31 December 2022

Walk Cycle created in Krita using just 4 keyframes.



Krita is a free drawing program which can also be used for frame by frame animation. The above was created using the Krita tutorial here: https://docs.krita.org/en/user_manual/animation.html
You can download Krita for free here: https://krita.org/


30 December 2022

Krita - Tutorial for Beginners in 14 MINUTES! [ COMPLETE ]

A very useful tutorial if you want to learn the basics of Krita quickly.



Krita is a free and open-source digital painting and illustration software application. It was developed by the Krita Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of free and open-source software in the arts. Krita is designed to be used by artists, illustrators, and graphic designers, and it offers a wide range of features for creating digital paintings, illustrations, and other types of digital art. Some of the features of Krita include support for multiple layers, a customizable interface, a range of brush engines and brush settings, support for creating custom brushes, and the ability to import and export various file formats. Krita is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. https://krita.org/

21 December 2022

Cartoon Animator 5 Tutorial - EPS Import & Animated Character Setup

A useful tutorial, if not a little fast and furious, illustrating the new Spring feature in Cartoon Animator 5.

12 December 2022

Nutcracker - Dance of the Sugar Pig Fairy

Created in Moho Pro 13.5

Moho is a popular animation software that is used by many professional animators and studios. It is known for its powerful features and user-friendly interface, which make it a great tool for creating high-quality animations. Moho offers a range of features, including vector-based drawing tools, automatic lip-syncing, motion tracking, and more. It is available in several different versions, including Moho Pro, which offers advanced features for professional animators. 

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:

  1. Start with basic shapes and work your way up to more complex subjects. This will help you get a feel for proportions and composition.

  2. Use reference materials, such as photographs or real-life objects, to help you understand perspective and the placement of features.

  3. Experiment with different mediums, such as pencils, charcoal, or digital drawing tools, to find the one that works best for you.

  4. Practice regularly to improve your skills and develop your own style.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

Home - Toon Boom Animation

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.

https://opentoonz.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html

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

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

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.




The second song is dedicated to those of us who live the Northern Life. Dream Academy, Life In A Northern Town.




31 March 2022

guitar player from one image using Moho Live Mesh


I wanted to quickly try out the Live Mesh in Moho and the above is the result.

Live Mesh can initially be a little confusing, but once you get around that it is really easy to use.

Normally, I would have changed the image into layers, then animated from there, which would have given me a lot more options for movement, but using Live Mesh, the above only took me about half an hour to an hour to create for start to end. 

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

MOHO demo

This is a really cool example of an animation made in MOHO (version 12 for this particular example), by TSimba17 on Youtube.


 

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.



04 January 2022

Featured Post

Eyedeas

 Some ideas with eyes.