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This technique is identical to how the illusion of movement is achieved with television and motion pictures.įor 3D animations, objects (models) are built on the computer monitor (modeled) and 3D figures are rigged with a virtual skeleton. To create the illusion of movement, an image is displayed on the computer monitor and repeatedly replaced by a new image that is similar to it but advanced slightly in time (usually at a rate of 24, 25, or 30 frames/second). Computer-generated animations can also allow a single graphic artist to produce such content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces, or props. Sometimes, the target of the animation is the computer itself, but sometimes film as well.Ĭomputer animation is essentially a digital successor to stop motion techniques, but using 3D models, and traditional animation techniques using frame-by-frame animation of 2D illustrations.
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Modern computer animation usually uses 3D computer graphics to generate a three-dimensional picture, although 2D computer graphics are still used for stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time renderings. The more general term computer-generated imagery (CGI) encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images. An example of computer animation which is produced from the " motion capture" techniqueĬomputer animation is the process used for digitally generating animated images.
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