31 December 2022
Walk Cycle created in Krita using just 4 keyframes.
30 December 2022
Krita - Tutorial for Beginners in 14 MINUTES! [ COMPLETE ]
28 December 2022
22 December 2022
21 December 2022
Cartoon Animator 5 Tutorial - EPS Import & Animated Character Setup
12 December 2022
Nutcracker - Dance of the Sugar Pig Fairy
09 December 2022
Animating, an AI's poem
The art of animating brings life to the page,
A magical transformation, a wondrous sight to see.
With just a few simple lines and strokes of color,
A world of imagination comes to life.
From characters with big expressive eyes,
To creatures that defy the laws of physics,
Animation brings to life the impossible,
And allows us to escape into fantasy.
With each frame and each movement,
The animator weaves a story.
Bringing characters to life with emotion and flair,
And inviting us to join them on their journey.
So here's to the art of animating,
A magical medium that continues to captivate and inspire.
May it continue to bring joy and wonder to all who behold it,
And may its creative spark never fade.
~A.I.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
08 December 2022
Best Advice for Learning Animation
As a new animator, the best advice I can give you is to practice, practice, practice! Animation is a skill that takes time and effort to develop, so the more you work on your craft, the better you will become. Additionally, it's important to study the work of other animators and learn from their techniques and styles. This will help you understand what makes good animation and how to create it yourself. Finally, don't be afraid to try new things and experiment with different approaches to animation. This will help you find your own unique style and voice as an animator.
There are many different animation software programs available, and the best one for you to learn will depend on your personal preferences and goals. Some popular animation software programs include:
Adobe Animate (formerly Flash): This is a widely-used program that is good for creating both 2D and 3D animations. It has a wide range of tools and features that can help you create professional-quality animations.
Blender: This is a free, open-source 3D animation program that is popular among both professionals and hobbyists. It has a large user community, so you can find a wealth of tutorials and support online.
Autodesk Maya: This is a professional-grade 3D animation program that is used in the film and gaming industries. It has a wide range of powerful tools and features, but it can be complex to learn.
Ultimately, the best software for you to learn will depend on your personal goals and what you want to create. I would recommend trying out a few different programs to see which one you like best.
One of the best software programs for 2D animation is Adobe Animate (formerly known as Flash). This program is widely used by professional animators and has a wide range of tools and features that make it easy to create high-quality 2D animations. Additionally, it has a large user community, so you can find a wealth of tutorials and support online to help you learn the program. Other popular 2D animation software programs include Toon Boom Harmony, Moho, and TVPaint.
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Beginners Drawing Advice
Here are a few pieces of advice for drawing:
Start with basic shapes and work your way up to more complex subjects. This will help you get a feel for proportions and composition.
Use reference materials, such as photographs or real-life objects, to help you understand perspective and the placement of features.
Experiment with different mediums, such as pencils, charcoal, or digital drawing tools, to find the one that works best for you.
Practice regularly to improve your skills and develop your own style.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process. Use them as an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist.
Finally, don't compare your work to others – focus on your own progress and enjoy the process of creating art.
Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, and computer games. Blender provides a broad range of modeling, texturing, lighting, animation and video post-processing functionality in one package. It is written in C, C++, and Python programming languages, and its source code is available under the GNU General Public License. Blender has been used to create many popular animated films, including the Academy Award-winning short film "Big Buck Bunny".
blender.org - Home of the Blender project - Free and Open 3D Creation Software
Cartoon Animator 5
Cartoon Animator 5 is a type of animation software that can be used to create 2D animations. It is a powerful tool that offers a wide range of features and tools, including the ability to create characters, add movements and actions, create storyboards, and more. Cartoon Animator 5 is a versatile tool that can be used by animators and graphic designers to create high-quality animations for TV shows, movies, advertisements, and other media. It is the fifth version of the Cartoon Animator software, and it has been updated with new features and improvements.
2D Animation Software for Cartoon Maker | Cartoon Animator (reallusion.com)
ToonBoom
Toon Boom is a type of animation software that can be used to create 2D animations. It is a powerful tool that offers a wide range of features and tools, including the ability to create characters, add movements and actions, create storyboards, and more. Toon Boom is a versatile tool that can be used by animators and graphic designers to create high-quality animations for TV shows, movies, advertisements, and other media. It is a popular animation software that is used by many professional animators and studios.
OpenToonz
OpenToonz is an open-source animation software that can be used to create 2D animations. It is a powerful tool that offers a wide range of features and tools, including the ability to create characters, add movements and actions, create storyboards, and more. OpenToonz is a versatile tool that can be used by animators and graphic designers to create high-quality animations for TV shows, movies, advertisements, and other media. It is an open-source program, which means that it is free to download and use, and its source code is available for users to modify and improve.
Moho
MOHO animation is a type of software used for creating two-dimensional (2D) animations. It is a tool that allows users to create characters, add movements and actions, and create storyboards for their animations. MOHO animation software is often used by animators and graphic designers to create animations for TV shows, movies, advertisements, and other media. It is a powerful tool that allows users to create professional-quality animations with a wide range of features and tools.
MOHO animation software is a powerful tool that allows users to create professional-quality 2D animations. It offers a wide range of features and tools, including the ability to create characters, add movements and actions, create storyboards, and much more. With MOHO animation software, users can create animations for TV shows, movies, advertisements, and other media. It is a versatile tool that can be used by animators and graphic designers to create high-quality animations.
Moho Animation Software - Professional 2D Animation (lostmarble.com)
28 November 2022
Clip Studio Paint
Probably my favourite drawing program is Clip Studio Paint. I find it a lot better for my needs than other programs I've used, such as Affinity and Krita. It's a paid for program, but I personally think the small purchase price is worth it. Take a look at Clip Studio Paint for yourself. You can even get a Free Trial. Alongside Clip Studio Paint, there are lots of tutorials and stuff out there.
Here is a review for Clip Studio Paint by Brad Colbrow on Youtube, entitled 10 Things I Love About Clip Studio Paint.
Here is the official Clip Studio Paint website, where you can download and try it out for free, or purchase the program. Be aware that for the best price, watch out for Black Friday / Cyber Monday / or other deals where you can get great reductions on the software. CLIP STUDIO PAINT - The artist's app for drawing and painting
If you want to learn more about Clip Studio Paint, or already own Clip Studio Paint, here is their Youtube Channel: CLIP STUDIO PAINT - YouTube
24 November 2022
Karl Toon retires Mad Dog Macdonut -
Karl Toon is the new name for the Mad Dog Macdonut blog, with a new URL of www.karltoon.co.uk
16 November 2022
15 November 2022
10 November 2022
06 November 2022
29 October 2022
28 October 2022
Using a Drawing Tablet
I love the animations created by Brad's Art School, and here he brings you an animation on How to use a Drawing Tablet. However, as YouTube user Sifter (2D animator) comments, "Everybody talks about drawing tablets, but nobody talks about drawing a tablet." But, "Hey!" What do you know, there is a video on how to do just that too. Enjoy the animation.
How to Use a Drawing Tablet
How to Draw Pills and Capsules Real Easy - Step by Step
Earn Money Completing Surveys with YouGov
Have you ever seen on the news when they refer to YouGov surveys? Why not start completing surveys, earn money along the way, and participate? Earn points for each survey you complete and when you reach 5000 points, get £50 paid into your bank account. Why not sign up now and take a look. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Please use this link to sign up: YouGov
19 September 2022
16 September 2022
Musical Interlude - People are Strange; Life in a Northern Town
I love this song. People Are Strange, by The Doors. The lyrics quite often feel quite apt.
07 August 2022
Sea Life - Octopus and Guitar
23 July 2022
18 July 2022
08 May 2022
17 April 2022
14 April 2022
31 March 2022
guitar player from one image using Moho Live Mesh
29 March 2022
Should I learn 2D or 3D Animation?
I wanted to entitle this post "2D or Not 2D, That is the Question." However, I didn't think it really said what this post is about so I chose it not as the title, but thought it was so corny that it was worth the mention.
Back to the question, should I learn 2D or 3D animation? I can only speak from personal experience and what I occasionally hear elsewhere, and to cut a long story short, go with the lowest number and work your way up is my suggestion.
Many would-be animators start with 3D, as it is the easiest to initially learn by my reckoning. However, I was one of those who made this mistake, even investing money in a 3D package that I very rarely use. What a waste!
I moved over to 2D animation as I eventually realised that this gave a much better insight into the complexity of creating animations and learning the 12 principles of animation. My intent when I switched to 2D was to learn the basics then move back over to 3D. But, do you know what, the more I started to learn, the more I was hooked. The date for moving back to 3D keeps getting put back further and further, whilst I get more into 2D.
28 March 2022
26 March 2022
Saturday Musical Interlude - Dead South - In Hell I'll Be In Good Company
This week, let me introduce you to the Dead South playing, In Hell I'll Be In Good Company
And, let's throw another of Dead South's tracks in with, People Are Strange.
23 March 2022
20 March 2022
19 March 2022
08 March 2022
02 March 2022
Things You May Not Know about Moho (and Anime Studio)
29 January 2022
12 January 2022
07 January 2022
04 January 2022
Ascend - Part 1 - Take 1 ; created with iClone
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