3D Animation
THE 3D ANIMATION PROCESS
As a company with a 3D animation studio, we feel that it is very important to educate our clients on what goes on behind 3D animation production. The knowledge will not just help them appreciate the service better, but also helps to facilitate the process of collaboration and managing their expectations. This is important because it helps our clients achieve what they want and allows us to communicate effectively with them.
Storyboarding
The very first step involved in a 3D production pipeline is coming up with a plan or the process. Once the plan is ready we start creating the storyboards that translate these ideas into visual form. A storyboard is a sequence of illustrations that showcase your digital story in two dimensions. The first dimension is time: what happens first, next, and last. The second is of interaction: how does your story interact with the elements we have created.
3D Modelling
After the storyboards are finished and approved by the client, the task of building the props, environment, and characters begins. The process is called ‘modeling’. Modeling is the process of taking a shape and molding it into a completed 3D object.
Texturing
When a 3D model is created, 2D images can be overlaid on it to add colors, designs, and textures. This is called UV mapping, and often the entirety of a model’s color comes from this. These maps can be created in programs like Substance Painter and Designer as well as the old faith app Photoshop.
Rigging
Setting up a character to walk and talk is the last stage before the process of character animation can begin. This stage is called ‘rigging’ and is the underlying system that drives the movement of a character to bring it to life. Rigging is the process to set up a controllable skeleton for the character that is intended for animation. Depending on the subject matter, every rig is unique and so is the corresponding set of controls.
Animation
The animation is the process of taking a 3D object and getting it to move. Animation comes in a few different flavors, but the flavor we like is called 3D animation. Motion capture is a newer development in the animation world and here at Positive Productions Plus! we use it daily.
Lighting
Lighting is where a scene comes alive. In 3D, lights don’t actually exist as they do in the real world. Lights in 3D are objects that are designed to simulate how lighting works in real life.
Camera Work
In 3D, unlike in real life, there are no limitations In 3D, you can create one or more cameras, position them exactly as desired in 3D space, and use settings to mimic any situation you can imagine.
Rendering
Rendering an image is the most important part of the process. It is a step often overlooked or glossed over by beginners, who are more focused on creating models and animating them. There are many aspects to creating a good final render of a scene, including attention to camera placement, lighting choices which may affect mood and shadows, reflections and transparency, and the handling of special effects, like fluids or gasses.
Music
This area is just so wide open to your ultimate goal. Whether it’s a custom soundtrack or voiceover created just for you, we got you covered.
Editing & Final Output
Finally! This is where all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears bring the payout. Everything is rendered, compiled, edited, and synchronized. Then, when approved by you the client, the renders are exported to the desired format(s) and delivered to the client!