ANIMATION TECHNOLOGY

Animation Tips
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Intoduction
Intoduction

Animation is all the rage on the web and is becoming more
Animation is all the rage on the web and is becoming more
popular every day.
popular every day.

But before you begin to create animations for your web site
But before you begin to create animations for your web site
or multimedia application, you need to consider some basic
or multimedia application, you need to consider some basic
questions, such as:
questions, such as:

What is its purpose?
What is its purpose?

What kind of audience do you want to attract?
What kind of audience do you want to attract?

What are you trying to say/promote?
What are you trying to say/promote?

Will the animation add interest to your site or detract from
Will the animation add interest to your site or detract from
it?
it?
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Animation Tips
Animation Tips

Below are animation tips designed to help you make clear
Below are animation tips designed to help you make clear
decisions about animation aesthetics, implementation,
decisions about animation aesthetics, implementation,
storyboarding and optimization, without sacrificing quality.
storyboarding and optimization, without sacrificing quality.
These tips, while aimed at 3D, can also be applied 2D
These tips, while aimed at 3D, can also be applied 2D
animations.
animations.
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Placement Placement
Before you even begin to create animations, there are several im Before you even begin to create animations, there are several important portant
aesthetic issues to take into account. To elaborate, a single an aesthetic issues to take into account. To elaborate, a single animation imation
on a web page will overwhelm all static images, so placement is on a web page will overwhelm all static images, so placement is
important. As mentioned above, make sure that the animation is important. As mentioned above, make sure that the animation is
beneficial to your web site, otherwise you will lose your audien beneficial to your web site, otherwise you will lose your audience. ce.
Looping Looping
Before you place a finished animation on your web site or multim Before you place a finished animation on your web site or multimedia edia
application, be aware that if you have more than one animation o application, be aware that if you have more than one animation on a n a
single page, the effect can overwhelm the viewer and turn them o single page, the effect can overwhelm the viewer and turn them off, ff,
rather than draw them in. Also, animations that cycle endlessly rather than draw them in. Also, animations that cycle endlessly can can
quickly become annoying. Design your animation with a finite num quickly become annoying. Design your animation with a finite number of ber of
loops, so that it eventually stops loops, so that it eventually stops
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Storyboard Storyboard
Once you've decided to create an animated sequence, you need to Once you've decided to create an animated sequence, you need to start start
with the fundamentals. Of these, a crucial step is the creation with the fundamentals. Of these, a crucial step is the creation of the of the
storyboard. Here, you detail the animation in a precise fashion storyboard. Here, you detail the animation in a precise fashion with with
sketches, scripts, transitions, timing, etc. It is with the stor sketches, scripts, transitions, timing, etc. It is with the storyboard that yboard that
you can work out many creative difficulties. And once you you can work out many creative difficulties. And once you ve finished the ve finished the
storyboard, you have, in a sense, created the animation. storyboard, you have, in a sense, created the animation.
Keep in simple Keep in simple
A key issue in storyboard design is complexity, which was a comm A key issue in storyboard design is complexity, which was a common on
problem encountered by many students. Often, they would design problem encountered by many students. Often, they would design
animations that were beautiful in theory, but impossible to comp animations that were beautiful in theory, but impossible to complete in lete in
the time available. Whenever possible, keep it simple. If necess the time available. Whenever possible, keep it simple. If necessary, you ary, you
can always add detail later. can always add detail later.
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File size
File size
This will reduce file sizes and is useful for gamers. If you
This will reduce file sizes and is useful for gamers. If you

re
re
using a 2D application to create your shapes (such as
using a 2D application to create your shapes (such as
Adobe Illustrator, or the Corel KPT 6 plug
Adobe Illustrator, or the Corel KPT 6 plug
-
-
in), these
in), these
applications offer a command to reduce the number of
applications offer a command to reduce the number of
points in a path. Finally, when placing an animation on your
points in a path. Finally, when placing an animation on your
web site, give the viewers an idea of the file size so they can
web site, give the viewers an idea of the file size so they can
determine if they want to watch it or not. This is especially
determine if they want to watch it or not. This is especially
important for users with slower modems.
important for users with slower modems.
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Detail
Detail
When working in 3D, reduce geometric complexity for
When working in 3D, reduce geometric complexity for
objects that are further away in a scene. At a distance, such
objects that are further away in a scene. At a distance, such
detail is not likely to be discernable by the eye.
detail is not likely to be discernable by the eye.

When objects are in motion, the eye is not able to discern
When objects are in motion, the eye is not able to discern
information one would normally see in a still image and is
information one would normally see in a still image and is
much more forgiving. This means that details can be further
much more forgiving. This means that details can be further
reduced.
reduced.
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Complexity Complexity
In 3D applications, lines and facets can appear on an object tha In 3D applications, lines and facets can appear on an object that points t points
away from the viewer. Turning these off reduces image complexity away from the viewer. Turning these off reduces image complexity and and
rendering time. Also, turning off anti rendering time. Also, turning off anti- -aliasing will speed up rendering. aliasing will speed up rendering.
The down side is that the edges will appear jagged, but this may The down side is that the edges will appear jagged, but this may not not
affect your animation. affect your animation.
Points Points
As with vector images, it's important to reduce the number of po As with vector images, it's important to reduce the number of points and ints and
not to rely totally on geometry alone to define create an object not to rely totally on geometry alone to define create an object. A better . A better
option is make use of image maps, which create the illusion of g option is make use of image maps, which create the illusion of geometry eometry
while reducing the file size. One note of caution: be careful ho while reducing the file size. One note of caution: be careful how you use w you use
image maps, as they can bloat your file sizes as well. Until the image maps, as they can bloat your file sizes as well. Until the
bandwidth issue is resolved, keep file sizes as small as possibl bandwidth issue is resolved, keep file sizes as small as possible. This e. This
issue becomes even more important when you consider that many us issue becomes even more important when you consider that many users ers
still use 56.6Kbps modems. still use 56.6Kbps modems.
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Compressing
Compressing
One method for compressing image maps or bitmaps is
One method for compressing image maps or bitmaps is
"Weighted Optimization," available in Adobe Photoshop and
"Weighted Optimization," available in Adobe Photoshop and
Adobe
Adobe
ImageReady
ImageReady
. Weighted Optimization uses an alpha
. Weighted Optimization uses an alpha
channel to vary compression settings across an image. For
channel to vary compression settings across an image. For
areas where quality is important, you use a lower
areas where quality is important, you use a lower
compression, and in areas such as sky, you use a higher
compression, and in areas such as sky, you use a higher
compression. The end result is an image of a small size but
compression. The end result is an image of a small size but
certain areas are of a high quality. Weighted Optimization
certain areas are of a high quality. Weighted Optimization
gives you control over GIF dithering,
gives you control over GIF dithering,
lossy
lossy
GIF settings and
GIF settings and
J PEG compression
J PEG compression
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The above tips will help you make wise decisions about
The above tips will help you make wise decisions about
animation aesthetics, implementation, storyboarding and
animation aesthetics, implementation, storyboarding and
optimization, without sacrificing quality.
optimization, without sacrificing quality.