From: entpph@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: ANIMATION: anybody here actually animate?
Reply-To: entpph@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 03:15:32 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.222212.6821@sol.UVic.CA>, aramsey@ugly.UVic.CA (Aaron  Ramsey) writes:
>In article <Bxz781.K2p@knot.ccs.queensu.ca> awilliam@qucis.queensu.ca (Andrew Williams) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov19.162814.9805@ultb.isc.rit.edu> entpph@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
>>>
>
>I've got an old 16 mm bolex that I've been using for a very short time.
>Before that I used an really old super8 camera. I'm strictly an
>amateur/hobbyist. I tried animating with my computer (an amiga),
>but it drove me crazy modelling everything on the computer in 3d.
>Until some sort of 3d manipulation system shows up, I think I will
>strictly stick to claymation,etc....  8-)  Although that computer stuff
>really did look nice after tweeking it.

There's some nifty 2D animation software for the Amiga that might be
more rewarding to use.
>>
>>Do you use a textbook in your course? If so.. what's it called?
>>
>I'd really like to find this out too! I haven't been able to come across 
>much animation literature at all.  8-(   I did find one book called
>"Make Your Own Animated Movies and Videotapes: Film and Video Techniques
>from the Yellow Ball Workshop" by Yvonne Anderson at the local library.
>It's been helpful with a bunch of things that I've tried to do, but it's
>a little small, and sometimes geared towards younger people than myself.
>If there is a good textbook that I might be able to pick up, that't be
>great!  8-)
>>
See my previous post.  Another good book is _Animation Techniques_ by
Roger Noake.  ISBN 1-55521-331-6.  I found my copy at a remainder bookstore,
and paid very little for it, but it's an excellent book.  For figure
animators there's a book called _The Animator's Workbook_ that's very good
and another called _Timing for Animation_ that's helpful with some
special cases.  An ex-girlfriend has my copy.  If you run into her,
would you ask her to return it, please?
>
>Something that I've been having a little bit of trouble with is filters.
>When do I use them? Sometimes I come out with really great looking 
>animations (this is with plastercine and Liquid Foam characters),
>and sometimes they really don't look that good. Sometimes the
>characters just blend into the background. Does anybody know if I
>can fix this with say a yellow or red filter? what shades in what
>situations? I suppose that I could use drastically different colored
>characters and backgrounds, but....  ;-)

Using filters isn't a good idea for solving the problem you describe.
If you look at Disney's movies, you'll see great care exercised in the
choice of colors for the characters and the backgrounds.  The two are
considered together.  As a rule of thumb (for Disney) bright, primary
colors for the characters, pastels for the background. It sounds as if
it's not only a problem of color choices, but also maybe a problem
of lighting.  Try this:  okay, imagine a clock face where your
characters are in the center and you are at 6 o'clock.  Put your
two brightest lights at 10 and at 2, shining on your characters.,
now put a dimmer light at the camera, 6 o'clock.  This should give
you a nice, bright halo of light around your characters and pull
them out of the background, while allowing you to see detail in the
their faces as well.  Expose for the dimmer light and light the
2 backlights go hot.  You'll probably have to pay your little
brother a buck to hold up a black card shielding the lens from
flare from the 10 and 2 lights. If he gives you any crap, kick his butt
like you've been doing all his life.
>
>Also, if anybody else is using a Bolex or similar 16mm camera... what
>size of lense are you using?

26mm Macro Switar.  Lets you get a shot of your little fingernail
that fills the screen, but also does all the work of a normal lens.
Occasionally a 50mm.

>
>-Aaron
> aramsey@ugly.uvic.ca
>
Good luck!

Erik Timmerman
Film/Video Department
RIT

Newsgroups: rec.arts.animation