3D Production Pipeline Flashcards

Character TD

Responsible for creating test animations.

Storyboard

Aids in finalizing the storyline.

Effects Team

Responsible for producing elements like smoke, dust and explosions.

Layout

A visual map that guides artists.

Layout Artist

Creates the 3D version of the storyboard artists' drawings.

Scanner Operator

Responsible for scanning drawings.

Onion Skinning

A method to view multiple animation frames simultaneously.

Walk Cycles

A common type of loop animation.

Lighting TDs

Combine animation, effects, camera moves, shades, and textures into final scenes.

Rigging

The process of adding bones to a character.

2D Animation

2D animators create poses on a series of still images referred to as frames.
3D animators build a three-dimensional model of the character and animate it through software, allowing for more dynamic movement and perspective.
Figures are created or edited using 2D bitmap or vector graphics.
Wick Editor, Synfig, Pencil2D and Adobe Animate are few examples of 2D animation software.

3D Animation

A digital version of 2D animation.
3D animation is digitally modeled and manipulated by an animator.
The animator typically starts by creating a 3D polygon mesh.
A mesh includes vertices connected by edges and faces, giving visual form to a 3D object or environment.
An internal digital skeletal structure called an armature can control the mesh by weighting the vertices.
Examples of 3D animation software: Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, and Blender.

Model Sheet, Expression Sheet, and Character Line-Up Sheets

Model sheets: Precisely drawn pictures showing all possible expressions and poses a character can make.
- Used to maintain character detail and design consistency.
Expression Sheets: Guides to character facial expressions.
Character Line-up Sheets: Used to compare the scale of characters against each other.

Animatics

A timed, moving version of the storyboard made up of individual frames from the storyboard.
Often accompanied by audio.
Each frame depicts a key point of the scene or movie.
Helps with decisions on scene inclusion or exclusion.

Storyboarding

Helps to finalize the storyline development.
An essential stage of the animation process.
Consists of drawings in a comic strip format.
Used to visualize the animation and communicate ideas clearly.

Pre-Production Process Components

Storyboarding
Layouts
Character Design- Model Sheets
- Expression Sheets
- Character Line-up sheets
Animatics

Layout Stage in Pre-Production

After storyboard approval, the layout department works with the director to design locations and costumes.
They stage the scenes, showing character positions throughout each shot.

Production Phase

Begins after storyboard approval.
The actual work starts based on pre-production guidelines.
Major activities include layout, modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and animation.
Often the longest and busiest phase.

Major Activities in Production Phase

Layout- A visual map that instructs artists on character positioning and movement.
- The timing of the scene and character movements is indicated on the "dopesheet."
- Determines lighting, camera angles, and placement of characters and props.
Modelling- Modellers turn 2D art and maquettes into detailed 3D models.
Lighting- Lighting Artists light individual scenes and bring together all elements created by other departments.
- Responsibilities include:- Placing lights
  - Defining light properties
  - Defining light interactions with materials
  - Establishing direct and reflected lighting and shadows
  - Ensuring shot continuity
  - Fulfilling the vision of Directors, Production Designers, Art Directors, and VFX Supervisors.
- Lighting TDs ensure consistency in lighting, color balance, and mood.
Texturing- complete the final stages in preparing the model for animation and rendering.
- Texturing Artists write shades and paint textures as per the scene requirements, working with surfacing and shading departments.
Rigging- The process of adding bones to a character or defining movement of a mechanical object.
- A character TD will make test animations showing how a creature or character appears when deformed into different poses, and based on the results corrective adjustments are often made.
Animation- Modern production companies accurately plan a character’s performance frame by frame in 3D graphics using the same basic principles and aesthetic judgments that were first developed for 2D and stop-motion animation.

Dopesheets

A spreadsheet-like tool that provides instructions on the time duration of character movements, scenes, camera moves, and audio details.
Ensures everyone works to the same basic instructions.

Ink & Paint

The process of coloring drawn frames by transferring drawings to cels and hand painting them.
In the digital age, referred to as Digital Ink and Paint.
Involves scanning drawings into a computer and coloring them using software packages.

Line Test

A process to check hand-drawn frames before final artwork.
Frames are captured via video camera or by scanning.
Allows animators to assess the flow of the sequence.

Onion Skinning

A method to view several animation frames simultaneously.
Allows animators to check changes and flow between frames.

Walk Cycle / Loops

A form of loop animation that creates continuous walking.
Consists of a sequence of frames that make a continuous flowing loop.

Specialist Roles in Animation Studio

Modeller- Turns 2D concept art and maquettes into detailed 3D models.
- Assists with the skeleton and skin development.
Layout Artist- Sets the stage for each scene.
- Produces the 3D version of storyboard drawings.
- Works with the Director, Scene Planner, and Special Effects Supervisor.
- Responsible for composing the shot and delivering rough animation to the animators as a guide.
Background Artist- Creates scene settings, which are static backdrops for the animation.
- Background images can be simple and flat.
Key Frame Animator- Draws the images that determine the beginning and end of a movement.
In-between Animator- Draws the images or frames in-between the key frames to complete the movements.
Clean-up Artist- Re-draws the Key Frame and In-between Animators drawings which are normally of a rough line quality.
Scanner Operator- Scans cleaned-up drawings.
Digital Ink & Paint Artist- Colors animation frames using specialist software.
- Uses tools like the 'Paint Bucket' and 'Paintbrush'.
Texturing Artist- Writes shades and paints textures to match concept art.
- Creates textures as maps assigned to the model.
Lighting Technical Directors- Ensures consistency in lighting, color balance, and mood.
- Ensures CGI looks photorealistic.
- Combines animation, effects, camera moves, shades, and textures.
Lighting Artist- Lights individual scenes.
- Responsibilities include:- Placing lights
  - Defining light properties
  - Defining light interactions with materials
  - Establishing direct and reflected lighting and shadows
  - Ensuring shot continuity
  - Fulfilling the vision of Directors, Production Designers, Art Directors, and VFX Supervisors.

UV Mapping

The capability to pull every surface of the model apart and have it as a 2D image.
Allows specific parts of a model to be colored in a certain way.
When applying a UV Map back onto a model, it stitches the individual parts that had be texture into their respected faces.

Modeling

The process of converting visualization or artwork into 3D.
Once the model is ready, other departments can proceed with rigging and texturing.

Character Design

Involves developing the appearance and features of characters in an animation.
Model Sheets and Expression Sheets are produced to help animators be consistent with the appearance of characters.
Character Line-up Sheets are also produced to compare the scale of the characters against one another.

Four Types of Twinning Animation

Scale animation: Make a view smaller or larger either on the x or y-axis.
Rotate animation: Rotate a view around a pivot point by a certain