How to Create 2D Stick Animation
2D animation has given artists around the world the opportunity to bring characters alive. With the help of software such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Flash, animation possibilities have become endless. A good way for someone to start animating is by starting with the creation of stick-figure animations. Key-framing is an important technique used by 2D artist to animate these stick figures. This method requires up to ten minutes to achieve and within no time, your stick figure will come to life.
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Instructions
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Create the stick figure image in the image-manipulation program.
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Separate each part of the stick figure's body onto separate layers. This includes each arm, leg, the head and the torso. Each body-part must be placed on a separate, named layer.
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Save the stick-figure image into a familiar file location. The image must not be flattened.
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Open a new image-manipulation file. Create a background image for your stick figure. The image must then be saved as a flattened image.
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Open the animation software and load the stick-figure and background file.
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Place the background image behind the stick figure.
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Select the stick figure's parts and set anchor points on each one. This will have the limbs on a rotational pivot for animation.
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Rotate each limb to the desired position, then set a keyframe each limb's position. A keyframe is the tool used to control the start and end of a limb movement.
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Move the timeline to a different time and move the limbs in a different position. A keyframe must be added.
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Move the timeline to the beginning of the animation and select "play". You will see your stick figure moving in the animation.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit colored stick figures image by Steve Johnson from Fotolia.com
