COMPUTER ANIMATION
INSTRUCTIONS
You and your partner will need to turn in the following, at the end of the Computer Animation unit:
- Vocabulary
- Computer Animations saved to a Flash Drive.
- Test
Before you get started, you'll need to get a Flash Drive from Mr. Flint. You'll be saving all of your work onto that Flash Drive.
Insert the Flash Drive into the USB port that is on front of the computer:
When you are done with the Flash Drive for the day, "Click" on the "Flash Drive" icon, that is at the lower right of the computer desktop.
Then "Click" on the "Stop USB Mass Storage Device" button that will appear. You do this to disengage the Flash Drive before you remove it from the USB port:
If you do not disengage the Flash Drive before you remove it, you may lose your work:
Step 1
Double click on the "My Computer" icon on the desktop:
Next double click on the "Flash Drive" Flash (E:) Now double click on "Computer Animation":
Your document window should look like this:
The document you just open is a template that you do NOT want to make changes on. So you want to go to File then Save as NOT Save and save your animation as Walking to your Flash Drive:
You can make changes to this new document.
Make sure the Select tool (the topmost tool in the Tool Palette window) is selected, if not click on it to select it:
Select the stick figure that is in the middle of the document by click on it, the blue circles will turn red when selected. The circles are called NODES, the red nodes are used to rotate the attached lines are called PIVOT NODES The yellow node is used to move the figure around the document, it's called the DRAG NODE. Click on the drag node and drag the figure to the lower-left corner of the document:
Below the document you'll see the Frames Palette. you should notice that the first frame has change to match the document:
Click on the NEW FRAME button in the Frames Palette to create a new frame. The document will not appear to change but the Frames Palette will get another frame. The red border around Frame 2 indicates that it's the current frame selected:
Drag the figure to the right (using the yellow Drag Node) one space. As you start dragging you'll see a gray version of the figure from the previous frame, this is called an ONIONSKIN it's used to position the figure on the current frame relative to the one on the previous frame:
Using the red Pivot Nodes move the figure's arms and legs to make him look like he is taking a step: :
Click on the New Frame button to create a 3rd frame. Use the yellow Drag Node to move the figure to the right, then use the red Pivot Nodes return the figure back to a standing position:
Repeat the procedures for 4 more frames (7 frames in all.) On frames 4 and 6 the figure should be in the stepping position like in frame 2, in frames 5 and 7 the figure should be in standing position like in frames 1 and 3. Don't forget to drag the figure to the right for each new frame:
Lets see what you animation looks like so far. You do this by using the Controller Palette, change the speed to 3 and click the Play button:
A new PLAYER window will open and you'll see your animation play through one time. The figure will not show any of the nodes (they are only used for editing). If you want to play it again, click the PLAY button at the top center of the Player window. When you are done previewing the animation, click the DONE button, or close the Player window:
If you want to see how it plays in a loop, click on the LOOP button in the Controller Palette (it will turn red to indicate that it's active), then click the Play button again:
The animation will loop over and over. To stop it click on the PAUSE button, the click Done.
Next we are going to make your figure Wave. Click the New Frame button to make an 8th frame. Use the Pivot Node of the figure's right hand (the one to your left) and raise it's forearm out straight:
Make a new frame and raise the forearm up higher:
Make 3 more frames (12 frames in total) alternate lowering and raising the arm to make your figure wave.
Use the Controller Palette to check out how your animation looks.
SAVE YOUR WORK!
Step 2
Go to File then Open, then go to your Flash Drive and open up the Computer Animation again:
Like before the document you just open is a template that you do NOT want to make changes on. So again you want to go to File then Save as NOT Save and save your animation as Basketball to your Flash Drive:
You can make changes to this new document.
In this step you are going to make some of your own figures. 1st use the Drag Node to move the stick figure to the lower-left corner of the document. Click on the Add a Circle Tool and draw a circle about the size of a basketball next to the stick figure:
Use the Pivot Nodes to make the figure look like he is starting to dribble the ball:
Repeat this procedure on frames 2 through 14.
Click on the Add a Circle Tool again and draw another circle near the upper-right corner of the document that is going to be the basket:
Now add frames and use the Pivot Nodes to make the figure dribble the ball a few times and shoot a basket.
Use the Controller Palette to check out how your animation looks.
SAVE YOUR WORK!
Step 3
Go to File then Open, then go to your Flash Drive and open up the Computer Animation again:
Like before the document you just open is a template that you do NOT want to make changes on. So again you want to go to File then Save as NOT Save and save your animation as Stairs to your Flash Drive:
Find the LIBRARY PALETTE:
The Library Palette has objects that you can use for making your animations. Use the Library Scroll Bar and find the object called Stairs, Click Hold and Drag the Stairs from the Library Palette to the document:
Now add frames and use the Pivot Nodes to make the figure walk up the stairs.
Use the Controller Palette to check out how your animation looks.
SAVE YOUR WORK!
Step 4
For the rest of the time you have for your project, use the Computer Animation Template (remember this is a template that you do NOT want to change, so do a Save As and Re-title before each animation.) make as many animations as you can. You can add objects from the Library Palette, in the Library Palette you'll find different backgrounds:
There are also Letters and Numbers so you can add Text that you can animate:
There is another Stick figure in the Library Palette so you can add more stick figures people to your animations:
The sky is the limit, so use your imagination!
Computer Animation Vocabulary
Illusion
Optical Illusion
Persistance of Vision
Full Animation
Limited Animation
3D Animations
2D Animations
Computer generated imagery
Computer graphics
Stop Motion
Tweening
Morphing
Streaming
Computer rendering
Frames per second
Hint: go to and do a search for animation and computer animation. Click on the blue link words to find the definitions.