Computer animation is a creative, fun artistic pursuit that many animators have turned into a profitable business. 2D animation requires less work than 3D but can produce impressive results. With 2D animation, separate illustrations are drawn with subtle differences that are calculated by a computer during the rendering process and compiled into a single animation. Learn how you can use 2D animation to create animations for your Web site or develop your own cartoons.
Instructions
1. Sketch the initial object you'll be animating by hand using a lead pencil. If you use a computer drawing pad, you can sketch your object straight to your animation software. Make this initial sketch as detailed as you can. Add color to your sketch if you want to.
2. Use a scanner or photograph your sketch and upload it to your computer, then open the image in your animation software. There are many animation software products on the market at varying prices; most share the same basic tools. Pencil is a free animation software and great for beginners (see resources).
3. With your original sketch open, make a duplicate. Then use the "Erase" and "Draw" tools to make subtle changes to the duplication. Continue to duplicate and make small changes to each of the sketches, saving each successive altered image as a separate file and named for the order the image will appear in the final animation. Remember, the more files you have, the more intricate the movement will be when the animation is rendered.
4. Start a new file. The animation software will present you with a storyboard, where you will insert your series of images. Insert them into the appropriate cells in the order you want them to appear. Select the "Render" function to compile your series of images into a single animation.
5. Add backgrounds and text to create a fully animated scene. Most animation software programs include these tools, though the more expensive graphics programs will provide a wider range of built-in templates for creating extras (see resources).
