Things You'll Need:
- Personal computer
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Step 1
Research the well-known 2D animation software companies and check to see whether there are demo or trial versions of their products available. Many software companies have time-limited test versions available to download right on their websites so that you have the opportunity to look at the features of the product.
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Step 2
Try a variety of different software packages prior to making a purchase. Trial versions of animation software, while sometimes limited in functionality, often allow you up to 30 days to test the program. That gives you plenty of time to explore all the features of the software packages and compare them.
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Step 3
View completed projects, either by looking at showcases on 2D animation websites or by looking through the tutorials on the software's website. Seeing some finished projects can give you a better sense of what type of animation the program is capable of producing.
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Step 4
Compare your computer and its accessories to the minimum requirements of the 2D animation software you are considering. In particular, make sure that your graphics card and the display resolution are compatible with the program.
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Step 5
Evaluate what features are important to you and shop for software that fills your needs. For example, some programs come with extensive template and artwork libraries, which may be important if you don't want to be doing a lot of free-form creation. For others it may be important to be able to export images in a variety of different file formats.
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Step 6
Take both your budget and knowledge base into account. Many software packages have a "lite" or home version designed for those who are not working as professional animators. These versions tend to cost less than the professional package and may offer discounts on software upgrades, so that after you've become proficient with the software, you can move up to a more complicated version.
