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3D Animation - Tips for Finding the Best Software

By mayavfx on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 with

3D animation is the creation of moving images in a three-dimensional digital environment by carefully sequencing consecutive images, or "frames", to simulate motion. When this simulation is achieved, each frame gradually progresses to the next image to fool your eyes into believing that actual motion has taken place when, in fact, the perceived sense of motion is the result of the images being displayed in quick succession.

Until recently, 3D animation software was only available to major creative studios and film companies. However, It is now possible for anyone to develop great animation skills without going to a special school to study animation.

The recent drop in price of feature-rich packages has made these powerful tools available to everyone and, following the huge success of animated films and the increasing popularity of 3D television, there's never been a better time to think about a career in 3D animation.

According to salary.com, the average salary for an entry-level animator in 2007 ranged from $47,000 to more that $60,000. 3D game animators could even earn as much as $70,000.

But where do you start?

I'm not going to lie - bringing characters to life is not easy. You will need a ton of practice using good quality tools to master the basic 3D animation skills that will give the perfect foundation for moving onto more advanced animations. These include:

Creating character setting models with the help of knowledge in proportionsColour theory and renderingModelling your characters and understanding mesh toolsShading, lighting and rendering using layersSketching and rigging skills

There's a lot of jargon there but the right 3D animation software will guide you to make the process of creating your first animations as easy as possible.

Bear in mind that 3D animation packages vary a lot in the level of functionality and complexity that they offer. As a beginner, you're looking for a perfect balance levels of both: the right features you need to make good quality animations without being so difficult to understand that you're completely bamboozled and don't know where to start.

When looking for 3D animation software, make sure it includes the following features:

3D modelling - the software should support a wide range of 3D objects and allow you to perform complex functions on them to ensure your 3D models are as realistic as possibleCartoon and game generation - with the proper software you can create the same quality animations as Pixar and Sony!Complex shading - to maximise realise, make sure the software allows you to create any texture you might needInteractive 3D rigging - 3D rigging allows you to recreate real world structures and is a core feature for any 3D animation software3D editing & compositing - the best packages allow you to quickly edit scenes "on the fly" so you can spend more time being creativeCompatibility with standard home PCs - very few people can afford to spend 1,000s on a high-end computer so make sure the software uses resources wisely to avoid frustrating performance issuesEasy to use interface - the interface should allow to fully configure every aspect of the screen and provide simple one-click operation of common featuresComprehensive training videos & illustrated guidesUnlimited software upgrades - 3D animation is a fast-moving industry and the last thing you want is to miss out on the next must have feature; make sure any package you buy allows you to keep up with any future developments.

Click on the link below to see some great tips on animation and get your hands on a brilliant piece of 3D animation software that includes every feature you will ever need to create stunning animations in no time at all for a fraction of the price charged for other software (and I mean seriously next to nothing - it's even free to try!).

http://3d-animation-software.info/

Category: Animation