raphics show only length and width and 3D graphics have depth. 3D graphic programs are an extension of draw programs. You can create 3D models using a wire frame view called modeling. In a 3D image, each shape is created using a framework of polygons ("Platinum Pictures Multimedia"). To give the framework a surface or solid appearance, shading is added. In some cases, the shading is just a flat, even color. In other cases sophisticated techniques are used to create a color gradient, texture, or highlights. (Appendix)The effect of action and motion in a cartoon is created by projecting still pictures, called cells, one after another at a rate of 30 per second. When the cells are projected fast enough, the illusion is of smooth motion.Computer animation is also done by projecting a series of still images, called frames. Using animation software, you can create a beginning and ending frame for an action and after specifying these as the key frames, the computer uses a process called in-between (or tweening) to create the intermediate frames (Curtin 222). This saves a great deal of work since older cell-animation required every frame to be drawn by hand.For computers to calculate animated motion, the wireframe model is designed with joints. The animator then adjusts each joint in the structure to put it in the desired position. The science of motion called kinematics is the foundation for calculating movements, especially where there is more than one joint, as in an arm or leg. Forward kinematics calculates the positions of the elements step by step until the animation arrives at a final position. This is a well-understood process but should the final frame put a character’s hand into his chest, instead of into his pocket, inverse kinematics can be used. Here you specify the final position and calculate backward (Curtin 222).After 2D or 3D vector graphics are created in wire frame view, the next step is to give the ima...
