Software For Animation - How To Make The Right Choice

When producing animations, possessing the proper software is indispensable. But how do you go about choosing correct software for you? Knowing a few things can definitely help you out in making your selection. The first thing is whether you want to make a 3d or 2d animation. The second is knowing your experience level, whether you are just commencing or you already have some experience in creating your animation.

There is software for animation available, for users with different experience, like people who want to produce their first animation or experts looking for software that can produce quality outcomes on a shorter timespan. People that are just starting out with producing animations, can best choose a simpler software for animation that is easier to learn, although this software is usually limited in its functions.

If you are just starting out with animation and want to make a 2d animation or just keep it simple, you can stick to the traditional method of making your own animation. You make a series of pictures and then compile them together. You can find software that can take photographs on your computer and turn them into a video. They are not so difficult to learn and are easy to start out with. If you want to do more than just amassing a series of pictures, you can also look for software for 2D animation that does more and has more quality results. A good example of this sort of 2D animation software is Adobe Flash. This form of 2d animation software is more difficult to learn but generally has good tutorials explaining it all.

If you want to go further into the field of 3D animation, you can always use 3D animation software for animation. 3D animation software tends to be complex and hard, although now you can attain impressive results with the simplest software.

But choosing the correct software for animation in 3D is not a little thing. There are many factors to think about, and your pick depends upon your goals. Are you going to add just a little bit 3D graphics in your site? Or are you an experienced 2D designer that wants to start including 3D in your work? Maybe you learned about 3D using free software for animation and want to pursue a career in 3D animation. Fortunately, most software for animation comes with a trial version so you can try before you buy.

What Animation Software Is Best for Your Proposed Use

We have all been enthralled by animation as seen on film and television. However, the far reaching applications of animation have touched countless other industries. Video games provide an interactive environment for two and three dimensional animation. Animators help model and design buildings, cities, new products and industrial machines. In medical fields, animation is being used increasingly in education and research. Many businesses seek animators to assist with product development and promotion.

"Animate" comes from the Latin root "anima" which means to give soul or life. Animators breathe this soul or life into a static image through movement. A computer animator simply uses software to animate modeled or drawn objects. There seem to be an abundance of software packages that promise such results with new entries into this hot market offering increasing realism and ease. There are two basic kinds of computer animation:

1. Computer assisted
2. Computer generated

Computer-assisted animation generally yields two-dimensional animations such as cartoons. By hand or with computer use, the animator creates the objects in a series of rough frames denoting the primary movement. These objects are then manipulated by the computer to fill the in between frames to give the appearance of fluidity and movement. This form of animation, which we are all familiar with as seen in flip books of our youth, is accomplished much faster with a computer.

Computer-generated animation is modeled in three dimensions, yielding oftentimes very realistic results and familiar to us all through the work of Pixar and DreamWorks. This more complex software allows animators to program objects, allowing them to manipulate mass and gravity. This allows for more complex groupings of objects and characters as they can be programmed to operate individually or collectively. A wave, comprised of particles can ebb and swell with realism.

Given those distinctions, the best software to address your needs would address these considerations directly. There are many "share-ware" or free applications available. These have greatly improved in use and ability with often large on-line communities for support. Programs long associated as industry standards, such as Maya, 3D Max and Poser Pro yield the ultra-realistic versatility we see in the industry leaders but come with an entry price that might be prohibitive to those starting out. One program which has gained traction in Europe is Blender which offers full capabilities, an attractive entry level price and easy manipulation.

It is therefore challenging to answer the frequently asked question: "What is the best animation software out there?" as there are many options and new competitors in this rapidly growing field. For initial use, we recommend one which has an easy interface and the capabilities to handle your desired output. Are you interested in developing two or three dimensional forms? Are you interested in developing interactive games? Ultimately, it is up to you the user. Read reviews of the independent software programs. Download one that is not cost prohibitive- in using it, you will develop a firmer idea of what you need and what you look for in a product.