Lesson 6:Animation Part 2- Shape tweening, using motion guide &  frame by frame animation

 

In the previous lesson, you learnt how to use motion tweening to make a simple animation. In this lesson I will show you how to make a shape tween. A shape tween is used to change the shape of an object. First, draw a perfect circle (hold shift):

Figure 6.1

 

 

Then put a key frame at frame 10 (Hotkey: F6). After that right click frame 1 and convert it into a shape tween:

Figure 6.2

 

 

Now draw a different shape at frame 10:

Figure 6.3

Play the animation and you will see the circle slowly turn into a square.

Draw anything you want to animate on layer1. Put a key frame at frame 10 (or more, because 10 frames may be too fast) then create a motion tween just like the previous lesson. To use a motion guide line, first, right click layer 1 then click on add motion guide:

Figure 6.4

Then, in the motion guide layer, draw a motion guide line (the path you want the object to follow) using the pencil tool or brush tool:

Figure 6.5

Then, at the last key frame, move the object to the end of the line. Play the animation and you will see the object moving on the line. test the movie (Hotkey: Ctrl + Enter) to see the object moving but you can't see the line. So it is useful for making guided animations, much easier than frame by frame animation.

Tweening is non-frame by frame animation. Now, I will show you how to make frame by frame animation.

First, draw anything you want to animate. Then, add a key frame (Hotkey: F6), then move the drawing to a different position or change it slightly.

Repeat the process and you will get something like this:

 Figure 6.6

I used the onion skin to see 3 frames behind and in front of the frame. To use it, click the onion skin button:

Figure 6.7

Then, it will be easier to make frame by frame animation because you can see the previous frames.

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