toonisation

Toonisation is the process of converting live-action footage, 3D renders, or still images into a cartoon-like appearance. It emphasizes flat shading and bold outlines, reducing photorealistic textures to stylized colors and shapes. It is a form of non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) and is commonly used in animation and video games to achieve a hand-drawn look while leveraging computer graphics.

Techniques include cel shading or toon shading for 3D models, where lighting is broken into discrete levels and edges are painted with heavy outlines. Edge detection or ink lines are added around contours to mimic inked drawings. Color quantization and posterization reduce the color palette, while texture simplification and shading exaggerate shadows. Some workflows combine 2D painting with 3D rigs, while others rely on filters or vectorization for 2D art.

Applications: in feature films, TV series, and games, toonisation can produce approachable, stylized visuals and can streamline production by reusing assets. It is also used in music videos and educational media. Limitations include potential loss of subtle texture, skin detail, and photorealism, as well as stylistic mismatch with live footage. Real-time toonisation in games requires careful shader work and level-of-detail controls to maintain performance and consistency.

Terminology and scope: toonisation is often used interchangeably with cel shading or toon shading, though strict definitions vary. It denotes a spectrum of methods rather than a single standard technique. Advances in NPR and shader technology continue to expand the range and quality of toonised imagery.