3D computer animation is a type of animation created by making and manipulating a digital model in a three-dimensional (3D) graphics program. This animation can be created in a number of ways, though it often includes keyframing methods somewhat similar to those used in traditional 2D animation. When a 3D computer-animated scene is viewed in its entirety, it is very likely that the separate elements of a scene have been individually animated and rendered, and then composited together to create the final animated sequence.
man holding computer
The creation of computer animation usually begins with the modeling of the object to be animated. Modeling is the process of creating an object in virtual 3D space, using shapes and various tools to mesh an object, and then applying different textures to that object. Once the model is created, it can be used to create 3D computer animations. Different methods can be used for this type of animation, usually depending on the specific program being used, but there are certain approaches to this animation that are common regardless of software.
One of the easiest ways to create 3D animations is through a process called keyframing. This involves creating keyframes, which are modified and adjusted to create a final animation. Someone who wants the ball to roll on the table, for example, can create a first keyframe of the ball in the starting position, change the animation timing, and then create a second keyframe of the ball in the ending position. When the animator previews the animation, the ball starts at the first keyframe and then moves to the second keyframe at a speed based on the time set by the second keyframe.
Adding details such as the rotation of the ball as it rolls and changing the speed of the ball to make it appear more realistic at the beginning and end would be done in subsequent steps until the final 3D computer animation is complete. This process, of course, becomes more complicated depending on the complexity of the object being animated. Animating a smiling person is much more complicated than rolling a ball around the table, but similar methods are still used.
A final 3D computer-animated scene is often created as individual pieces that are composited together. If a scene consists of a man jumping up and down while a hose sprays water behind him and a dog standing nearby wagging its tail, each element can be created and animated separately. These three pieces will then be rendered, along with a separate background, and the various layers can be combined to create a final scene.
