subject: A Beginners Guide To 2d And 3d Animations - Software [print this page] Firstly, both 2D and 2D graphics can be animated, brought to life, so to speak, and used to tell a story. The difference between the two is not about the graphics, artwork or drawings. What makes the difference is how they are animated, the tools, techniques and processes available to do it.
Animation is about creating a series of pictures or drawings that are taken through a simulation process in order to create movement. Think about taking a series of photographs of a moving object, a horse for example. When processed, staple them together and then quickly flip through them with your thumb. Of course this is a crude example, but is sufficient enough to illustrate the point.
In 2D computer animation the process used to create movement entails such things as twining, morphing, onion skinning, rotoscoping and others. All this allows however is a two dimensional view of the object or character and the background. It does not allow for contouring which gives it visual depth. 3D animation on the other hand uses digital modelling that allows a complete 360 degree view as well as a high degree of realistic features.
2D drawings are based on two geometric co-ordinates, ?x? for horizontal and ?y? for vertical. If you turn these drawings to the side you see nothing but a straight line. 2D is based on x which allows characters to move left and right and a y co-ordinate which allows up and down movements. 3D animation includes an additional co-ordinate, known as z. . Known as the Cartesian Co-ordinate System, the additional z factor adds another level of movement that lets the character to both not only forward and backwards, up and down but also from side to side. Now when you turn the drawing to the side what you see is a complete every angle or view of the drawing.
Apart from movement, 3D also offers techniques that give characters and object greater levels of detail and depending on the software being used, allows them to appear as realistic as possible. 2D is limited in this regard and characters often look and move quite primitively in comparison.
The Cartesian Co-ordinate System only available in 3D animation also allows for such things as translation, scaling and rotation. They all work according to a mathematical equation which when manipulated translates in different movements. Translation allows the character or object move in a variety of different ways while Scaling allows characters and/or objects around the character the ability to change shape. By rotating the character or object around all three axis characters and objects can be rotated in a host of directions at the same time.
It becomes obvious that 3D animation is only possible with the help of computer software. 2D animation also relies on computer software, but can also be achieved manually if necessary. The end result will be crude and limited in movement, but it is possible.
