Jay Wainwright D12
I.C.T
Tuesday 25th November

Software Techniques used in Computer Animation

1.0 Introduction;

Computer animation, more commonly known as CGI animation, can be defined as the process that is used in order to generate a form of animated images, by the means of computer graphics. The more general terminology ‘computer-generated imagery’, also abbreviated as ‘CGI’ regards the idea of encompassing both static scenes and dynamic images, as opposed to computer animation for which only refers to the movement of images.

Modern computer animation usually insinuates the use of 3D computer graphics, this is despite the idea of that 2D computer graphics are still used for the purposes of stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time renderings. There are occasions in which the target of the animation is deemed to be the computer itself, however sometimes the target is another medium, such as a piece of film.

Computer animation can be deemed to be, essentially, a digital successor to the stop motion techniques used within traditional animations. Computer-generated animations are more controllable, as opposed to other more animations that are more physically based processes, such as the construction of miniatures for effects shots. Due to the idea that it allows the creation of images, it can also allow a single graphical artist to produce such content without the use of actors, set pieces, or props.

2.0 Different Software Tools used Within Animation;

There are many different forms of techniques that can be used within the process of animation. This is displayed within the list below;

Key Frames.
Layers.
Onion skinning.
Tweening.
Morphing.

2.1 Key Frames;

A key-frame can be described as being the simplistic form of an objects animation. With regards to the notion in which an object obtains, a beginning state or condition will be changing over the course of time, in position, form, colour, luminosity, or any other property. In order to produce the different final form. Key-framing undertakes the stance with which it is only needed to view the "key" frames, or conditions, that can be used to describe the transformation of this object, within the sense that all other intermediate positions can be figured out from these.

Key frames, within the processes of animation and filmmaking, can be described as a drawing that defines the starting and ending points during the processes of any ‘smooth transition’. The drawings, that are featured are commonly referred to as ‘frames’ due to the idea of their position, within time, is measured within frames upon a strip of film.

A sequence of key frames illustrates the movement in which the viewer will see. On the other hand, the position of the key frames on the film, video or animation defines the timing of the movement. Due to the idea that only two or three key frames over the span of a second. In order to create the illusion of movement, the remaining frames are filled with the occurrence of inbetweens.

2.2 Layers;

Layers are used within the process of digital image editing for the processes of the separation of the different elements of an image. A layer can be compared to that of a transparency for which the application of imaging effects, or images, can be implemented and therefore placed underneath or over an image. Still used today, they are deemed to be an integrated feature of image editors

There are many different forms of layers that ban be used during the process of creating an animation. However, there is a chance that not all of the features that are available within different mediums/other forms of software. The main purpose of layers regards the idea of that it represents a part of a picture, either as pixels or as modification instructions. They are stacked on top of each other, depending on the order, in order to determine the appearance of the final picture.

Within graphics software, a layer is the term used to describe the different levels at which