying to achieve and I believe that you’re going to have to hand draw about twenty calligraphic vector layers of intermediate stages going from the “C” shape to the “D” shape.
Then convert them to paint layers and transfer them all to sequential frames of a single animated paint layer.
This will be quite a challenge for someone who hasn’t used krita before.
It may be that I’ve misunderstood what you’re doing and if so then please correct me and post screenshots of your situation.
If I’m right then I strongly recommend that you spend time getting more used to krita with simple shape/colour painting on numerous layers and also making simple hand painted animations of the ‘moving wiggly shape’ type before you try to do more challenging work.
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