How to create computer animation? Animation has been one of the most popular film genres since the early days of cinema. At one time these animations relied on hand-drawn cells for each frame of the film. These days animation has been dominated mainly by CGI, or computer-generated imagery. Some computer animations are created frame-by-frame with a hand (or mouse), but most are created using 3D models that are overlaid and rendered over a series of frames. There are several important parts to the animation process.
How to Create Computer Animation?
Storyboard
The process of creating animation starts with writing the desired scene as a storyboard on paper based on a script. Basically, storyboards create comic book pages to illuminate the movement of various scenes. This provides a visual reference to other parts of the process.
Modeling
In modeling, three-dimensional shapes, structures, props and background scenes are created in a modeling program. This model is a mathematically based network of polygons. Each one is a shape that looks like the picture or object you need. An important part of modeling is to create a network with only as many polygons as the network needs to do its job in the scene. For something as simple as a book, you can get away with just a few. But for complex figures, like people who need to pose, there can be tens of thousands of polygons.
UV Mapping and Texturing
Once the 3D model mesh is created, we need to do a bit of UV mapping and texturing. First, the modeler identifies seams in the model that can split the model. However, the model is not literally split. Instead, the seam defines where the texture map should be placed on the model.Next, create the texture map by painting on a 2D map based on the UV map or by painting directly on the model. This texture map acts as a color “skin” for the model. Without this skin, the model would look like a lifeless lump.
Equipment – Computer Animation
If the model is a poseable model (human, dog or folding table) it should be rigged. In rigging, the body parts of the model are defined as “groups” and all polygons in the area are assigned to groups such as “larm” or “rthigh”.
Animation
When all the elements of the animation scene are ready, they are loaded into the animation program you are using. Each one is placed in the scene, lighting is added, and then the pose tool is used to pose the character in a series of frames on the timeline (storyboard-based). Finally, these frames are rendered as animation.
