3D animation is the most advanced layer of animation. It requires special expertise, advanced skills and a panel of sought-after designers. Animation itself is quite difficult sometimes, however, creating a figure that looks, acts and performs more like a human being is truly a challenge while crafting out an equally interesting story to engage viewers.
The animators today are more inclined towards creating such motion graphics that show detailing, smoothness of a live creature and is more comprehensively crated. They aim to produce characters that show humanly gestures and perform flawlessly. From composure to body language, movement of parts to every bit of the graphics, professionals are striving to bring innovation in live animation.
Where animation used to entertain kids through amusing cartoons and television commercial, it has now extended its wings towards branding and marketing as well. On many websites, branding platforms and resources, there is a lot of animated flare seen that is creating potential outcomes.
Branding is all about capturing the attention of your target viewers, and nothing can do it more perfectly than the motion graphics. Both the wonders of animation- the 2D and 3D never fail to entertain its viewers thereby infusing a core message among the audience in the most convenient manner.
3D Animation Basics
In 3D applications, an animation usually happens in two of the following ways:
Keyframe Animation
The legendary style of animation is keyframe animation. Since 1600 B.C, a frame-by-frame animation is hitting the charts. Animation pioneer like Walt Disney used to work on keyframe animations for producing most famous cartoons since years.
Lo and Behold! The basics of keyframe techniques are still the same. They haven’t improvised an inch. However, the basic changes revolve around position, shapes, color, timing, and size of objects.
Motion Capture
Due to the shortage of many software, Mo-cap famously known as Motion capture was introduced that gradually gained more importance and involvement in videos, games animation to creating CG effects in many movies. Where keyframe requires much time and effort, motion capture provides quickest outcomes with smart strategies and expert skill set. The downsides involved in motion capture gave rise to learning 3D animation in which smoothness, perfection, seamless movement and transition were focused. Even if a small ball is moving, experts focused on its tiniest movement and improvised them to provide flawless motion.
3D Animation Essentials
Script
Whether you opt to plan to go for 2D animation or 3D motion, the one thing that is a part of a strong foundation is a script. If you do not have a compelling script, your efforts will fall flat. No matter how smooth the animation is, without a proper flow, you will not be able to generate benefiting outcomes. Hence, do come up with something more captivating, and valuable.
Storyboarding
Similarly, to the script, storyboarding holds its significance as well. It decides whether the concept you plan to deliver will work or not, it shows you ways to create the impact you aim for, and it adds credibility to your work.
In storyboarding animators sketch characters and scene in a frame by frame manner. In the end, they create an animation based on those sketches. So, if the storyboard is not up to a professional level your entire efforts will become in vain. In critical animation, which requires a lot of time and effort, developing a storyboard will have to stay in the budget. Often we get carried away in the pursuit of achieving our aim; by keeping all the ducks in a row you will get time to formulate your energy in the right direction. Moreover, storyboards also help animators to makes changes easily.
Illustration
After the making of storyboards, animators go for adding live in their still images. In Illustration, they make use of advanced tools and software to bring attractiveness into their stories. There are many aspects involved in illustration.
Color Transition
As part of the illustration, colors play a huge role. Selection of the right colors and proper shades can add a strength to your graphics. Your hollow sketches will blow with engaging aspects if you fill in the most appropriate hue and select the right palette.
Software and Tools
To add life to your characters you need to have a handful of smart 3D tools and software. Tools like Houdini, 3D Studio Max, Maya 3D, and Blender 3D are some of the professional’s tools that can help you create a more realistic image and character. From procedural, remodeling, lighting, texturing, rendering to animating, the software is a package full of wonders and expertness. A vast gallery of tools and built-in templates produces unmatchable effects and smoothness. If you are working on facial expression blender 3D is the best option to go for.
After script, storyboarding and illustration there comes a time for producing final animation. In this part, these tools act as a saving grace. They provide expert platforms for beginners and professionals for creating finest of work.
Use of AI in 3D Environment
It’s best to stay in touch with discoveries, inventions to bring innovation to the work you produce. Introduction of Artificial intelligence has been the biggest invention made so far. Where technologies were striving to adopt it, AI seems to pave its way into a 3D environment as well. The most famous game Pokémon Go shows an advance integration of AI in its interface. From its smooth and classy animation to proficient use of AI, the game created a huge buzz within no time. Since then, providers of professional 3D Animation Services begin finding ways to implement and incorporate it to bring greater efficiency in their work.
Therefore, it’s high time for you to involve virtual reality within your 3D animation for greater an out-of-the-box product. With virtual reality, your animation will turn into an immersive motion graphics, grabbing tons of attention and appreciation.