Art and Animation Basics

Tip

Check your knowledge with confidence

At the end of this subtopic you can boost your knowledge of traditional 2D animation concepts and processes by using a knowledge check.

Before attempting the knowledge check, give this subtopic a read-through, ensuring you're well-prepared. Feel free to refer back as you answer – consider it an open-book challenge!

Explore

Character model sheets

In the information above, you’ve read about different model sheets.

If you need to deepen your knowledge on turnaround model and expression sheets (including pose sheets) from a character design perspective, visit the Character Design topic within this Foundations module at any time. Enjoy your study!

Practice

Task 1: Check your knowledge – Traditional 2D Animation Basics

Get ready to put your knowledge of traditional 2D animation concepts and processes to the test! This short knowledge check will help reinforce your learning, so treat it as a valuable tool to boost your knowledge of what you’ve read in this subtopic.

You'll encounter a variety of question formats, including multiple choice and true or false. So approach each question with a critical eye and draw on your learning to choose the best answers – remember, you can always refer back to the information as you answer.

What steps should you take to complete this knowledge check?

15 minutes

Set aside 15 minutes to complete this knowledge check.

1. This quiz has 10 questions. Read each question carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked before attempting an answer.
2. Provide the most accurate and complete answers you can. If a question stumps you, make an educated guess based on your knowledge.
3. Don't let difficult questions discourage you. Stay confident and do your best. Remember, it's a learning opportunity, and not a formal assessment!
4. Once you've reviewed your answer and are satisfied, click the ‘Check button’ to see if you chose the correct answer. You can also retry questions and show solutions.

Good luck, and enjoy the challenge!

What should you do after completing this knowledge check?

Explore the next subtopic, 2D Digital Animation, where you’ll learn how to use powerful tools such as Adobe Animate and Toon Boom to build digital assets and create captivating animated content.

Tip

Watch Jade animate

This subtopic includes videos with Jade showing you how to use Adobe Animate and Toon Boom to create 2D animation content. You’ll find these videos helpful when completing learning tasks in this subtopic.

Observe the techniques shown in the videos. Pause the videos to practise or experiment with system steps. If a video presents challenges, pause it to attempt the tasks or find the solution.

So have fun, stay focussed, and ask us if you need help!

Explore

New to Adobe Animate?

Get a head start on your learning tasks and try out Adobe Animate with these two tutorials. You’ll also find these and other tutorials in Software at the start of this course.

• The Animate drawing tools Learn how to use the drawing tools and create a boat. (5:27m)
• Create a symbol Save art and make it easy to update and reuse by creating symbols. (3:34m)

Practice

Task 2: Create a simple character

Develop your foundational skills in building animation assets with Adobe Animate. You’ll practise using animation techniques to build a simple character that waves its hand, combining symbol and line-based elements. Get ready to say hello!

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Animate - you can use either a:
  • digital drawing pen and tablet, or
  • mouse and keyboard
• Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

2 hours

Set aside two hours to complete steps 2-9 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s three videos, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Animate to create his character, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. In Adobe Animate, build your simple character (using symbols and the Line Tool) and create an ‘open’ hand.
3. Select all parts of your character and create separate layers.
4. Extend frames for animation by selecting all layers in the timeline.
5. Set keyframes for the arm movement on arm and hand layers.
6. Create start and end poses for on each keyframe.
7. Swap symbols on the hand layer to bring in the waving hand.
8. Refine the animation using inbetweening techniques.
9. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Consider the movement of your character’s hand wave. Which aspects of in-betweening did you find most effective in achieving smoothness, and how might you apply this technique to future animations?
2. Share your waving character to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 2’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

In the next section, you’ll explore the process of building characters from actual drawings, allowing you to expand your creative possibilities in Adobe Animate.

Explore

Quick start guides that support your learning

If you haven’t noticed already, Jade’s videos in this subtopic are supplemented by quick start guides, designed to be your trusty companion in case you need clarity or support as you take in what you’re watching. 

The quick start guides are also handy references for acing the learning tasks below – it’s all about fast insights at your fingertips!

Practice

Task 3: Draw and build a fish

Keep developing your emerging skills in creating animated characters, and practice using Adobe Animate to build animations - this time from one of your drawings.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Animate - you can use either a:
  • digital drawing pen and tablet, or
  • mouse and keyboard
• Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

2 hours

Set aside two hours to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s four videos, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Animate to draw and build his fish, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Draw a fish and import your drawing into Adobe Animate.
3. Build the fish in parts (i.e., body, pupil of eye, fins) on a new layer and trace each part above the imported drawing.
4. Convert each part into a symbol upon completion.
5. Select all symbols and turn distribute them onto individual layers.
6. Extend frames for all layers to the desired scene length.
7. Creating a looping animation to simulate swimming through an environment in an animated scene.  
8. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Consider the fluidity of movements, the synchronisation of body parts, and overall realism. How did the process of drawing and animating your fish character contribute to your understanding of character movement and storytelling?
2. Share your swimming fish to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 3’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Building on your animation skills, move to the next section and create a character's face and explore facial expressions and mouth movements to enhance the emotive quality of your characters.

Practice

Task 4: Create a character’s face

Reinforce your 2D digital animation skills by creating a character's face and animating a simple eye blink using shapes and symbols with Adobe Animate.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Animate - you can use either a:
  • digital drawing pen and tablet, or
  • mouse and keyboard
• Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

4 hours

Set aside four hours to complete steps 2-7 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s video, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Animate to create a character face, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Build the face parts of a character (e.g. mouth, eye, nose, head, etc.), saving each part as a symbol in Adobe Animate.
3. Arrange your symbols into different designs to create various character variations.
4. Animate a basic blink by converting previously created eye symbols into a new Blink symbol, organising layers, and preparing for animation.
5. Create a skin-coloured eyelid shape by copying and breaking apart the eye symbol, setting the stage for the blink animation.
6. Extend frames, create keyframes, and adjust each frame to achieve a seamless blinking animation. 
7. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. What do you think about the steps you’ve used with Adobe Animate to create a character face? Consider the fluidity of the eye blink, the synchronisation with other facial features, and the overall expression achieved.
2. Share your blinking character to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 4’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Develop your character creation skills with the next learning task, where you’ll create a lip sync animation with a character audio file, helping you add further layers of realism and expressiveness to your characters.

Practice

Task 5: Create a lip sync for character audio

Practise integrating expressive and synchronised mouth movements with audio in Adobe Animate, enhancing your ability to convey dynamic character dialogue.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Files: Character and audio
• Adobe Animate - you can use either a:
  • digital drawing pen and tablet, or
  • mouse and keyboard
• Headphones (if you are studying by other people)
• Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

2 hours

Set aside two hours to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s video, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Animate to create a lip sync and animate dialogue, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Access and download the two files in Files: Character and audio.
3. Import the audio file into the Adobe Animate library and place the audio on a layer.
4. Set the audio sync to Stream and listen to the audio file by scrubbing through the timeline.
5. Review the mouth movements and consider which mouth shapes suit the sounds.
6. Add keyframes, adjusting the selected mouth in the properties window for synchronisation.
7. Adjust ‘homer mouths’ and preview the synchronised mouth movements.
8. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. What worked or didn’t work well for you when working through the lip sync process? Were there alternate steps you considered using in Adobe Animate, and how might have they affected the outcome?
2. Share your lip sync to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 5’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

When you’re ready, move to the next learning task, where you’ll build and animate mouth shapes, refining your 2D digital animation skills to add realism to character expression through character dialogue.

Practice

Task 6: Build and animate a mouth

Reinforce your familiarity with lip sync and dialogue work using Adobe Animate to build and animate mouth shapes and integrate audio for expressive character dialogue.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

• Files: Audio
• Adobe Animate - you can use either a:
  • digital drawing pen and tablet, or
  • mouse and keyboard
• Headphones (if you are studying by other people)
• Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

4 hours

Set aside four hours to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s video, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Animate to create a lip sync and animate dialogue, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Building characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Access and download the five files in Files: Audio.
3. Build or draw a face without a mouth on Layer 1 in Adobe Animate.
4. On a new layer, build or draw a closed mouth and convert the mouth to a symbol, naming it ‘A’ mouth.
5. Open the symbol and add 5-10 blank keyframes. On the new keyframes, build or draw six other different mouths representing various sounds and shapes.
6. Synchronise the keyframes with imported audio and adjust the keyframes.
7. Listen to the audio and add keyframes to the mouth symbol.
8. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. What are your main takeaways from navigating through the steps in this 2D digital animation challenge? Can you see yourself enhancing your skills in this area in related animation work?
2. Share your animation to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 6' in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

In the next section you’ll learn how to use motion guides to bring characters and objects to life in fun animated sequences, enhancing your skills in creating compelling 2D digital animations.

Practice

Task 7: Create a motion guide

Prepare to create controlled animations by practising motion guide creation. By specifying and controlling the path of a symbol, you can achieve smoother and more dynamic movements, enhancing your proficiency in 2D digital animation.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

• Adobe Animate - you can use either a:
  • digital drawing pen and tablet, or
  • mouse and keyboard
• Quick Start Guide: Creating a motion guide.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

1 hour

Set aside one hour to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Refer to Quick Start Guide: Creating a motion guide to help you create a motion guide in Adobe Animate.
2. Start by creating an object you wish to animate and convert the object to a symbol.
3. Right-click on the symbol layer and select Add Classic Motion Guide to introduce a motion guide layer.
4. Turn on the Snap to Objects function at the bottom of your toolbar to assist in precise placement.
5. Extend frames on both the symbol and motion guide layers to the desired length and add a keyframe to the last frame of your symbol layer.
6. Select the motion guide layer and use the pencil tool to draw the path you want your symbol to move.
7. Snap the symbol to your guide’s the start and end points on the first and last frames. 
8. Finally, right-click between keys on the symbol layer and choose Create Classic Tween.

What should you do after completing this task?

Now that you've practised creating a motion guide, the next step is to dive deep into animating characters and objects. Apply your knowledge to bring your creations to life with nuanced and captivating movements. After completing your animations, take a moment to review and reflect on how the motion guide enhanced your work.

Explore

New to Toon Boom?

Jumpstart your journey with these Toon Boom tutorials designed to help you learn the essentials. Explore these and other software tutorials in Software at the start of this course.

• Using the Drawing Tools Learn how to use various drawing tools including the Pencil, Cutter, and Contour Editor tools. (12:52m)
• Using the Timeline Learn how to navigate the Timeline and Camera views to set the timing and movement on your animations. (10:27m)
• Creating a Frame Learn about animating drawings frame-by-frame and how to create a new palette and paint your animation. (10:28m)
• Importing Images Learn to import images and multimedia into your scene. (5:58m)

Practice

Task 8: Animate a ball: Bouncing on the spot

Reinforce your understanding of fundamental animation principles and processes by creating a looping cycle of a ball bouncing on the spot, practicing the concepts of timing, spacing, slow-in and slow-out, squash and stretch,  as well as keys, breakdowns, and in-betweens. 

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Toon Boom or Adobe Animate
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

3 hours

Set aside three hours to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Toon Boom or Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s three videos, carefully observing his techniques in Toon Boom to animate a bouncing ball, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Choose your tool – you can use Adobe Animate or Toon Boom to create your animation.
3. Choose between animating a ball object/asset or creating the animation frame by frame. Start the animation from the ground (lowest point) in the first frame.
4. Use Onion Skin mode   and set the bracket range to meet the current Frame, allowing you to view the current frame and previous frames.
5. Use the keyboard arrows to measure and position each frame precisely, especially during the slow-in and slow-out phases. For instance, incrementally adjust the ball's position downward with each successive frame to achieve a perfect slow-out.
6. Continue inserting single frames and adjusting the ball's position, doubling the previous number of arrow taps to ensure a gradual and realistic slow-out.
7. Play the animation to review the bouncing ball's motion, ensuring it follows a natural and convincing trajectory.
8. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Were there any specific challenges you encountered, and how did you overcome them in the animation process? What adjustments did you make to improve the realism and fluidity of the bouncing ball's movement?
2. Share your bouncing ball to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 8’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Now, take your skills further by extending the challenge. In the next learning task, you’ll animate another bouncing ball, introducing the element of arcs. This additional complexity will deepen your understanding of motion paths and enhance your ability to create nuanced and visually engaging animations.

Practice

Task 9: Animate another ball: Bouncing across your screen

Animate another bouncing ball – this time bouncing left to right across your screen – and extend your use of animation principles by incorporating arcs and squash and stretch  ! And just like with your first bouncing ball, you’ll get to use keyframes, breakdowns, in-betweens, and slow-in and slow-out.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Toon Boom or Adobe Animate
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

4 hours

Set aside four hours to complete steps 2-9 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Toon Boom or Adobe Animate.

1. Refer to Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck. You can also rewatch Jade’s three videos where he uses Toon Boom to animate a bouncing ball.
2. Choose your tool – you can use Adobe Animate or Toon Boom to create your animation. 
3. Set up your digital file and prepare your keyframes. As you progress, remember to review your keyframes and draw breakdowns and in-betweens.
4. Draw a circle representing the ball above the ground line. Choose the size and position according to your preference and determine the ball’s starting position.
5. Use arcs to plan the trajectory and distance for the ball’s bounces. Develop smaller and tighter arcs as the ball bounces further.
6. Draw all keyframes on a new layer, following the arcs as a guide. Squash the ball when hitting the ground and create breakdowns with lighter opacity.
7. Apply slow-in and slow-out to the top of the arcs. Add squash to keyframes touching the ground and stretch to the frames after leaving the ground.
8. Play the animation to review the bouncing ball's motion, ensuring it follows a natural and convincing trajectory.
9. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. What new insights did you gain from creating the left-to-right bounce using arcs? How did squash and stretch help convey a sense of weight and impact in the bouncing ball?
2. Share your bouncing ball to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 9’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Now that you’ve practised using animation techniques and tools such as timing, spacing, slow-in and slow-out, and arcs, prepare to experiment with more nuanced movements in the next learning task where you’ll animate a hand gesture.

Practice

Task 10: Animate a hand gesture

Extend your experience with drawing keyframes, breakdowns, and in-betweens and sharpen your skills using strong poses, anticipation, and cushioning by animating a hand gesture. Focussing on a hand gesture’s nuanced movement will also solidify your understanding of timing, spacing, slow-in and slow-out, and arcs.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Toon Boom or Adobe Animate
• digital drawing pen and tablet.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

6 hours

Set aside six hours to complete steps 2-9 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Toon Boom or Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s two videos where he uses Toon Boom to animate a hand gesture.
2. Choose your tool – you can use Adobe Animate or Toon Boom to create your animation – and set up your digital file.
3. Sketch basic hand poses on paper (similar to the image above). Import these rough sketches as a guide on a separate layer. Lock the layer.
4. Create a new layer above. Use the brush tool to sketch the hand poses on this new layer. Plan the pose sequence on the timeline.
5. Use the time slider and playback options to view the animation keyframes. Focus on resolving arcs and positions in your keyframes before progressing to breakdowns and in-betweens.
6. Add new blank frames and draw breakdowns. Use the time slider and playback options to assess how breakdowns align with your keyframes. 
7. Pay attention to maintaining the volumes of hand and fingers , creating strong poses, and conveying anticipation and cushioning.
8. Repeat the process for in-betweens and continue refining your animation.
9. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. What animation elements worked particularly well in your hand gesture animation? Are there aspects that you could refine or modify to enhance the overall quality, e.g. timing, arcs, or poses?
2. Share your hand gesture to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 10’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Broaden your knowledge and get ready to animate rain showers and jumping flour bags, exploring how these diverse elements move and interact. The next section will challenge you to adapt your growing skills to new stories, fostering creativity and versatility in your animations.

Important

Empower your creative freedom

As you look at different examples of animation in this course, references to specific software will be kept to a minimum. You can choose which tools you’d like to experiment with to create your animation.

Try to be flexible in your approach, and if you think it would help to switch to a different tool or software when working on a learning task, then switch!

Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore, even if this means repeating learning tasks several times, changing direction mid-way through one, and starting again with a different approach, tool or software.

Practice

Task 11: Animate a rain shower

Creating FX animation for a rain shower is easier than you might think! Practice animating a few elements to create a single raindrop with ripple and duplicate the same animation in different screen locations with offset timings to give the effect of a rain shower.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Animate
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

4 hours

Set aside four hours to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s three videos, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Animate to animate a rain shower, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. In Adobe Animate, create a radial ripple starting as a small circle that quickly spreads and dissipates.
3. Animate the ripple as a circle seen from above and skew it to match the perspective of the ground plane.
4. Start the animation with a few frames of a falling droplet, represented as a broken straight line.
5. Make the droplet disappear as it lands in the centre of the radial ripple at the start of the animation.
6. Duplicate the completed droplet and ripple animation, placing them in different locations on the screen.
7. Adjust the timing of each duplicated droplet to create the overall effect of a rain shower.
8. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Congratulations on animating a rain shower! How did features like drawing tools, timing, and duplication contribute to the desired effect? What areas of improvement would you make to enhance the overall impact?
2. Share your rain shower to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 11’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Your next and final learning task in this 2D Digital Animation subtopic challenges you to animate a flour sack jumping. Remember the techniques you've practised, such as drawing keyframes, breakdowns, and in-betweens, to bring the flour bag to life with realistic movement. Consider how timing, squash and stretch, and anticipation influence its animation, and be prepared to explore new techniques. Happy animating!

Practice

Task 12: Animate a flour sack jumping

This subtopic’s final learning task will stretch your 2D digital animation skills by challenging you to animate a flour sack jumping across a gap. You'll practice key animation principles such as timing, squash and stretch, and anticipation, enhancing your ability to create lively and engaging character movements. Ready to jump in?

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• File: Model sheet
• Toon Boom or Adobe Animate
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

6 hours

Set aside six hours to complete steps 2-11 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Toon Boom or Adobe Animate.

1. Watch Jade’s two videos, carefully observing his techniques in Toon Boom to animate a flour sack jumping, and refer to Quick Start Guide: Animating characters and objects.
2. Thumbnail key pose drawings for your flour sack animation, ensuring consistency with the File: Model sheet.
3. Set up a digital file in Toon Boom or Adobe Animate. 
4. Sketch key poses for the flour sack, covering the start pose, anticipation (with squash), jumping (smooth arc), and landing with follow-through.
   • Optional: Create a simple background on a separate layer featuring platforms for the flour sack to jump across.
5. Draw the flour sack's keyframes on a new layer, blocking in the first and last frames to maintain model sheet consistency.
6. Extend the background layer for the animation duration. Keep the flour sack animation on a single layer.
7. Experiment with squash and stretch in key and breakdown drawings.
8. Plan timing by adding timing charts, indicating the number and spacing of in-betweens between key poses.
9. Use squash during anticipation and stretch as the character leaps into action. Refer to the model sheet for consistency.
10. Use the looping playback option to review your animation, checking for smooth arcs, paths, and spacing. Make adjustments as needed.
11. Export your animation as an MP4.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. How did you adapt animation principles to address specific aspects of the flour sack's movement? Consider how you can use your problem-solving approach with different 2D digital animation projects.
2. Share your jumping flour sack to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 12’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your MP4 using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

By completing this subtopic, you would have practised over ten 2D digital animations! Make sure you have screen-free time, then step into the next subtopic, The Colour Wheel, where you’ll learn colour theory and create colour palettes that reflect character personality and engage audiences.

Practice

Task 13: Check your knowledge – Colour theory

Get ready to put your knowledge of colour theory to the test! This short knowledge check will help reinforce your learning, so treat it as a valuable tool to boost your knowledge of what you’ve explored in this subtopic so far.

Approach each question with a critical eye and draw on your learning to choose the best answers – remember, you can always refer back to the information as you answer.

What steps should you take to complete this knowledge check?

Set aside 10 minutes to complete this knowledge check.

1. This quiz has 6 questions. Read each question carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked before attempting an answer.
2. Provide the most accurate and complete answers you can. If a question stumps you, make an educated guess based on your knowledge.
3. Don't let difficult questions discourage you. Stay confident and do your best. Remember, it's a learning opportunity, and not a formal assessment!
4. Once you've reviewed your answer and are satisfied, click the ‘Check button’ to see if you chose the correct answer. You can also retry questions and show solutions.

Good luck, and enjoy the challenge!

What should you do after completing this knowledge check?

Continue working through the rest of this subtopic, The Colour Wheel, where you’ll:

• learn the importance of carefully choosing colour palettes for character design, and
• practise creating colour palettes for three iconic characters.

Case Study

A brave and adventurous heroine

How can you create a colour palette that reflects a brave heroine’s personality and engage the audience with her adventurous spirit?

Reflect the heroine’s personality and experiences:

• The character has a bold personality and has exciting journeys. Choose warm and energetic colours to reflect these aspects of her character and story.

Represent the heroine’s qualities:

• Courageous and determined – the palette could consist of deep reds or oranges to represent these strengths.
• Energetic and enthusiastic – the palette could also include vibrant yellows to convey these attributes.
• Connection to nature and exploration – the pallet could incorporate earthy tones like browns and greens to signify these passions.

By using this colour palette consistently throughout the heroine’s design, you can create a visual identity that reinforces her character traits and engages the audience with her adventurous spirit

Practice

Task 14: Create colour palettes

Boost your character design skills in the essential area of colour choices and find out how the vibrant medium of colour palettes helps you reinforce your character’s personality and engage your audience in the story.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to Adobe Photoshop or a comparable graphic design app for creating your colour palettes.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

Set aside two hours to complete steps 2-6 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop or another graphic design app.

1. Revisit the Using colour palettes section in this subtopic to reinforce what you know if you need to.
2. Choose three iconic characters from animated shows, movies, or games.
3. Source reference images for each selected character. These images will serve as a guide for capturing the unique colour palette of each character.
4. Create a rectangle (see image above) on a digital A4 canvas representing each character's colour palette. Use the reference images to match and replicate the character's colour choices accurately.
5. Position the character reference images next to the respective colour palettes.
6. Review your work and save it as an image (e.g. PNG file).

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Consider the colour palettes you've created and how each contributes to their character's design. How do the colour choices establish visual cohesion or enhance the mood? 
2. Share your colour palettes to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 14’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

As you move to the next subtopic, Composition, build on what you’ve learnt about colour theory and palettes for more complex compositions and layouts, and explore new concepts and techniques to integrate visual elements effectively into your animation frames.

Practice

Task 15: Check your knowledge – Composition

Get ready to put your knowledge of composition to the test! This short knowledge check will help reinforce your learning, so treat it as a valuable tool to boost your knowledge of what you’ve explored in this subtopic.

Approach each question with a critical eye and draw on your learning to choose the best answers – remember, you can always refer back to the information as you answer.

What steps should you take to complete this knowledge check?

10-15 minuteS

Set aside 10 minutes to complete this knowledge check.

1. This quiz has 6 questions. Read each question carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked before attempting an answer.
2. Provide the most accurate and complete answers you can. If a question stumps you, make an educated guess based on your knowledge.
3. Don't let difficult questions discourage you. Stay confident and do your best. Remember, it's a learning opportunity, and not a formal assessment!
4. Once you've reviewed your answer and are satisfied, click the ‘Check button’ to see if you chose the correct answer. You can also retry questions and show solutions.

Good luck, and enjoy the challenge!

What should you do after completing this knowledge check?

Dive into Digital painting where you can apply the skills and knowledge you’ve gained in this Art and Animation Basics topic to practise adding depth, realism, and texture to your creations and improve your digital painting skills.

Tip

Observe Jade’s painting techniques

This subtopic includes videos with Jade showing you how to use Adobe Photoshop to add texture and realism to shapes and drawings.

As with 2D Digital Animation earlier in this topic, observe Jade’s techniques in the videos. Pause the videos to practise or experiment with system steps. If a video presents challenges, pause it to attempt the tasks or find the solution.

So have fun, stay focussed, and ask us if you need help!

Practice

Task 16: Create an influence map

It’s helpful as an animator to reflect on and explore the artworks and visual elements that infuse your artistic perspective. In this learning task, practise using digital tools to curate images of artwork that inspire and influence you, and then arrange these images into an influence map to help you reflect on and summarise those influences to yourself or others.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to: 

• Adobe Photoshop or a comparable graphic design app for editing digital images
• a range of images you have sourced using internet searches. 

What steps should you take to complete this task?

3 hours

Set aside three hours to complete steps 2-6 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop or another graphic design app.

1. Create a digital canvas for your one-page influence map.
2. Use online searches or digital libraries to source images from your favourite artists, selecting pieces that inspire you.
3. Import, scale, and arrange these images on your influence map, paying attention to its visual layout. 
4. Label each image with the creator's name and source details to acknowledge and respect the original artists.
5. Save your influence map as an image format, e.g. a JPEG file.
6. Consider showing your influence map to friends, family, or collaborators to introduce them to your artistic influences.

Note: Remember that the artworks belong to other artists, even though it’s your influence map. Please don't share a digital copy online outside this topic’s forum.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Reflect on the process of curating your influence map. Were there any surprising discoveries or insights about your artistic preferences during this activity?
2. Share your influence map to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 16’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Thinking about how your favourite artists demonstrate creative techniques in their art can serve as a practical guide in refining your work. In the next section of this Digital Painting topic, explore skills useful for your art and animation, including blending values, painting textures, and texturing objects.

Explore

New to Adobe Photoshop?

Get a head start on your learning tasks and try out Adobe Photoshop with these three tutorials before you watch Jade. You’ll also find these and other tutorials in Software at the start of this course.

• Get familiar with the work area Take a tour of your workspace in Photoshop (3:58m). Note: This is video 2 on Adobe’s ‘Get to know Photoshop’ web page.
• Understand layers Learn what layers are and why they’re so useful (4:45m). Note: This is video 1 on Adobe’s ‘Work with layers’ web page.
• Learn layer basics Learn how to change layer order, create a new layer, change layer opacity, and delete a layer (4.46m). Note: This is video 2 on Adobe’s ‘Work with layers’ web page.

Practice

Task 17: Blend two values

Start developing your digital painting skills for animation by creating smooth blends between contrasting values.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Photoshop
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• Quick Start Guide: Digital painting.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

3 hours

Set aside three hours to complete steps 2-8 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Watch Jade’s video, carefully observing the techniques he uses in Adobe Photoshop to blend the two values. Refer to Quick Start Guide: Digital painting if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Create a new file in Adobe Photoshop.
3. Use the Marquee tool to select a rectangular portion of your canvas where you'll apply the blending technique.
4. Paint the selected area with a light grey colour using a 100% hard-edged round brush.
5. Fill approximately two-thirds of the selected area with black.
6. Sample the light grey colour, adjusting your brush's opacity to 50% for smoother blending.
7. Continuously sample and paint new bands, blending adjacent value bands to create a smooth result.
8. Save your blend as an image file, i.e. JPEG or PNG.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Think about specific areas where you successfully blended between black and white, and consider any adjustments you would make for an even smoother effect.
2. Share your blend to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 17’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

In the next section, you'll grow your digital painting skills by painting textures. Get ready to experiment with various textures and observe how they interact with blended values for a deeper, more realistic result.

Practice

Task 18: Create a wood texture

Keep developing your digital painting skills and focus on adding depth and realism to objects by creating wood texture from scratch.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Photoshop
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• a range of wood texture images you have sourced using internet searches
• Quick Start Guide: Digital painting.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

3 hours

Set aside three hours to complete steps 2-7 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Watch Jade’s video, carefully observing the techniques he uses in Adobe Photoshop to create a wood texture. Refer to Quick Start Guide: Digital painting if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Create a new file in Adobe Photoshop.
3. Create a rectangle shape and select a base colour such as light brown.
4. Pick a brush tool and paint a slightly darker brown value with overlapping strokes. 
5. Build your texture gradually by adjusting your brush opacity to create varying degrees of darkness (e.g. cracks, grooves) and lightness (e.g. bevel effect) in the wood grain.
6. Explore colour adjustments and play with hue, saturation, and brightness to enhance the realism of the wood texture.
7. Save your wood texture as an image file, i.e. JPEG or PNG.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Consider the effectiveness of your colour choice, brush strokes, and opacities. How realistic and cohesive does your wood texture appear? 
2. Share your wood texture to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 18’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Moving forward to the next section, you’re in an excellent place to boost your digital painting skills and use texturing and lighting to transform flat shapes into three-dimensional objects.

Practice

Task 19: Create a sphere diagram

Stretch your technical know-how and practise transforming two-dimensional elements into a visually compelling three-dimensional diagram using texturing, lighting, and layer manipulation.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Photoshop
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• a free-to-use grunge texture image you have either sourced:
  • by using internet searches, or
  • from your camera photo library, e.g. a photo you have taken of a texture from a stone bench top or polished stone floor.
• Quick Start Guide: Digital painting.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

2 hours

Set aside two hours to complete steps 2-9 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Watch Jade’s two videos, carefully observing the techniques he uses in Adobe Photoshop to create a sphere diagram. Refer to Quick Start Guide: Digital painting if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Source a texture image online that is free for you to use. Use ‘grunge texture’ as an internet search term. You can also use your own photo of a grunge-like texture.
3. Create a new file in Adobe Photoshop at 1920 x 1080 resolution and import your texture image.
4. Create a new layer and draw three circles with a hard round brush.
5. Using a soft-edge brush, paint each circle to simulate the look of three spheres lit from different directions.
6. Overlay your texture file onto a new layer and trim excess around the spheres to ensure the texture fits.
7. Adjust the layer blend mode and opacity to refine the appearance of the texture on the spheres.
8. Use a soft-edged brush to add surface shadows to ground the spheres in their surroundings.
9. Save your sphere diagram as an image file, i.e. JPEG or PNG.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Reflect on your choice of grunge texture. How did your choice contribute to the overall aesthetic? Were there alternative textures you considered, and why did you make your final choice?
2. Share your sphere diagram to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 19’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Expand your understanding of three-dimensional representations in the next learning task, where you’ll create a cube diagram and use transformation tools with a new perspective.

Practice

Task 20: Create a cube diagram

Keep extending your object texturing skills with Adobe Photoshop and practise transforming flat squares into a three-dimensional cube diagram using texturing, skewing, and lighting.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Photoshop
• digital drawing pen and tablet
• a free-to-use grunge texture image you have either sourced:
  • by using internet searches, or
  • from your camera photo library, e.g. a photo you have taken of a texture from a stone bench top or polished stone floor.
• Quick Start Guide: Digital painting.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

2 hours

Set aside two hours to complete steps 2-11 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Watch Jade’s two videos, carefully observing the techniques he uses in Adobe Photoshop to create a cube diagram. Refer to Quick Start Guide: Digital painting if you need clarity or get stuck.
2. Source a texture image online that is free for you to use. Use ‘grunge texture’ as an internet search term. You can also use your own photo of a grunge-like texture.
3. Create a new file in Adobe Photoshop at 1920 x 1080 resolution and import your texture image.
4. Create a new layer and use selection and fill tools to create three squares, coloured light, medium and dark:
5. Use transformation tools to arrange the three squares to form a cube.
6. Overlay your texture file onto a new layer and duplicate it.
7. Use the transform tools to skew the texture to match the perspective of the three sides of your cubes.
8. Use selection tools to trim excess around the cubes’ sides.
9. Adjust the layer blend mode and opacity to refine the appearance of the texture on the cubes.
10. Use a soft-edged brush to add surface shadows to ground the cubes in its surroundings.
11. Save your cube diagram as an image file, i.e. JPEG or PNG.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Consider how you approached perspective and depth in the cube and sphere diagrams, specifically any differences in using transformation tools. How did these differences contribute to the overall visual experience?
2. Share your cube diagram to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 20’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Now that you’ve practised texturing objects with the sphere and cube diagrams, move to the next section where you’ll explore painting character art and how to create character colour studies, honing your ability to infuse colour and visual appeal into your 2D and 3D characters.

Practice

Task 21: Create a character colour study

Find out how colour choices contribute to your characters' visual appeal and storytelling elements by creating a vibrant character colour study image, helping you explore and analyse colour schemes for one of your sketches.

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:  

• Adobe Photoshop or a comparable graphic design app for editing digital images 
• a rough sketch of a character you’ve drawn - this can be from your sketchbook if you have already worked through the Observation Drawing topic.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

6 hours

Set aside six hours to complete steps 2-11 below. Save each phase of your progress in Adobe Photoshop to present your final painting results as a step-by-step progression, like the one shown above.  

1. Revisit this Digital Painting topic for painting tips, specifically the Painting textures section where you created a wood texture.
2. Watch Jade’s two videos, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Photoshop to draw and paint a hand.
3. Import on a layer your rough sketch of a character you’ve drawn – this can be from your sketchbook if you have already worked through the Observation Drawing topic.
4. Set the layer to Multiply (blend mode) and lock the layer. 
5. On a new layer below, use a hard-edged brush to block in the basic fill colour.
6. Adjust the sketch layer opacity to see the paint layers more clearly.
7. Add new layers with each phase, or continue painting onto your fill layer. 
8. Paint into the darker areas in your image (see the image above) using 50% brush opacity.
9. Build the necessary values by working over the same areas with more paint.
10. Repeat for the light areas and continue developing and refining using a finer brush. 
11. Save your colour study as an image file, i.e. JPEG or PNG.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. How did your colour choices impact the style and complexity of your character in the study? Do specific colours highlight storytelling aspects and contribute to the narrative?
2. Share your colour study to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 21’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

It’s time for a final digital painting challenge – can you build design imagery entirely from scratch to incorporate into your animation content? Head to the next section to test your technical skills and grasp of visual concepts.

Practice

Task 22: Recreate an image

It’s time to use the knowledge you’ve gained in this topic and push your creative boundaries to the edge! Can you recreate the image below using a few basic tools in Adobe Photoshop? 

What tools or resources do you need for this task?

Make sure you have access to:

• Adobe Photoshop
• digital drawing pen and tablet.

What steps should you take to complete this task?

6 hours

Set aside six hours to complete steps 1-4 below. Remember to save your work as you go when using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Watch Jade’s two videos, carefully observing his techniques in Adobe Photoshop to recreate the image.
2. Study the image below - it's a break down of the steps Jade uses to build each part of the image:
   
3. Recreate the image using basic selections, transformation editing tools, layer effects (drop shadow) and adjusting layer blend modes.
4. Save your final image as an image file, i.e. JPEG or PNG.

What should you do after completing this task?

1. Reflect on how this challenge contributed to your technical growth. Did you discover new approaches that you hadn't used before? What aspects of the recreated imagery are you particularly proud of, and are there areas you feel could be improved?
2. Share your recreated image to the Forum:
   1. Select your forum thread in Forum: Art and Animation Basics.
   2. Select Reply to your first Forum post.
   3. Enter the words ‘Task 22’ in your reply.
   4. Select the Post your response button, then select Edit in your reply when it shows up.
   5. Upload your image using the Attachment field.
   6. Select Save changes to share your coursework to your forum thread.
3. Get feedback on this and other learning tasks at the next Live Session – check the Live Session calendar for dates and times.

Fantastic job on completing this final challenge of the Digital Painting subtopic! Like traditional and digital 2D techniques, colour theory, or composition, digital painting is instrumental in shaping your artistic journey, allowing you to grow as an animator. As you move forward, remember that exploring other artworks can be an invaluable source of inspiration and practice, so keep your eyes open and your tools sharp.