The Steps to Follow to Create Your Animation From 3D Modeling

3D animation is the process of making computer-generated (CG) objects lifelike by creating an illusion in a three-dimensional space. These objects pop up on a two-dimensional screen but manifest the principles of 3D, making them appear like real-world objects.

3D animation is primarily used in filmmaking, television content, and video games. The ‘Toy Story’ movie franchise by Pixar Animation Studios is an example of a 3D-animated film. Did you know that it’s the first computer-animated feature film ever created?

Today, you can see 3D animation being applied to various digital environments, from marketing to education to medicine. 3D animation has been proven to make a range of operations more engaging, economical, and smoother.

This post will help you learn the key steps to creating 3D animations from start to finish. But before that, it’s crucial to have a better understanding of what 3D animation is. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is 3D Animation?

3D animation refers to the process of creating a moving image in a three-dimensional space. With the help of 3D software, animators can make CG objects look 3D even though they appear on a 2D screen.

With mastery of visual effects, animators can make anything look like a moving real-world object in a three-dimensional space.

What Are The Benefits Of 3D Animation?

Here are the reasons why multiple industries invest so much in 3D animation:

• Enhanced Visual Effects – When it comes to visual pleasure, nothing can probably match a 3D animation. It can deliver a message and portray products and services in a more attractive, concise, and convincing manner.
• Improved Brand Image – 3D animation is a sophisticated form of media. It’s an effective tool to market and advertise a product or service. It promotes growth and provides a competitive edge over competitors. 
• Improved Online Presence – 3D animation is a great tool to boost your online presence on various platforms, from social media to blog sites. In other words, 3D animation can help drive immense traffic to your website.
• Cost-Effective – This is one of the best benefits of using 3D animations. They don’t cost a fortune, yet they offer impressive returns on investment. Plus, they’re cheaper than other modes of communication available.
• Enhanced Customer Engagement – You have to engage with your customers to keep them browsing your website. This is best done using 3D animations, which offer fascinating visuals that encourage the audience to stay longer.

Now that you understand why companies invest so much in 3D animations, it’s time to learn how to create one. If this is your first time creating animating digital objects, check out some illustration courses for motion to broaden your knowledge about the process.

What Is The Process Behind 3D Animation?

The process behind 3D animation is more complicated than you think. Depending on the project and studio where you want to produce your work, the number of steps may vary. 

Here are the usual steps involved in creating a 3D animation project:

1. Formulate A Concept And Storyboard

The first step refers to the conceptualization of ideas. These ideas will be translated into a visual form using a storyboard. But first, what is a storyboard?

A storyboard is like a comic but simpler. It presents the story you want to animate in two dimensions. The first dimension consists of boxes illustrating a specific scene—also known as shots. Shots tell how the scene will progress from start to finish.  

Below those boxes are the corresponding descriptions and dialogues—also known as the second dimension. This part discusses how voiceover interacts with the illustrations and how transitions and other elements (e.g., background music) bind the story together.

2. Start The 3D Modeling Process

Once you finish your storyboard, you may proceed with the 3D modeling process. This involves building characters, props, and environment—and no, it’s not a drawing. 3D modeling is the process where digital images take shape. This is often done by taking an object and giving it a form that can be modified and refined. And it can be anything from a simple line, point, and curve to a polygon and a face.

There are a lot of 3D modeling software available that you can use to create 3D models, but we recommend using SelfCAD. SelfCAD is an easy to use program that allows you to 3D model, render, and even animate your designs all under one program. The software has a simple interface and there are a lot of powerful and easy to use tools that you can use to generate any type of design easily. You don’t need to use previous experience to use this software. Once you finish creating your designs, you can export it  in most of the common 3D file formats that you can export to other 3D animation software.

When creating a 3D model, don’t be afraid to use and try different techniques. It’s best to understand how to use each method to create a model. This way, you can determine which is best suited for your project.

3. Apply Texture

This is how you clothe your 3D models. Once you’ve created a model, you may start to overlay 2D objects to add texture, design, and color. This process is called mapping. You can create maps using programs like Photoshop. This will allow you to create an illusion of textures that you can brush onto a model as if you’re the one who painted them from scratch. You can also apply textures to your designs in programs like SelfCAD too.

Some 3D animators use real-world photographs to create an illusion of texture they want to mimic and make their models more lifelike.

4. Rig And Skin The Model

Now, it’s time to set up your character to talk and walk. This process is called rigging and skinning, the last stage before the animation takes place. It’s the foundation responsible for driving the movement of a character and bringing it to life. 

But what’s the difference between rigging and skinning?

Rigging sets up a skeleton for the object to be animated. Skinning attaches that skeleton to the 3D model, so you can manipulate the 3D model using the rig controls.

5. Animate The Model

Animation is the process of making a rigged and skinned 3D object move. You can apply different types of animation, depending on your project. Apply the keyframe animation technique if you want to make an object move on a frame-to-frame basis, like old-drawn cartoon characters. Otherwise, consider using other animation methods, including placing models on splines and importing motion capture data.

Another way to get your 3D objects moving is to apply your 3D software’s built-in physics engines (e.g., making things fall and other scenes embodying the principles of physics).

6. Apply Lighting

Lighting in 3D animation is as essential as in the real world. It plays a crucial role in making a dull scene come to life. When done correctly, lighting can make a simple story more convincing and lifelike.

In the 3D world, lighting works differently. It aims to stimulate how light exists in real-life situations. However, to get the results you want to achieve, some settings must be applied to both lights and the materials.

7. Optimize Camera Angles

In the 3D world, the camera has no limits. You can create a scene that takes you on a magical journey with impossible perspectives and much more. With 3D modeling program, you don’t have to focus on controls, aperture, and film alone. Instead, do more by creating multiple cameras and applying other effects like those you see in animated movies, such as motion blur, pan, orbit, dolly, and so much more.

Additionally, a software-based camera doesn’t have restrictions regarding size and weight. This lets you take your camera wherever you want, even inside the smallest object. You can even animate a camera using 3D software to run multiple scenes simultaneously while changing depths, zooming, etc. Once you’ve created a 3D camera, you can assign the view you want and see it from your camera's perspective.

8. Render Your Scenes

3D rendering is one of the most critical steps in the 3D animation pipeline and arguably the most overlooked step. This is especially true for most newbies who focus more on creating and animating 3D models. 

When you render a scene, always take note of the following aspects: camera placement, lighting that affects shadows and moods, reflections and transparency, and special effects.

9. Add Special Effects

This step is also known as compositing. It involves anything that has something to do with special effects, such as explosions, morphing, teleportation, etc. It also includes the following: 

• Extensions (making a stage digitally larger)
• Environment creation (e.g., developing a new world, dimension, building, field, etc.)
• Green or blue screen replacements (shooting on a green- or blue-screened background and replacing it with digital footage or image taken elsewhere)

In other words, the process of blending images and footage with a CG one is considered compositing.

10. Add Music And Sound Effects

Adding music effects is a great way to give your scenes more depth and excitement. Ask a music composer to create soundtracks and accompaniments that match the mood of the animation. Then call a foley artist to produce sound effects based on the actions portrayed by the scene (e.g., opening a book, chopping vegetables, starting a car’s engine, etc.).

11. Do Final Editing

After adding sound effects, background music, and accompaniments, watch the animation and check if it conveys your message effectively. Aside from that, check if all the elements you worked hard to put together complement each other. You may ask yourself the following questions to find out:

• Does the lighting make the animation more convincing? 
• Is the camera positioned at the right angle? 
• Are there too many special effects? 
• Does the music fit the scene perfectly?

Once you’ve answered all these questions, you’ll be able to figure out if there’s a need for editing. But most likely, you’ll have to edit a thing or two to polish your work. After that, save your work, create a copy, and export it in different formats depending on specific standards.

Final Thoughts

3D animation can take your business to a whole new level. It can improve your brand image, boost your online presence, and more. If you’re interested in animating your own scene, the 11-step 3D production pipeline above may help. But if you find the process too complicated, don’t hesitate to consult a 3D animation studio for help.

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