Animating a 3d Model

Unlike movies that consist of many frames, 3D models cannot be animated by using the typical amount of frames per second which our eye attributes as blurring and creates on stable image - such as frames per second becoming the movies that we are used to seeing on a daily basis. Creating a 3D model that is to be used for animation is significantly different than creating a 3D model that will not be animated.

Creating a model for animation means that less attention will be paid to the background of the 3D model. Focus is going to be on what is moving within the scene, and this is the 3D model.

Using smaller textures within the shell of the model will mean less time rendering the model. Smaller textures are easier to translate and easier to convert. Throughout the rendering process, the model will be placed upon an axis in the scene that the model is to be placed - upon this axis the model will be turned each necessary way to interact with the scene. These smaller textures become easier to manipulate, as well as convert to digital media.

Animating 3D models consists of rendering, but specially includes additional blurring; this motion blur is also referred to as creative blurring. It allows us to perceive that the model has moved, but in reality - the model has remained within the same place throughout the scene.

To create these organic models, such as characters within an animated film, NURBs modeling is the preference of many, as the curved appearances on the shell can be easier to create but it is truly a matter of personal preference to the designer.

Animation of 3D models has brought us forward in technology and animations that we have come to know and love and allows us to use it as a valuable teaching tool in medical schools throughout the country.

The Importance of a Storyboard in 3D Modeling Animation

3-D modeling animation is a detailed process that begins with an idea, and is developed through a series of steps that ensure thorough and precise translation from mind to visualization. The most important part of this process is to have a storyboard prior to undergoing the production of the full video presentation. This is used during all three of the production stages; pre-production, production, and post production, and is a vital tool in creating a flowing moving animation.

The storyboard consists of a series of diagrams that show sketches of the video image, brief descriptions of the visuals that are to be implemented, notes for the camera operator and crew, and details of the audio that is to be associated with the visual presentation. When used correctly, the storyboard becomes a valuable reference to guide the crew through the production and post production stages. The goals are then unified, and there is less confusion in the process, resulting in a smoother transition from idea to reality.

The storyboard becomes the basis of the video or short animation that is being created. It provides a map for the project and way to measure the progress. There are thousands of storyboards created, even for the shortest of animation. The storyboard is an integral part of the animation process and dictates how the character is going to move within and interact with the surrounding scene.
With a storyboard, the production team is able to work with the ideas, and make changes while not disrupting the project as a whole. The storyboard is most commonly drawn out in card format with numbered pages so that it is easier to flip through the entire animation map without having to backtrack. More than any other tool, the storyboard is always considered the life-saver when it comes to video animation.

The Importance of Light in the Animation of 3D Models

As we are aware in our daily lives - light gives an object, or a room - life! The lighting of 3D models has two purposes. One, light produces a shadow which causes the 3D model to appear to be anchored to the ground and two, it adds depth to the model through the use of advanced shading techniques. These two uses for the shadow are one of the main differences between two and three dimensional 3D models.

Shading occurs in a 3D model when light is shone from one side of the object or one when the light that is shed is brighter on one side than the other. The intensity of the light shone on the object can even change the look of the 3D model. This is evident in comparisons seen in many textbook 3D model creation processes, a model without a shadow appears two dimensional in form, and shadows are one of the most important aspects in the creation process of a 3D model.

Shadows are also created with light, and as long as the 3D model is solid, than a shadow will occur. Solid models can be created to cast realistic shadows, depending on the angle that the light is exposed to the 3D model.

How are shadows created? Shadows are created within the software program and can be adjusted to look as realistic as possible. Different intensities of light can be formed to mimic different types of shadows - just as, different techniques can be used to manipulate these shadows.
What are the benefits of shadowing? Shadowing is one of the tricks that allow the viewer to form a realistic connection with the mode, while it locks it to the ground and gives it depth; it gains creditability as a moving, living, breathing object.

It is these shadows and shading cause 3D models to appear lifelike. The light angles can be manipulated into creating different percent of the 3D model within our minds.