2. A
nimation deals with generation,
sequencing, and display of a set of
images to create an effect of
visual change or motion, similar to
a movie film. It creates an illusion
of movement. Animation is an important
component of multimedia, because just as
a picture is a powerful way to illustrate
information, a small animation clip is even
more powerful and useful for illustrating
concepts involving movement.
Many of the early inventions designed to
animate images were meant as novelties
for private amusement of children or small
parties. Animation devices which fall into this category include the zoetrope,
magic lantern, praxinoscope, thaumatrope, phenakistoscope, and flip book
zoetrope.
Computer animation -
Computer animation encompasses a variety of techniques, the unifying factor
being that the animation is created digitally on a computer.
Steps of a simple computer animation are following-
1. Creating animation sequences
– object definition
– path specification (for an object or a camera)
– key frames
– in-betweening
2. Displaying the sequences
– raster animation
– colour-table animation
3. Types of animation -
2D animation:
2D animation figures are created and/or edited on the computer using 2D bitmap
graphics or created and edited using 2D Vector graphics. This includes automated
computerized versions of traditional animation techniques such as of twining,
morphing, onion skinning and interpolated rot scoping.
Example - power point animation.
3D animation:
Digitally modeled and manipulated by an animator. To manipulate a mesh, it is
given a digital skeletal structure that can be used to control the mesh. Other
techniques can be applied such as mathematical functions, simulated fur or hair,
fire/water effect and the use of Motion Capture. Many 3D animations are very
believable and are commonly used as Visual Effects for recent movies.
Beowulf, Polar Express and Avatar are recent examples of 3D Animation.
Why animation works?
• The eye cannot register images faster than approximately 50 frames per
second
(30 is just about adequate)
• If a gap in the projection occurs, the eye seems to perform spatial
interpolation over the gap
Rules of Animation-
The three basic rules to give a realistic appearance to the animation sequence.
1. Squash and stretch
2. Slow-in and slow-out
3. Maintaining 3d affects
4. Problems in Animation-
1. Temporal aliasing-It occurs when the view of a moving object is repre-
sented by a series of short samples as distinct from a continuous view.
2. Ray tracing- Ray tracing is a technique for generating an image by tracing the
path of light through pixels in an image plane.
Confusion between video &
animation
• An animation is an animated drawing, cartoon,
etc.
• "Video" is often used to refer to any kind of
audio/visual recording; an animation is never
referred to a live recording.
• In animation we are giving some effects to
particular object, but in video we can’t.
• A video is recorded from actual footage where
as an animation is made digitally.
Difference between video and
animation:
Techniques of Morphing Hardware Software requirement
Animation requirements
Interpolation and The Hardware requir- Animation creation
transformation is transformation ements Image ge- software allow user to
the basic technique of an object’s neration tools and create animation
used in animation shape from one devices such as sequences from scratch.
which are used for form to another scanners, digital Screen capture software
in-between the key is called cameras for creat- used to capture computer
frames. morphing. It can ing images. Graph- screen as graphic images.
1. Linear be applied to ics accelerator Animation clips is a library
interpolation any motion or board used for used for directly importing
2. Translation transition controlling images. Animation
3. Rotation involving a resolution and software import animation
4. Scaling change in shape. number of color of files like .FLI and .FLC.
display.
5. Applications-
Applications In medical- Computer Animation used for presenting result of
biomechanical analyses and simulation.
In education – By using visual effects in educations students can easy grasp and
attract by the students.
In entertainment –Animation is used for creating cartoons or other visual effects
like movies, video games for entertaining the user.
Advantages-
• The animator has total control of animation.
• Interactions are automatically realistic.
• System with complex inter-relationship is possible.
• To visualize the event that can’t be catch by the camera.
Disadvantages-
• Difficult to specify large and dynamic images.
• It consumes a lot of memory space for storing data.
• Special software and programs are required to obtain and process the data.
EXAMPLE OF CREATING ANIMATION SEQUENCES-