Basics of Computer Animation Tools & Tutorials

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There is a great difference in the technique, procedure and other methods of general animation and computer animation images. Computer uses sophisticated tools to accomplish the task and the work is carried on a computer with latest computer animation tools promises the desired results.

There are two main techniques used in animations by animators. One is 2D animation and the other is 3D animation. The latter is much more advanced and provides a three-dimensional view of the figures and other special effects. If you are up to simple animation, any computer capable of creating simple graphics and having the required softwares can do the task. But the animations that you see on television or motion pictures are very sophisticated and they require powerful workstations. So, the tools of computer animation are divided into two sections - hardware and software tools.

The hardware tools are basically the computers that are being used for the purpose of creating the animations which vary in capabilities, shapes and sizes. Some of them can only do specified tasks while others can do a variety of tasks. Here are some of the most-used hardware tools of animation:

SGI
The SGI workstation has been among the most-widely induced hardware platforms in professional as well as broadcast productions with high-quality animations. It uses the UNIX operating system and is very fast and provides excellent results. There are various types of SGI computers that use various softwares and other tools for carrying out all the complex calculations of rendering and producing high-quality animation.

PC
A PC is a versatile system to carry the main tasks and animation is one such activity. They have both power and flexibility for which they are the preferred choice. PC’s are being sought by many animation studios due to the low-cost factor and quality work they can produce.

Amiga
This hardware tool is basically used for television animation and special effects. They are owned by Commodore and have earned a reputation for their quality of graphics. The software tools include the software from various companies that are capable of doing the task error free and more efficiently.

Softwares commonly used include:

3DStudio Max
It’s the successive version of 3DStudio 3.0 and operates under WindowsNT. It has redesigned interface, spacewraps and volumetric lighting systems for creating more powerful and quality work.

3DStudio
This software is specifically made for PCs and is a graphic designing program. The software consists of parts like 2D modeler, 3D lofter and 3D modelet which allow a person for creating figures with varied ranges. It has an animator for creating the animation.

Alias/Wavefront
It is regarded as the topmost software package for animation and the SGI hardware tools use this software tool for creating the high-quality animations. The best part of this software is its modeler which can complete complicated tasks easily and allows an animator to create softwares for creating a co-ordination with Alias.

Elastic Reality
This software is also used in SGI computers and in Mac’s. It’s been credited for its morphing technique which is the best in industry.

Understanding Computer Animation Tutorial

Animation in computers is a very sophisticated aspect and you cannot learn all the areas of animation with self-application. You will need assistance for more clear and vivid knowledge on the subject. If you are learning computer animation and can’t understand certain points, you can take the help of computer animation tutorials.

Computer animation tutorials can be sought online from some websites or online magazines. The online tutorials offer to help you learn the programs and application of various techniques of computer animation. Besides being online, you can also get animation tutorial books in the bookstores that will guide you and tell you step-by-step about animation and their various uses. Published animation magazines too have their column of animation tutorials.

Advantages of computer animation tutorials:
• These tutorials are from expert teachers and animators who give key solution s to problems you face using softwares of animations.
• Some of the tutorials are a step-wise discussion on the whole process of animation.
• Computer animation tutorials help you learn easy techniques of creating animation.
• These tutorials tell you new things about animation and how you can use them.
• If you are a student seeking animation courses, tutorials can be used for completing projects and learning something extra.
• You can have tutorials on both 2D and 3D animation.

Disadvantages of Computer animation tutorials:
• These tutorials mostly contain simple techniques which you will find in any computer animation related books. Most of the tutorials cannot solve your complicated problems.
• Secondly, the computer animation tutorials are a theoretical approach and you may not understand some areas since animation is an extensively practical application.
• Most of the tutorials don’t deal with complicated tasks of high-end softwares like Alias/Wavefront and 3D Studio Max.

A simplest computer animation tutorial will teach you the art of animation in four steps.
• First, it will tell you how to prepare an image or create a figure using the various graphics techniques wither 2D graphics or 3D graphics.
• In the second step, your work will be to create the animation with commands to the software. It will depend on the software you use.
• The third step of tutorial will be regarding the transparency to set the colors of the object, background or related objects.
• The last step is saving your animation.

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