Animation in 3D graphics. Animation in 3D graphics Computer 3D animation

The first thing I would like to start with is to explain what animation is in 3D graphics and what is its main difference from classical (two-dimensional) animation. Animation in three-dimensional computer graphics is the process of changing the properties (parameters) of a three-dimensional object over time. In classical animation, the animator has to draw every frame of his creation in order to make the object “come to life” on the screen.

Image source www.angryanimator.com

In 3D animation, we need to set the so-called key frames, and the program will calculate (interpolate) all other animation frames itself. In fact, the animation process is not as simple as it may mistakenly seem. Perhaps it is for this reason that the profession of an animator in the field of 3D computer graphics is one of the highest paid professions in the industry, and there are not so many real professionals.

What is animation used for in 3D graphics? There are several areas that cannot do without 3D animation. This:

Animation of object transformations (movement, rotation, scaling);
Camera animation;
Animation of technical processes;
Dynamic deformations of objects;
Character animation;
Dynamic simulations (fluids, tissues, particles).

In each of the above areas, there are different ways to create (obtain) 3D animation. We can boil them down to the following:

Keyframe animation;
Animation along a trajectory;
Creating animation for dynamic simulations;
Animation obtained using motion capture.

So, let's lift the veil of secrecy a little on each method of creating animation.

Keyframe Animation

Creating animation in 3D graphics packages using key frames can be represented as follows:

At the right moment in time, for example in the 1st frame of the animation, you set the properties of your object (size, position, rotation angles) and set this frame as the key one. The program records all information about the properties of the object in this frame.
Next, you select another frame of your animation, for example the 10th, and again set new properties of your object in it. Afterwards, make this frame the key frame again.
Now the program itself will calculate how the object should behave when transitioning from the 1st animation frame to the 10th. This process is called animation interpolation.

Image source http://brendanbody.blogspot.com/2008/12/walk-cycle.html

This animation method is ideal for: object transformation animation, camera animation, technical process animation, and even character animation. The animated film Rango, produced by Industrial Light & Magic, is a perfect example of perfect character animation created using the key frames.

Path animation

Animation along a trajectory requires, in addition to the object that will be animated, to specify its trajectory (path of movement). Path animation is often ideal for animation of moving technical objects, camera animation and animation of technical processes.

Image source http://tanawadeethep.tumblr.com

Once you have selected the object that you would like to make move along a path, you need to assign it a path to animate (path). The 3D object is then transferred to and associated with the path line. The program itself will create two key frames for you, one of which will store the position of the object at the beginning of the path, and the second the position of the object at the end of the path. The program interpolates the remaining frames for you. As a result, your object will begin to move along the specified path when the animation plays.

Creating animation for dynamic simulations

This method of creating animation is associated more with the profession of a dynamics specialist than with the profession of an animator. Animation here is a way to save the result of a dynamic simulation. The scary phrase “dynamic simulation” means the process of calculating the behavior of an object in a physically real environment. For example, we all know that if a glass goblet falls on the floor, it will most likely break into many pieces. This is familiar to us and we all understand it. But the three-dimensional environment does not know which object should have certain properties. In order for each object to behave as it does in our world, dynamic simulations are used. Such simulations are performed by 3D graphics packages and, after the simulation is completed, they create animation keys that store information about the behavior of each piece of our broken glass. Dynamic simulations are very often used to calculate the behavior of liquids, tissues, hard and soft objects. Thanks to dynamic simulations and the animations created after them, we can enjoy watching apocalyptic blockbusters in cinemas.

Motion captured animation

Motion capture is a fairly new method of producing animation, but it is quickly gaining popularity due to the realistic animation it allows to obtain. What is the essence of this method of producing 3D computer animation? As a rule, to obtain animation using this method, you need a specially equipped studio with equipment for motion capture, an actor from whom the animation will be captured, and special software. The motion capture system works as follows:

The actor is wearing special sensors;
The actor performs the necessary animation movements;
Cameras around the actor record the movement of sensors;
Specialized software, analyzing the movements of the sensors, creates a skeleton with exactly the same animation as that of a real actor and saves the result in the form of key frames;
The resulting animation can now be used in 3D graphics packages.

This technology is expensive, but allows you to get very realistic animation. It is mainly used for character animation.

Image source http://lukemccann.wordpress.com/motion-capture

Vivid examples of animation obtained using motion capture are such film projects as: “The Polar Express”, “Avatar”, “The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn”.

This concludes our overview of animation in 3D computer graphics.

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Ever since cavemen learned to make cave paintings, humanity has been improving methods of visually displaying the surrounding reality. At different periods of history, artists were equipped with new paints and tools for painting, sculptors mastered various materials and techniques, and the theater amazed with the realistic scenery.

With the advent of computers, many new ways of constructing images have emerged. Of course, technology has significantly expanded the previously available capabilities, including in the field of creating pictures with a motion effect:

To “stir up” a static image, you must have a program for creating animation installed on your computer; its selection will be discussed in this article.

A little about animation

In order for an image to be animated, the following conditions must be met:

A few pictures. It is impossible to achieve the effect of movement with just one image. Animation is a change of frames, and these frames must be different from each other;
Similar pictures. If you successively change a cat for a dog, an elephant and a giraffe, you will get something indigestible. Images must have common elements to make a good animation;
Frame change rate. If the picture changes once a second, then no movement effect will be achieved. In order to get the desired result, it is necessary to change frames more than 16 times per second.

To achieve the desired result, there are various programs for 2D animation, as well as for working with 3D images. Let's start by considering the 3D format.

3D animation software

Let's look at some popular programs for creating 3D animation.

3D Studio Max. This program is popular among those for whom creating animation is not their main activity. Also great for modeling 3D objects in computer games Oh:

There are a huge number of constantly updated plugins and rendering capabilities, but not everyone can afford everything (legally) due to financial reasons.

Realsoft 3D. A distinctive feature of this 3D animation program is highest quality Images:

This feature is actively used by the creators of commercials and music videos. Another nice feature is that it is cross-platform.

Maya. A program for creating high-quality 3D animation, which is widely used in film production:

Poser 4. This system most suitable for modeling human behavior, therefore it is used both in the development of computer games and in the creation of cartoons:

Programs for Flash animation

To be placed on website pages, animated images must have little weight (otherwise the resource loading speed will be dismal). Flash technology allows you to “spice up” boring pictures on the World Wide Web.

Today, the absolute leader in this area is Adobe, offering a wide range of opportunities for developers:

However, not everyone can afford such a program for flash animation, not to mention the necessary plugins ( in total the entire package will cost more than $1000). Therefore, we will consider options with cheaper components.

SWiSHpowerFX. This system greatly simplifies the creation of animated text. The main advantages are ease of use by users and speed of image creation;
Swiff Chart. Program for creating diagrams. The user only needs to enter the data and select the chart type, and the system will do the rest.

Animation of photos

Let's look at some software solutions, which will help you turn a static photo into an animated image.

Adobe Photoshop. The king of image editing that provides widest range possibilities:

Adding various animated effects will help make any photo truly come to life.

FotoMorph. A program whose action is based on morphing technology ( transition from one image to another):

PhotoSHOW PRO. An analogue of Photoshop, which is certainly inferior to its eminent competitor in everything, including price, and for some this is already a powerful argument not in favor of the product from Adobe:

Creating a three-dimensional character for a logo or commercial is only half the battle. Once your character's appearance is ready, agreed upon and approved, the fun begins - creating 3D animation. This is a labor-intensive and incredibly interesting process that ultimately allows you to “revive” any idea.. For example, teach a character to talk to a client, be sad and happy, think and move, get into adventures and show with his fingers how to use your product.

The work of 3D animators is a colossal effort, allowing them to create not just a moving picture, but also a completely reliable reality around. How 3D animation is created and what miracles can be created skillfully, we will examine in more detail in the article.

To quote Dr. Frankenstein: It's alive!

Animation of three-dimensional objects differs significantly from 2d animation - “flat” cartoons, where volume was achieved using perspective and proper coloring of characters and surroundings. Today, technology allows you to immediately show its shape with lighting and camera movement. In this case, the concept of animation changes:

2d animation- creating the illusion of movement or changing the shape of objects using technical techniques.

3d animation— automatic movement or transformation of objects in space and time.

Simply put, previously it was necessary to draw the movement of each character frame by frame. Now it is enough to create a three-dimensional model of the character, after which it can be moved in space without additional effort and drawings. But it’s simple to say, but in reality, reviving a 3D character model is quite a complex process. To make the figure move, it is not enough to have access to a computer and smart programs. You also need to imagine how the hero can move, what forces influence him (not the higher ones, but, for example, gravity, friction and resistance).

If you want to get something with character, it is important to turn to animators who are aware of all the subtleties and are ready to fanatically work out every detail. Not only the gait, but also facial expressions, the movement of hairs, and the sliding of fabric (if the hero, of course, wears clothes).

To take everything into account at once, you need to be a little bit of a wizard and a little bit of a genius - a quite apt description for the animators at KLONA studio.

How to create something other than a zombie: features of 3D character animation

As the modern wisdom goes: nothing is zombies but zombies. And if your hero is not him, then the character animation should be “live”, or, as they say nowadays, believable. The viewer must believe that the hero really walks, looks, grimaces or smiles, interacts with the environment.

Creating and animating a 3D character is about creating a story that is told not with words on paper (or screen), but with movement. For example, a hero's facial expressions can say a lot about character. But to do this, he must have a face of sufficient “quality” to make the muscles move.

When the question is approached without due diligence or half-heartedly, as a rule, the result is something at least unnatural, and sometimes even frightening.

Therefore, let's take as a starting point and see what can be done with it:

Animate by keyframes;
Animate along a path;
Create animation in dynamic environment;
Animate with using motion capture.

Each of the methods is most easily explained by considering not only the technology, but also examples.

Keyframe animation: from point A to point B

- one of the most common ways to create 3D character animation. The essence of the method is this: several main points are specified on the time scale at which the position or shape of the object changes. Animator sets required parameters models in the specified frames, and the program calculates “intermediate” states automatically.

Example: For simplicity, let's take a rubber ball that hits the ground and bounces up. To display one such “jump”, the process must be divided into three stages: the ball at the top point - the ball on the ground - the ball again at the top point. In a good way, you should set more key frames, take a bunch of little things into account. Like the fact that when dropped, the rubber casing stretches, and when hit, it flattens.

If you correctly deform an object at each fixed point in time, the 3D animation will turn out to be as natural as possible.

3D character models are not always people or animals. Our hero can be any object, for example, a flying camera or a UFO (in general, anything that your imagination allows for). In this case, blinking lights and rotating along an axis will not be enough - it will not be interesting. But to make an object fly along a trajectory, and even “send” the camera to follow its movement, approaching and moving away in time...

And skillful handling of focus (this is what a 3D animation studio should definitely be able to do) will turn a simple twirling of an object in space into an exciting almost blockbuster.

The essence of the method is to:

set the starting point (the beginning of the object's path);
designate the trajectory (the path taken by the object);
indicate the end point (where the model should stop).

After the character/object is “attached” to the trajectory, the program itself calculates and creates the movement. If you add animation of the object itself (flapping wings, opening airlocks, extending the landing gear) and “play” with the camera, you can achieve very interesting effects.

The CLONE studio team knows exactly how to make a simple movement along a laid out route breathtakingly dynamic.

Our hero is not in a vacuum. Any character is surrounded by some kind of reality, in which there is necessarily gravity (if it’s not in space), the movement of air masses and other types of vibrations. All this should be taken into account so that the character animation is quite realistic.

What does the result of such an animation look like and where can it be seen?

In detail. When a character walks through the city and the cape flutters in the wind, or when underwater the hair sticks to the face - all this is achieved through animation taking into account the surrounding factors.

Strictly speaking, animation in a dynamic environment- rather computational work with a deep immersion in the physical characteristics of objects. But without all this, even the most detailed 3D modeling will not make the character more alive.

Motion capture: turning a film into a cartoon

Motion capture technology- young, but very popular. Today motion capture is used in almost all science fiction films. The essence of this method is extremely simple:

sensors are attached to the actor;
While the actor is moving, the cameras record the positions of the sensors;
their displacement is processed by the program and creates a moving “skeleton” with a set of key frames;
the resulting package of information is “covered” with a shell - for this, 3D character modeling is used.

As a result, the hero’s actions turn out to be realistic and convincing, and the animators don’t have to struggle with physics and remember where things bend.

If we compare 3D with other areas of graphics and design, then not only creative people, but also avid techies will find a place here, I would even say that creative people will have to face a technical approach - if we compare Photoshop, for example, with Maya, then that’s all is the same as taking a couple of pencils and a nib versus the assortment of an entire artist supply store. When you have to study a large amount of materials, you don’t want to waste time and from the very beginning you should choose the best program for creating 3D models and 3D animation.

I used to work in 2D and when I first opened a 3D package I was surprised by 5 menu options with a huge list of different tools, commands for modeling and animation. In Illustrator or Photoshop, one row of menus and then a small part from its list were enough for the main work.

You will be lucky if you immediately sit down with the 3D package that you will use further in your profession; relearning will be long and painful. First of all, you should choose a specialization and a suitable program for it. You should pay attention to well-known and more commonly used products, this will make it easier to find lessons to study, plugins, scripts and, most importantly, work.

The best programs for 3D modeling and animation.

There are a number of programs that successfully perform most of the everyday 3D work tasks; moreover, their functionality already includes specific tools, for example, Sculpting, 3D painting (3DPaint) And visual effects (VFX). In the article these are the first 3 programs for 3D modeling. I’ll talk about more specialized programs at the end.

I'm an animator who likes to model sometimes, so I use Cinema4D, Autodesk Maya and Zbrush.

3Ds Max is the very first 3D modeling and animation package that I saw in my life. I was about 9 years old when I watched my father study with teapots, spheres and cubes. Then it seemed to me inconvenient to use orthogonal cameras when there is one, perspective one.

This program is chosen by modellers, interior designers and those associated with industry and architecture. On this moment the most common 3D modeling package of all. Many new versions of plugins and render engines are released for it earlier than for other programs.

The main advantage of modeling is the presence of modifiers, thanks to which you can layer changes to the geometry and in the future remove, change or reduce the strength of the effect of the modifier you need on the object. Frees you from the problem of overwriting history and the inability to roll back changes.

Afterwards, I switched to it as my main program for 3D modeling and animation, especially since Extension 2 added animation tools for motion design (the beauty of C4D).

It has a node structure (what does it look like?) and allows you to connect things that are not connected in the ordinary world with each other, for example, by changing the color of the sphere you can change the speed of rotation of the cube around it. This flexibility of relationships opens up a lot of options for the use of creative imagination. Maya is used by major animation studios to create games, cartoons and movies.

Often new 3D technologies are written first for Maya and only then adapted for other packages, so they work in Maya the way the developer intended. It slows down less heavy scenes, and is great for both modeling and animation, it also has VFX tools, but most importantly, “T-shirt” is a leader in character animation, which is actually why I switched to it.

I started mastering 3D modeling and animation with this program. It captivates with its simple and user-friendly interface; many say that it is easier to learn. It is used primarily by motion designers and animators who make commercial videos. It is cheaper than its analogues and is developing quite actively, catching up with the gap in functionality from dinosaurs of the 3D industry – and . The main beauty of Mograph effectors, which allow you to animate a large number of objects simultaneously with just a couple of mouse movements, is great for creating unusual visual effects. It also has several built-in render engines that cope well with the main tasks of users of this program.

Patrimony VFX. If you want to create atmospheric phenomena, destruction of objects, tornadoes, storms, flames, smoke and other parametric effects, then this is the place for you. Basically, the work process will be tied to programming and working with a tree of nodes. Modeling is also possible here, but it is not as convenient and pleasant as in other packages, so it is better to keep another program in combination.

– this is the maximum of creativity – best program for high-poly 3D modeling or sculpting. The work process is structured in such a way that in front of you there is an imaginary piece of clay from which you sculpt the object you need.

Here you can also model equipment (Hard-surface), but I, like many others, prefer to use for these purposes Maya or Max. In you will be able to create fantastic creatures, animals, people with maximum detail down to the pores on the skin. It has a unique interface that is very different from anything else on the 3D market, but you will get used to it over time.

To work you will need to buy Graphics tablet, mouse precision is not enough. The most interesting thing is that in order to sculpt well you don’t have to be able to draw well. ZBrush includes ways to make initial modeling easier, similar to actual sculpting. You can use a frame, set the initial volume, bend, cut, mold various parts. It is an essential part of the quality character modeling process.

Be prepared for a lot of information and constant improvement of your skills, the same things can often be done in 3D different ways and the correct one is the one that solves the problem fastest.

What we have?

So if you want model buildings, equipment, details, create interior design, then start your journey with .

If you Worried about the price and difficulty of learning 3D, and in the future you want to be a motion designer and create advertising videos, then it will suit you Cinema 4D.

If you don't be afraid of long learning curves and want in the future engage in 3D character animation, animation for games and films, while having all the opportunities for full 3D modeling put .

For those who want to go to deep specialization in 3D VFX (visual effects), customizing every day destruction or the whirlwinds of a tornado blowing away a house, create parametric materials

Several years ago, Russian producers of animated films began to think about creating 3D films. The first Russian 3D cartoon “Our Masha and the Magic Nut” was released in 2009, and the first great success in this market came with the cartoon “Belka and Strelka. Star Dogs”, released in 2010. The 3D series “Masha and the Bear” and “The Fixies” are now extremely popular and even successfully compete with Western children’s cartoons. As a result of the industry's rapid growth, it needs 3D animators more than ever.

3D graphics careers are not only incredibly rewarding and highly paid, but they are also very diverse: 3D modeling and 3D animation, for example, require different skills. We are talking about 3D modeling, this time Look At Me looks at what skills and talents a person who decides to devote his life to 3D animation should have.

Denis Buieabout the education and dreams of animators

I decided to become a 3D animator when I was 15 years old. Every weekend, the educational channel showed a program about special effects in cinema: puppets, green screens and the basics of 3D. It seemed to me something amazing, magical. Then I started testing different effects using my crummy webcam. Together with my brother, we simulated explosions or made optical illusions - he was gigantic, and I was very small. It is not at all necessary to have expensive equipment or special training somewhere to start doing 3D animation. Of course, if you want to work in the industry, you need to study to understand how to do everything correctly, but this is the next stage.

In general, academic education is important: you learn everything faster and acquire the necessary connections in the industry. Choosing higher education for yourself educational institution, you need to pay attention to the work of students and graduates of this university. But even after entering a university, you cannot give up self-education; you must constantly motivate yourself, work on something, create something new. Each 3D animator needs his own collection of inspiring works of colleagues - you need to collect the pictures you like, store them in one place, and look at them constantly. Firstly, it can inspire you to do something of your own, and secondly, it can push you to work even more actively on yourself: you always want to learn how to do what supermasters can do.

Ivan PshonkinAbout, what a computer
will not help those who have no taste

Ivan Pshonkin

3D animator and director at the Aeroplan studio, works on the animated series “Fixies”, participated in the creation of the cartoons “Belka and Strelka”, “Alyonushka and Erema”, “Dunno and Barabas”

My first teacher was Leonid Kayukov, to whom I am very grateful - he took me into his animation team at Soyuzmultfilm almost off the street, as a draftsman. Around 2005, I took part in the project “Masha and the Magic Nut” - this is where my work in 3D animation began. At that time, there were very few 2D cartoons, so I had to retrain from a 2D animator to 3D. Now I am a director and animator at the Aeroplan studio, we are currently working on the Fixies project.

Some people think about 3D animation: “The computer will do everything for me.” This is wrong! It is worth keeping in mind that 3D programs will not make the animation process much easier. To make a good scene, just like in hand-drawn animation, you will have to follow the laws, know them, and have artistic taste. Actually now computer animation she tries to look more and more like a drawing, and she succeeds very well.

Stills from the cartoon by Ivan Pshonkin The devil knows

It's important to understand that a 3D program, be it Maya, 3d max or XSI, is just a tool, like a pencil or brush, with which you create your work. Therefore, you need to study these programs well so that later the technical component does not become a problem - there are now plenty of courses and literature. To begin with, you should install the program and find training material. Then download a free character (there are some on the Internet) and try to animate him.

For those who dream of working on full-length cartoons, I would like to note that in the industry, compared to previous years, the emphasis has shifted from feature films to the production of series. The rhythm of production has changed: work on a feature film is more measured, but the series has strict deadlines - this forces discipline.

Marat DavletshinAbout, how important it is to be
observant and never stop learning and learning new things, even after getting a good job

Marat Davletshin

Assistant animator at the Disney studio, worked as an animator on the project The Walking Dead: The Game, as well as an animator on the full-length films “Smeshariki. Beginning" and "Belka and Strelka"

I studied at a technical school that was completely unrelated to art. In the last year of my studies, I was so carried away by computer graphics that I completely abandoned my main classes. With difficulty I defended my diploma and began to prepare for admission to VGIK. I started making my first short film in 3D, did some tests of characters, locations and posted a short trailer for everyone to see on the cgtalk.ru forum, which, unfortunately, no longer exists. I was in a hurry to finish the film in order to send it for the entrance exam to VGIK, but suddenly I received a letter from the St. Petersburg studio "ALS-group", which was engaged in 3D games for slot machines - they offered me work and training at the studio. I agreed without hesitation. This is how my professional journey began when I was 19 years old.

Having grown up, I went to study in San Francisco, at the Animation Collaborative - this is an animation school that is located directly opposite the Pixar studio, artists from there came to teach us. I'm currently working at Disney as an assistant animator, and our animated film Frozen is due out in November. At the same time, I do not stop my training: the studio constantly holds master classes and courses for animators.

It is very important for a future animator to decide why he chose 3D: you can use a million other techniques to express your idea, and 3D is one of the most difficult of them, especially if you master it alone. But, by the way, I can say that Disney and Pixar don’t even look at whether you know how to use a computer when hiring you. The main thing is that your animation has life, originality and interesting acting.

If we are talking about a narrow specialization, the profession of a character animator, then 3D is the most flexible tool in the hands of an artist, with which you can express any emotion and any feeling, adding to this artistic style and purity of execution.

A couple of weeks ago I watched people choosing books at the book stall. It seems like nothing special, but if you look closely, you can see the character behind each of them. One, important and proud, sorts through books without opening them - it is immediately clear that he is judging by the covers. The second one carefully reads, leafs through and holds the book close to his face, squinting. Probably a bookworm. The third is generally talking on the phone and looking through books without looking, apparently just finding something to do with his hands during the conversation. The animator must notice this - he must be inquisitive, observant and open. It's impossible to become an animator if you just sit at home and watch cartoons - so you just start copying what you watch. Life is in full swing around us: in the park, in a cafe, at the airport, visiting friends - this life needs to be captured, and drawing is a great helper in this.