Ms. R’s Computer Class

SQUASH!

An animated GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) file is a graphic image on a Web page that moves – for example, a twirling icon or a banner with a hand that waves or letters that get larger. An animated GIF can loop endlessly or it can loop through one or a few sequences and then stop the animation.

Animated GIFs in Photoshop

More information about animated GIFs

Over the next week I want you to complete the following  at home, (or during study hall after school if you do not have access to a computer at home).

1/ Quia Activities – These activities are great for reviewing what we have been learning since September, for pre-assessment (what do you already know BEFORE we start a unit), or for current self-assessment of your understanding of what we are currently learning in class.

2/ Create an animation at home using some of the free software that you can download (Mac or Windows) or using an online website. Please comment on this post to include some software or online websites that you have used to create animations and share them with your classmates.

Here are some ideas to start:

• Stykz (download)
• Pencil (download)
• Sketch Star
• Aniboom
• Fluxtime
• Dvolver
• Animasher

Have fun! Remember to send me the links to your finished work, or post the link in the comments. You can also upload your work to the class Flickr website if it is saved as a movie file. (.mov)

Squash & Stretch

• Gunner
• Noah
• Brave

Arcs

Exaggeration

Slow-In & Slow-Out

• Jalah – pendulum

Follow Through & Overlapping Action

• Ryan H.

When twenty-four frames per second – each one slightly different – move in front of our eyes, we ‘see’ the picture moving. We are going to attempt to do this with Flip Books.  Flip books, where small movements are recorded frame by frame, are one of the easiest ways to create the illusion of movement and are a good place to begin exploring the principles of animation. Use the following links to learn more about animation basics and to refer to when you are creating your frame-by-frame animations in Frames and Photoshop.

The 12 Principles of Animation (link to a description of all 12 principles or techniques)

We are focusing on the following 5:

• Squash & Stretch
• Exaggeration
• Arcs
• Follow Through & Overlapping Action
• Slow In & Slow Out

Animation Principles : please look at this tutorial before you create your first Frames animation. You will be expected to include these techniques in your animations and be able to describe the technique and how your animation illustrates the technique.

2D Animation Basics

Walk Cycle - try this! A great example to learn from

Animation Tutorials - more advanced reading and examples

An optical toy

Animation is the illusion of movement.  Films  are created by joining  a sequence of still photographs that have very small changes made to them. These photograph sequences appear to move and to be alive when they are played through a projector, or flipped as a flip book.

The 12 Principles of Animation

Perception

• PHI Phenomenon Activity
• Analyzing Motion
• Perception and Playthings
• Perception Puzzles

Optical Toys

• The Bill Douglas Centre
• Exhibit of Optical Toys
• Simple Animated Devices
• Jack and Beverley’s Optical Toys
• History of Moving Images

Make Your Own!

• Moving Images Workshop
• Animated GIF Player
• Coffee Can Zoetrope