Content Organization

T-PRIN-005-011

A production is not only composed of the series or movie’s scenes, there are also animatics, backgrounds, character builds, colour models, references, storyboard, and so forth. These elements must be stored somewhere.

It is recommended that a root directory is created for your elements such as models, audio clips, bitmap backgrounds, references, and so on. This directory should be stored on the server if you work with other users.

The root directory contains subdirectories which hold such elements as animatics, backgrounds and audio files. You must create these subdirectories and name them accordingly. For example, store the backgrounds used in your production in a subdirectory called backgrounds or adventure_backgrounds.

Keeping an organized work structure will give you greater control and ease. You can further improve the organization by grouping similar elements into categories.

A typical list of subdirectories would be:

• Animatic
• Backgrounds
• Designs
• Final Editing
• Library
• Models
• References
• Render
• Storyboard
• Textures

Animatic

Animatic project and movie files can be stored and organized in this folder.

Backgrounds

Backgrounds can be stored by sequence or episode in the same way that animation scenes are. Create a subdirectory named Backgrounds and then place a sequence or episode subdirectory inside of it. Categorize each background by episode or sequence.

Designs

Create a Designs subdirectory and split the designs into three categories:

• Characters
• Props
• Effects

Categories for Locations and Backgrounds can also be added if you are creating the designs using Toon Boom Harmony.

Final Editing

Final Editing projects and renders can be stored and organized in this folder.

Library

The items contained in the library require a high level of organizational structure. The more structured the library, the faster you will be able to retrieve the items. Categorize the elements using subdirectories, which can be further sub-divided. Categories could include:

• Characters
• Props
• Effects
• Audio
• Models

The library folder should always be stored on the server if working with other users, even if it is not included in the root directory. A library is generally shared between all the users. All the users working on the production will link this library to their Library view and reuse its content.

Models

Create a Models subdirectory and divide it into these categories:

• Characters
• Props
• Effects
• Locations

You may also need to add categories for Model Pack.

References

Create a References subdirectory and then categorize according to type:

• Images
  
  These may be any subject from which you can gain ideas and inspiration to help develop your project, For example, if you are producing an 18th-century adventure series, you may have images of period costumes, buildings, and sailing ships.
• Pictures
  
  You can also use photographs of items which may help you produce an accurate account of the time period in which your production is set.

Render

Create a Render subdirectory and categorize the image sequences by scene. For example, you would have a subdirectory named Render and categories named Scene_001, Scene_002 and so on.

It is also possible to do the following:

• Create a subdirectory called Render and store your scene’s render in a subdirectory named sequence.
• Create a subdirectory called Render and store your scene’s render in a subdirectory named episode.

Storyboard

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro projects or storyboard scans can be stored and organized in this folder.

Textures

You can create a bitmap texture bank for pen styles and colour palettes and store all of the files in this folder.