Week 1
1. Pre-production and blocking:
Pre-production phase is about further developing your ideas and planning everything out before production. In an animation sense pre-production is the period of time before any real animating takes place, so it mainly consists of, narrative treatments, scripts, storyboards, character designs, and the animatic.
Above are images displaying pre-production character design (the model sheet) and pre-production walk blocking sequence.
Image sources: http://yamjammed.blogspot.com.au/ & http://katmac-animation.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/animation-airhead-pre-production-work.html
Info source: http://www.wideopenspace.co.uk/animation-tutorial/pre-production.htmlOther source I havent used but may be useful:
http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/bca/item/pre-production-for-an-animated-film
2. 3D Modelling of required assets:
The basic definition of 3D is any object that occurs on a three-axis cartesian coordinate system. 3D Models are defined as any object represented in digital space.
Above is an image example of a 3D model from the movie How to Train your DragonImage source: http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/modeling-showreel-by-jeff-wagner/
Info source: http://3d.about.com/od/3d-101-The-Basics/a/3d-Defined-What-Is-3d.htm
3. UV Mapping:
UV mapping is the 3D modeling process where you make a 2D image representing a 3D model. This projects a texture map onto a 3D object, the letters UV refer to 2 points on a 3D axies.
Above is an example image of UV mapping.
Image source: http://www.learn3dsoftware.com/lw_11_5_uv_mapping_a_creature.htm Info source: Mullen, T (2009). Mastering Blender. 1st ed. Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9780470496848
Murdock, K.L. (2008). 3ds Max 2009 Bible. 1st ed. Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9780470417584
4. Texturing
Texture mapping is a process in 3D animation in which you get a two-dimensional surface known as a texture map that is then 'wrapped' around a three-dimensional object, therefore giving the 3-D object a surface texture alike that of the 2-D surface. It is the digital process of painting a three dimensional object or model.
Above is an example image of wrapping a texture to a 3D model.
Image source: http://satish3dartist.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/texturing-mapped-model.htmlInfo source: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/texture-mapping
5. Rigging:
Animating a 3D character requires manual rigging which defines a character's internal skeletal structure. The method contains two main steps which involve, embedding a skeleton, and then refining the embedding using optimization. The second step is the attachment of skin, which is computed by assigning a weight to the bones based on the proximity of the bones.
Above is an example image of rigging a skeleton.
Image source: http://www.media-freaks.com/the-process-of-3d-animation/Info source: http://www.mit.edu/~ibaran/autorig/
6. Animation:
Animation is the technique of creating an illusion of not only movement but an illusion of life, animation is figuratively bringing your digital models or drawn images to life. Simply making an object or character move on screen is not necessarily known as animation. A character has to act and interact, therefore they 'think' in a way.
Above is an example image of a 3D animation.
Image source: http://designfactory.in/Info source: ANI100 Lecture 01 History
7. Scene Assembly:
Scene assembly is a feature that allows artists to interact and build with large sets of data without the burden of memory. Artists can quickly assemble and interact with the scene in any type of perspective or representation.
Above is an example of 3D scene assembly and digital painting, taken from a Zbrush tutorial.
Image source: http://www.evermotion.org/tutorials/show/8150/3d-scene-assembly-and-digital-paintingInfo source: http://www.pixelcg.com/blog/?p=1112
8. Lighting:
Lighting in a 3D world, like textures and camera angles, really has the ability to bring scenes 'alive'. Lighting has the potential to make scenes come off as convincing and realistic, if used incorrectly it can do the opposite or turn a great scene into a bad one.
Above is an example of lighting in a 3D animation.
Image source: http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/insidedwa/productionprocessInfo source: http://www.media-freaks.com/the-process-of-3d-animation/
9. Rendering:
Typically the last step in the 3D production pipeline and perhaps one of great importance. There are many aspects involved in making a good final render, attention to details like, camera placement, lighting, reflections, transparency and handling special effects like fluids or glasses.
Above is an image of a 3D model and environment being rendered.
Image Source: http://www.creativebloq.com/3d/whats-future-3d-rendering-21410582Info source: http://www.media-freaks.com/the-process-of-3d-animation/
10. Compositing:
Compositing is layering two different still/motion images together for animation. For example, An object moving like a ball bouncing in an environment can be filmed separately, film the ball bouncing with a pure green background then film the environment you want. Putting the film of the ball in motion and the environment is known as compositing.
Above is an image example displaying a compositing reel.
Image source: http://oneanimation.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/compositing-reel-2009.htmlInfo source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_compositing_in_animation_after_effects_and_its_type?#slide=5
11. Video editing:
3D Animation: Just What Your Product Requires
ReplyDeleteThe animation market is huge- it was worth over $254 billion dollars in 2017. The market has undoubtedly grown since then. This industry is sure to grow, especially now that it has proved to be an efficient marketing strategy.
9 Strange Facts About 3D Animation
3D animation has been synonymous with the entertainment business for the greater part of its history. This is because animation is exceptional at captivating an audience. In the recent past, however, 3D animation is increasingly being utilized to show off products.
That raises the question, "Is 3D product animation worth all the hype?
Well, to be honest, it WORTH A LOT MORE THAN THAT!
This is best illustrated by brands such as Gillette and the beloved Apple. Look at the Gillette ads and you'll realize that a simple animation changed a lowly shave into an adventure. Now think about at the extent of trust the marketing method garners for the brand. As its competitors make use of conventional marketing, Gillette infuses some 3D adventure to set itself apart. The quality of the animation is considered reflective of the brand's quality. Employ 3D product animation and join the growing list of businesses that are dominating their niches.
When 3d animation is employed as a marketing tool, three major advantages are realized:
1. Prototyping Magic: A lot of cash goes into designing a prototype to test the market. These expensive prototypes yield the required feedback but, what if you could get the feedback at a cheaper price? Well, now there is. With a 3D product animation, you can- inexpensively- make a model of your product and use it to gauge the market. This way, you have the feedback synonymous with prototypes without the expense.
2. First Impressions Come Once: Let's face it, many products are boring. Just imagine a Gillette ad without the animation. Boring, right?
3D product animation takes an ordinary looking item and transforms it into an adventure of epic proportions. The product is viewable across all 360-degrees with special effects added for that extra punch. Utilize animation to strike a chord with the market of interest.
The iPhone X is a great example. The marketing strategy was predominantly centered on3D models. Many other brands including Microsoft, Huawei, and Samsung have also used 3D product animations. Now you know why they dominate their respective niches.
3.Money Talks: 3D product animation helps save money. The 3D model can even be utilized to distinguish glitches in an unfinished product. Designers get a feel of the product before it is physically prototyped- and make all the appropriate changes.
Animation is also easily the most cost-effective marketing strategy there is. With the increasing popularity of Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D printing, it helps to show that you are familiar with the latest trends.
To sum it up, your product has a lot to gain from 3D technologies. You can give it glamor, appeal, and mystique. Being a modern development, animation provides your product legitimacy in the modern market. Bad first impression has been the doom of countless products.
Don't be part of that statistic. Stir things up. Make your item the hero of an animated ad. Everybody loves those, or don't you?