Hey Doodlers!

Have you ever found yourself wanting to add an extra touch of realism to your Doodly videos?

Maybe you’re working on a scene where a character needs to be partially hidden behind an object, like a window, but it doesn’t quite look right.

We’ve all been there, and it can be a bit frustrating when your vision doesn’t translate perfectly onto the screen.

As we know, most images, including the ones we use in Doodly, are flat 2D images.

This is pretty standard across most design platforms, but sometimes, you need a little more depth.

In this tutorial, we’re going to explore a simple yet effective technique to create a peek-through effect.

By making parts of an image transparent, we can make it appear as if a character is peeking through a window, adding that extra layer of engagement to your videos.

We’ll be using a free online tool to help us achieve this effect.

Ready to take your Doodly scenes to the next level? Let’s get started!

When you're working on a Doodly video, the possibilities for creative storytelling are endless.

But sometimes, you might want to add a bit more depth to your scenes—like placing a character behind a window, where they’re only partially visible.

The challenge arises because many props, including windows, are designed as flat 2D images, which don’t naturally allow for see-through effects.

This is common in most design platforms, but it doesn’t mean we can’t get creative with it.

To achieve the peek-through effect, we’ll need to introduce transparency into our prop, allowing your character to interact with their environment in a more dynamic way.

To do this, we’ll be using LunaPic, a free online tool that makes it easy to add transparency to images.

This straightforward approach will help you bring your vision to life without the need for any additional software.

With that understanding, let’s move on to the first step: getting the window image ready for editing.

​With that understanding in mind, let’s move on to the first step: getting the window image ready for editing.

Step 1: Preparing Your Window Image​

Now that we understand the challenge, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get started. The first thing we need to do is prepare the window image we’ll be working with in Doodly.

This step is crucial because it sets the stage for creating that peek-through effect.

Selecting and Positioning the Window​

To create the illusion of a character peeking, we need a prop that naturally lends itself to this effect.

Think of items like a glass window, a door peephole, or even something more imaginative like a telescope or binoculars.

Any of these could work, but for today’s tutorial, we’re going to focus on using a glass window.

​Start by opening Doodly and navigating to the Props tab. Here, you’ll find a variety of window options to choose from.

Select the window that best suits your scene. Once you’ve chosen your window, drag it onto your blank scene.

Position it where you want your character to peek through.

Don’t worry too much about getting the placement perfect just yet—you can always fine-tune it later.

Saving the Window Image for Editing

With your window positioned in the scene, it’s time to prepare the image for editing.

On the timeline at the bottom of your scene, right-click the scene that contains your window image.

From the menu, choose ‘Save as Image.’

Next, click on CHANGE under the destination box.

This will open the "Save as Image" pop-up. Here, you can choose where you want to save the image on your computer.

In the filename portion, you can change or set the title of your exported image to something easy to remember.

It’s fine to keep the background on, and for file format, either JPEG or PNG will work well.

Once you’ve made your selections, just hit Continue to export the image.

With your window image saved and ready, we're all set to move on to the editing process.

In the next step, we’ll head over to LunaPic to make those window panes transparent, allowing your character to finally peek through.

Step 2: Creating Transparency with LunaPic​

Now that you’ve got your window image saved, it’s time to work some editing magic.

The goal here is to make the window panes transparent, so when you place a character behind the window in Doodly, they’ll appear to be peeking through.

For this, we’ll be using LunaPic—a simple, free online tool that’s perfect for the task.

Uploading Your Image to LunaPic

First things first, head over to lunapic.com. LunaPic might not have the flashiest interface, but don’t let that fool you—this tool is incredibly powerful and easy to use.

Once you’re on the website, look for the “Upload” button.

Click it, and browse your computer to find the window image you saved earlier. Select the image and upload it to LunaPic.

Removing the Window Panes

4. Repeat for All Panes: Continue this process for each window pane. Be patient and precise, as removing each pane cleanly will enhance the overall effect when the character is placed behind the window in Doodly.

Saving Your Edited Image​

After you’ve removed all the window panes, it’s time to save your work. Click on the 'Download Now’ option, and make sure to save the image as a PNG file.

PNG format is important because it preserves the transparency we’ve just created, unlike other formats like JPEG.

​If, for some reason, the image is saved in a different format (e.g., GIF), don’t worry.

Simply go to the File tab and select 'Convert File Format.' From there, you can choose to download the image as a PNG.

Save the edited image to your computer, and you’re all set for the next step—bringing it back into Doodly and completing your scene.

Step 3: Bringing Your Edited Image Back into Doodly​

Great job! Now that you’ve successfully added transparency to the window panes, it’s time to bring that edited image back into Doodly and see your character come to life as they peek through the window.

Fine-Tuning the Scene​

Now that the basic setup is done, let’s fine-tune the scene to make it look as natural as possible:​

Conclusion

And there you have it! With just a few simple steps, you’ve transformed a static window prop into a dynamic scene where your character can peek through.

This technique not only adds depth and realism to your Doodly videos but also opens up a world of creative possibilities for your future projects.

Now it’s your turn—try this technique in your own Doodly creations and see how it can elevate your storytelling.

Add a subtle peek or craft an entire scene; the tools are in your hands. So, go ahead and experiment, and don’t forget to share your creations.

Try Doodly now and let’s see what amazing ideas you bring to life!