Whether you’re a student contemplating a career in animation or a professional with several years of experience under your belt, you’ll want to turn to today’s best blogs and animation magazines for assistance. These resources provide tutorials that will help you use animation software more effectively, give you access to professional tips, and provide you with tools to create more realistic special effects. Using online resources also gives animators the benefit of a global community of digital artists to chat with, through forums and blog posts. The following are ten of the most useful online resources for animators and for those into digital animation.
Society of Digital Artists
An online community and portal for professionals working in the computer graphics field, the Society of Digital Artists boasts numerous features that can be of use. This website offers a forum, regularly updated news features from the CG industry, and a portfolio function that allows you to share your work with the world.
Creative Crash
Another online community for digital artists, Creative Crash focuses on art using today’s professional animation software. Tutorials and resources focus on programs like Autodesk Maya, Sumatra, Softimage, and Renderman. This is a great resource if you’ve recently purchased one of these programs and need a specific question answered by like-minded professionals.
3DTotal.com
You’ll find forums, free tutorials, and texture or mesh downloads in this comprehensive source of information. Although the emphasis might be on 3D animation, you’ll also find other forms of digital artwork in the galleries and tutorials. Galleries allow you to view other artists’ work for inspiration, and as this is one of the largest online animation communities, there is an extensive selection to browse through.
Video Copilot
One of the most important resources for those learning how to create and render special effects, Video Copilot shows visitors how to achieve top quality results. The information that you receive here will help you if you are interested in a career in the Hollywood film or television industry in particular. This site is a good supplement to academic coursework, to learn some new techniques and try them out in your studio.
Blender
Although this website focuses on a specific brand of software, the information and community provided can be applied to numerous animation programs. There’s an extensive selection of animation tutorials, teaching the basics of 3D modelling, rendering, and post-production techniques. These are available free of charge.
Tutorialized
Whether you’re after 2D or 3D animation advice and techniques, you’ll find a tutorial to suit your needs at Tutorialized. This website offers thousands of tutorials covering topics that can be used in the video game, special effects, graphic design, or web design industries. Tutorials range from broad topics to extremely specific ones, so no matter what piece of information you’re after you’ll most likely find an answer with this impressive collection of online tutorials. There are also forums to interact with other users of the site and ask even more specific questions.
Animation World Network
While many of the other resources covered in this list are useful in terms of providing animation tools and tutorials to help you build your portfolio, this resource can help you figure out what to do with it. This blog covers the business side of the animation industry, giving readers a rundown of the latest industry news and major players. Topics covered include technology, animation companies, famous animators and their techniques, animation in the media, and special events or awards. If you want to learn the notes and bolts of the business side of animation, this is a fascinating blog.
Polygon Blog 3D
Beginners who may be overwhelmed by the wealth of information out there on other tutorial websites will love the Polygon Blog 3D. This carefully crafted resource offers step by step instructions for common animation techniques, helpfully illustrated with visuals and videos. This ensures that you don’t miss any details as you go through its blog posts. You’ll gain a strong overview of 3D animation techniques by reading this blog from top to bottom.
Deja View
If you love to rewind your favourite films or play your favourite scenes in video games just to watch the animation time and time again, Deja View is a blog with your needs in mind. It breaks down animation sequences into single frames, so that you can see exactly how motions are created and how characters react to stimuli. This is a great way to see how other animators are able to achieve some of their most famous effects, so that you can use these same principles in your own work.
FreeSound
Putting together an animation sequence is often not just about the visual aspect of it, but also about the sound effects that you use. Although many animation packages have sound effects built into them, there’s also a wealth of free music and effects available in this audio website. These effects can help you put the finishing touches on any animation product, for a professional polish.
These ten websites are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online animation resources. By taking part in this online community, digital animators can gain skills, experience, and helpful industry contacts.
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