When choosing 3D animation software, consider motion path, modeling and skeleton development, motion capture, animation track, and automated tasks. A program with a modeling function can be useful to avoid format issues. Motion capture and automated tasks can speed up the animation process.
Three-dimensional (3D) animation software allows you to create realistic or stylized animations but, before choosing a program, it can be a good idea to check some important characteristics. A motion path in 3D animation software can make it easier to transition from one slide to another, because it shows all of the current slides at once. If you don’t have a separate modeling program, 3D animation software with model and skeleton development might make character creation easier. Many 3D animators use motion capture technology to make character movements more realistic, and a motion capture feature can be helpful. You may need to animate some of the same motions over and over again, and having a schedule with automated tasks usually makes that easier.
When you use 3D animation software, you’ll move characters and elements slide by slide, similar to what you do in traditional animation. While some small movements may be simple, performing complicated movements can be difficult if you can’t see all the slides. You may accidentally move a character slightly to one side or you may miss a planned action. An animation track shows a semi-transparent view of all active slides, so you’ll know what movements just happened and where your character or object should be in a scene.
To use the 3D animation software, a model is required. A model can be a character or an object and you move it during the animation process. Getting a 3D animation program with a modeling function can be useful for two reasons. If the program doesn’t have a modeling function, you’ll need a separate 3D modeling program just for that. Exporting a model from your modeling program and importing it into your animation program can cause format issues, which can affect specifically placed details.
Many animators use motion capture technology, especially for complex motion. With motion capture data, you simply place a 3D model on top of the information and the model will move based on the captured motions. Getting 3D animation software with this feature can make animation easier and can speed up the animation process.
Walk cycles, facial expressions, and hand gestures are all common in 3D animation, but drawing them repeatedly can be time consuming. To streamline these tasks and speed up your workflow, it might be a good idea to get 3D animation software with automated tasks. For example, an automated walk cycle will cause the character to walk without you having to animate the walk by hand; all you have to do is tell the program where the character is walking. This can also minimize animation errors, because the program rarely messes up these tasks.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
