painting backgrouinds

[Simon W Edmondson]

This may be due to operator error ( beginners inexperience ) But, I am trying to make a background to use for a project using a photograph as a refence point. Unsure of the best process, I imported the photo as a backhground. created a new layer and started to work in that over the photo. Added a couple of more layers for different aspects.

Now think perhaps they should have been background layers too (? ) but did use anim . Not knowing any better, it has not been a problem before.

However. Working on it again this evening after a break, the timeline playhead keeps setting off, even though there are no frames to see beyond the first.
It happens without me touching anything.
The only way to stop it is to double tap the space bar. Reset the slider to the start and click to select first frame .
That was ok for a while but, it kept happening, and stopped in the end because it was no longer possible to get anything done.
Two questions really.
Is there a cause and possible cure for the constant running?
Can anyone kindly suggest a better working process for devoloping a background image to animate over?
Regards
Simon

TVP12 pro, Studio Mac,64gbRAM, OSX Sonoma

[Thierry]

Hello Simon,

Would it be possible for you to record a video of the issue? This would help understand the issue better.

[Peter Wassink]

Your issue is not caused by the layer type.
"Background layer" is not a different type of layer then "anim layer" its just an animlayer with a few different presets.

Your problem seems that something is causing your layercursor(playhead) to skip ahead...
no idea what... could even be the mousecable touching the arrow key or the nr 6 key

[slowtiger]

The difference between a background layer and an animation layer is that anything you draw in the animation layer stays in the frame where you draw it. The BG layer can be extended over the whole clip, it doesn't matter in which frame you paint, everything will be visible from start to end.

Usually I paint in animation layers all the time, for a BG I just extend that layer's exposure to the end of the scene, or I set its behaviour to hold.

I work from photographs regularly. In my workflow I duplicate the photograph: one is scaled to the size I want and set to 50% opacity, this is my reference for painting over (on a new layer!). The other is reduced n size, put a bit aside, at 100%, this is for easy pickup of colours.

[Simon W Edmondson]

Thank you all for your helpful replies.
Thiery,
I'm unaware how I could record a video of the problem, can you suggest a method ?
Peter
Thank you. I'm using a cordless mouse, and a Cintiq tablet. The problem has not occurred before yesterday. I will try again this evening. Have to work on some stop frame models first ).
Slow Tiger.
Thank you. Thats what I was trying to do, but without the skill or experience. Do you build a colour palette from the photo or work directly frtom the photo? I am hoping to learn more about using pallettes with this project.
regards
Simon

[slowtiger]

Usually I work directly from the photo - speed is king, and I rarely use one of these BGs twice.